1. Safety Issues Mr. Safety gjmorrissey@cps.k12.il.us
Gary Morrissey, Safety Co-Chair
phone: fax:
Illinois Junior Academy of Science

2. Safety is the watchword when developing a science fair project.
Safety concerns are divided into two major areas and can be found in the IJAS Policy & Procedure Manual:
Review Safety Guidelines for Experimentation (pp. 8-12) with your students during the planning stage of their projects.
Revisit safety issues when your students start developing their presentation display by reviewing Safety Rules for Project Display (pp ).

5. Major revisions for
p.8,d. The Safety Sheet now asks for precautions taken.
p.9,f. Don’t reduce the Safety Sheet to less than half a page.
p.9&10,c. No primary or secondary cultures taken directly (mouth, throat, skin, etc.) or indirectly (eating utensils, doorknobs, toilets, etc.) (cage, debris, droppings) will be allowed.
p.11. Exceptions granted for 1) students working in a research lab (send the letter to Safety Chair prior to State exhibition) or 2) students applying to the IJAS President/Safety Chair.
p.13,c. Include with Safety Sheet: letters from labs, packing slips, etc.
p.18,b. Safety Chair can remove any hazardous apparatus.
p.18,a. Size: 122cm (w) x 152cm (h) x 76 cm (d).

6. ALL projects must have a
signed Safety Sheet
posted on the front of the display board.
There are no exceptions to this rule (p. 43). No matter how safe a project might be, we still want to teach students that safety issues must be addressed. Discuss with students the “safe” choices they made while working on their projects.
P.S. Don’t say “None” when a safety inspector
asks what safety precautions you took.

7. Human Vertebrate Endorsement
All projects involving humans (even if you do a survey asking someone’s favorite color) must have a signed Human Vertebrate Endorsement (p. 44).
NEEDS
SIGNATURES
Note: This form must also be posted on the front of the display board.

8. Non-Human Vertebrate Endorsement
All projects involving non-human vertebrate animals must have a signed Non-Human Vertebrate Endorsement (p. 45).
NEEDS
SIGNATURES
Note: This form must also be posted on the front of the display board.

9. Microorganisms
All projects involving microorganisms should be carefully monitored by a qualified supervising adult.
Don’t even think about culturing (primary or secondary) microorganisms from humans or other warm blooded animals. These are strictly forbidden.
NEED
SPECIAL
ATTENTION
Need guidance? Visit:

10. ACHOOO !!! Leave your mold at home.
Speaking of humans, animals, and microorganisms; leave them all at home. You are not allowed to display any living things--except plants of course.
Judges just love to see plants.

11. DO NOT DISPLAY

12. Use batteries whenever possible.
Electrical Projects
Use batteries whenever possible.

13. Use them but don’t bring them.
Hazardous Materials
Matches,
chemicals,
open flames,
electric heaters, or
compressed gas cylinders
may be used if handled correctly,
with proper guidance and supervision.
Use them but don’t bring them.

14. NO means NO NO chemicals NO salt, NO sugar, NO water,
NO food coloring,
NO chemicals
will be allowed on display.
Sealed, plastic containers
are the only type allowed, but since you aren’t displaying anything; you don’t need to bring them.

15. Laboratory Apparatus
Judges know what beakers, graduated cylinders, balances, thermometers, etc. look like --leave them at school.

16. JUDGES
LOVE
PHOTOGRAPHS

17. Note to students:
You have completed your project at home. You are not coming to the Exhibition to do your project You are coming to share your Results and Conclusions with the judges. Leave all your “stuff” at home; bring us your charts, graphs, pictures, drawings, explanations, and other information.
This is not Show and Tell.

18. Local Safety Inspector, what is allowed for display?
If a student has constructed some apparatus that you feel needs to be displayed in order for the judges to understand its operation, allow it.
If a student is running some electronic apparatus to prove a concept, allow it.
If a student has invented some new apparatus that judges need to see, allow it.
If daddy built something for a student, send it home.

19. IJAS 2005
IJAS 2005
IJAS 2005
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE

20. Safety Issues? Contact Mr. Safety gjmorrissey@cps.k12.il.us
Gary Morrissey, Safety Co-Chair
Illinois Junior Academy of Science