Safety in ScienceSafety in Science

PSED 446/546

Teaching of Science

The current state of science The current state of science safetysafety

Seventy percent of all high school science accidents occur at the ninth grade level. According to teachers, the number one reason for accidents occurring in the science lab was "students' failure to carefully read and understand laboratory activity instructions." (from Flinn Scientific website)

Main Sources of InfoMain Sources of Info

There are two main sources of information:1. CSSS Science & Safety

2. The Safety Book (not available online)

Flinn ScientificFlinn Scientific

Flinn Scientific is also a good resource (especiall for chemistry and biology), as they have numerous resources on Science Safety:

Steps You Can Take to Prove You're a "Responsible" Science Teacher

General Safety Rules for Science Teachers Safety Pages Student Teacher's Survival Kit (which contains

safety contracts and posters)

Other Sources of InformationOther Sources of Information

Safe Science Series from NSELA The NSTA provided middle schooland high schoolsafety

information in a past edition of Science Class (distributed through e-mail; to sign up for delivery, click here).

The Laboratory Safety Institute has a bunch of resources and information; click on "Free" for safety contracts, checklists, etc.

An NBC News report on chemicals in the classroom. NYC Science Safety Manual (K-12) (requires free

registration) OSHA MSDS

Three AspectsThree Aspects

Student Safety Guidelines (for students)– Activities– Guidelines

Teacher Safety Guidelines (for teachers) School Safety Guidelines (for schools)

Student Safety ActivitiesStudent Safety Activities

See Flinn Scientific's Safety Page, with links to high school and middle school safety contracts and exams (English and Spanish). I am ordering Flinn's Student Teacher's Survival Kit (which contains safety contracts and posters).

Activities may include the following: learn rules equipment identification practice procedures safety quiz safety contract safety posters

Student Safety GuidelinesStudent Safety Guidelines

The "rules" will vary from class to class. Here are some subject-specific safety concerns, organized by subject.

General ScienceGeneral Science

Glassware Heat/fires Sharp instruments Animals

– Gerbils and giardia, salmonella, E. coli– Guinea pigs, rabbits and dander

Allergies– carpets, mold, latex, peanuts, etc.

PhysicsPhysics

Electrical (avoid wet hands and metal objects)

Radiation Lasers and Light Mechanical Dangers

Earth ScienceEarth Science

Handling rocks– wear goggles when crushing rocks– wrap rocks in cloth before crushing– Wear gloves– Take care when lifting heavy rocks

Earth Science (continued)Earth Science (continued)

Field trips– no open-ended shoes or sandals

– long pants

– gloves

– watch for polluted soil Dust Tasting Use only appropriate tools

BiologyBiology

Be careful with– live animals– dissections (scalpels; gloves)– syringes– body fluids

Biology (continued)Biology (continued)

Field trips– prohibited areas– clothing– plants to avoid– touching animals (dead or alive)– eating plants

Microscopes

ChemistryChemistry

Clean spills immediately Avoid loose or long-sleeve clothing Wash hands

Chemistry (continued)Chemistry (continued)

Burners – use Bunsen or hot plates (rather than alcohol) – light match and then slowly turn on gas – always use open vessels – point tube away when heating – remove from flame only with proper utensils

Chemistry (continued)Chemistry (continued)

Test tubes – inserting stoppers into glass tubes (lubricate

with glycerin) – clean used test tubes – Dilute acids by adding acid to water (pour acid

along stirring rod)

Teacher Safety GuidelinesTeacher Safety Guidelines

There are three duties of a teacher (known as “foreseeability”)

Instruct Supervise Maintain equipment (and records)See CSSS publication “Science & Safety”

(What are my legal responsibilities as a science teacher relating to negligence?)

Exercise common senseExercise common sense

It is important to exercise "common sense": See page 2 of Science & Safety

One is not ‘negligent’ unless they fail to exercise that degree would be exercised by a person of ordinary prudence under all the existing circumstances in view of probable danger of injury.’ The law basically requires teachers to be reasonable and use good common sense. Teachers are required to exercise the skill and training which would ordinarily be expected from someone in their profession.

Criteria to judge negligenceCriteria to judge negligence

Was the teacher involved expected to supervise?

Was the teacher derelict in this duty? Did a personal injury accident occur? Was the failure to exercise reasonable care

the direct cause of the injury?

NSTA Position StatementsNSTA Position Statements

Read the NSTA Position Statements on Safety and School Science Instruction, which lists guidelines for teachers and school districts, and Liability (biology teachers can also read NABT's statement on the Role of Laboratory and Field Instruction in Biology Education)

AnimalsAnimals

If you plan on using animals in your classroom,

• For guidelines on the proper use of animals in the classroom, check out guidelines put out by the NABT and the NSTA.

• Read the Ten Principles for the Use of Animals for Insturctional Purposes (Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources)

OtherOther

Check out Steps You Can Take to Prove You're a "Responsible" Science Teacher and General Safety Rules for Science Teachers.

Subject-specific Areas of Subject-specific Areas of ConcernConcern

Electrical issues Biological material Chemicals

Electrical IssuesElectrical Issues

know the voltage and current (and mark it) shortest extension cords, insulated do not permit students to service equipment periodically check outlets watch that the equipment doesn’t hot use low-voltage/current sources where

possible

Biological materialBiological material

No:– no cell or tissue labs– no blood labs– no mold or bacteria cultures (unless the

students are very skilled and the culture vessels are securely sealed)

(from NSTA Web Institute)

ChemicalsChemicals

Consider microchemistry whenever possible to minimize risk, need for supplies, and cost of cleanup/disposal

No explosions Never bring stock bottles into classroom store by chemical type (not alphabetically) store large bottles near the floor inspect annually use ladders or stools to get to chemicals above eye

level

Chemicals (continued)Chemicals (continued)

chemicals must be secured store metallic sodium and potassium in kerosene or heavy

mineral oil use red phosphorus instead of white whenever permissible No poisonous chemicals

– benzene, arsenic, asbestos – formaldehyde, carbon tetrachloride, phenol, xylene, lead

compounds Disposing of chemicals

– do not dump strong acids or flammable liquids down a drain (dilute first) or those that produce odors

– if in doubt, ask supplier or NSTA

School Safety GuidelinesSchool Safety Guidelines

General equipment requirements are listed at the Flinn website ("5-minute equipment guide“) and page 10 of Science & Safety.

Examples of equipment are as follows: First-aid kits ABC Fire extinguishers (special types if

necessary) Fire blankets Safety showers/eye wash Sand buckets

School Equipment (cont)School Equipment (cont)

gas and electrical master controls – electrical outlets– gas leaks

Congestion/evacuation concerns Storage Area Smoke/heat detectors Mercury clean-up kits

GogglesGoggles

See pages 119-124 of Safety Book “Splash” type Seal comfortably to the face Ventilated (to prevent fogging) No scratches deeper than a fingernail Cleaned regularly Individual goggles best

Contact lensesContact lenses

Additional regulation regarding use of contact lenses is unnecessary (OSHA)

Wear non-vented, specially marked safety goggles

Teacher should know who is wearing contact lenses as neutralizing solutions should not be used to flush eyes

Avoid activities that generate fumes

NSTA GuidelinesNSTA Guidelines

See page 12 of Science & Safety max class size 24 students 60 ft2 per student (combination) 45 ft2 per student (lab only) 6 ft per student (work space)

NSTA Guidelines (cont)NSTA Guidelines (cont)

GFCI 1 pair approved safety goggles per student 2 outward-opening exits (accom.

wheelchairs) locked doors on storerooms

SummarySummary

Know your responsibilities Be aware of safety issues Teach safety precautions Keep up-to-date

– NSTA Conventions – Courses (Jason Academy

http://www.jason.org/jason_academy/courses/course_descriptions.htm#safety )