1. Lab Safety Student Activities for Personal and Environmental Safety
Donna R. Sterling
George Mason University

2. Why is safety important?
Safety of all people
students
teachers, parents, janitors
Safety for the environment
You might be sued

3. How can you protect yourself legally?
Teachers need to have a:
Consistent, on-going record that documents an emphasis on safety.

4. How do you establish a safety record?
Create evidence of your emphasis on safety that you can document.

5. What is evidence of safety that you can document?
Real concrete examples
List of rules
Test over rules ?
Safety Test
Safety Rules 1. 2. 3.

6. Safety Rules Written list – by adults Consensus - higher is better
class
grade/subject level
department
school
school district
Safety

7. List of Rules 2 copies - teacher and student
go over list with students
list signed and dated by both
student and
parent/guardian
front and back of
one page
no cut off section
for signatures
teacher must keep a signed copy
Safety Rules
Safety Rules

8. Documentation What if the student forges the signature?
Show of dishonesty by student
How long should you keep a signed copy?
For greatest protection, the teacher should keep a signed copy of the rules for seven years.

9. Test over Rules Must Pass
Practical questions
Location of Safety Equipment
Operation of Safety Equipment
Location of School Nurse
Knowledge of Safe Procedures
safe equipment handling
chemical disposal

10. Enforce Rules!
One of the most common problems

11. What eye protection is legally required?
safety goggles
not safety glasses or spectacles
Can you wear contact lenses in lab?
contact lenses do not increase risk
use same protective goggles
Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, 1995, ACS

12. Eye Wash In case of exposure, how long do you flush eyes with water?
a minimum of 15 minutes
How often do you test an eye wash?
weekly - to verify operation and flush lines

13. What food is allowed in a science lab?
No eating or drinking in the lab
It is illegal

14. Demonstration of Fire Safety Equipment

15. To Burn Fires Need To burn, fires need 3 things:
Fuel
Oxygen
Heat
To extinguish, eliminate one

16. Types of Fire Extinquishers
4 Categories of Fires
A Ordinary
B Liquids
C Electrical
D Combustible Metal
4 Types Extinguishers
Dry chemical (all)
Water (A)
Carbon dioxide (B, C)
Halon

17. Operation of Fire Extinquishers
PASS
Pull ring pin
Aim at the base of the fire
Squeeze the handle to start flow
Sweep side to side at the base of the fire

18. Fire Extinguisher Video
1. Escape and double click on URL
2. Click on stop preview,
then click on start video

19. Fume Hood
                                                                                                                                  

20. Fume Hoods
When not using the hood, what position do you keep the sash (window)?
closed
When you are actively using the hood, how high do you raise the sash?
10-15 cm

21. What safety activities can you do with students?
Make a long list of activities.
Which of these activities can you easily document?

22. Lab Demonstrations on Safety
Eyes
Cow eyes and 18M H2SO4 – demo
0-30 seconds – damage immediately
Egg whites and 6M HCl
Clothes
Fabric and 6M HCl
Read labels
Water, acid, base – look the same
pH paper - smell

23. Safety Discussions
Stories
Case Studies
What if ?
Role Play

24. Videos on Safety
Safety videos can be purchased from Flinn Scientific and other companies

25. Posters on Safety
Displayed in Lab
commercial
student created

26. Writing Student generated questions - quizzes poems - index cards
stories - book
articles - newsletter

27. Before Each Lab Demonstrate Equipment Discuss Procedures
Discuss Hazards
Review Disposal of Materials

28. Testing Test on Safety Quiz Before Lab Midterm and Final
safety question
Midterm and Final

29. Safety for Living Earth Science Biology Chemistry Physics
hurricanes and earthquakes
Biology
communicable diseases
Chemistry
chemical handling
Physics
electrical safety

30. Teacher Safety Issues
Create a trail of evidence showing an on-going emphasis on safety that you can document for your own protection.

31. Safety
Rules
and
Regulations

32. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
(Laboratory Standard) Section D(6)
School laboratories should include “protective apparel compatible with the required degree of protection for substances being handled”.

33. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
ANSI is a nonprofit group that publishes standards for equipment for industry. It is not a federal agency.
Eye Protection
ANSI Z
One of many standards for goggle lenses.
Lenses shall resist impact from a 25.4 mm diameter steel ball dropped from 127 cm.
What are ANSI approved goggles?

34. When should goggles be worn in a school laboratory?
When anyone is handling:
Chemicals
Fire
Projectiles
(explosions and glassware)
Compressed gas
(Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, 1995, ACS)

35. Eye Protection
“It is universally agreed that the use of proper eye protection is required of everyone who enter a chemical work area.”
“All person in the laboratory including visitors must wear safety goggles (not safety glasses or spectacles)…”
(Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, 1995, ACS)

36. When can contact lenses be worn in a laboratory?
“Contact lenses can be worn in most work environments provided the same approved eye protection is worn as required of other workers in the area.”
(Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories, 1995, ACS)

37. Hazard Communication Standards “Right to Know Laws”
A person has the “right to know” about all hazards they are exposed to in the workplace.
6 components of law
(federal & state)

38. Right to Know Law 6 components of law (federal & state)
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
primary source of communication
Hazardous Materials List
Inventory of Hazardous Materials
name, quantity, and location
Notification
MSDS and training
Training
how to read labels, how to handle safely, and emergency procedures
Labeling of Hazardous Materials

39. MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
Required list of information about a chemical including physical and chemical characteristics, fire and explosion hazards, lethal dose, etc
Must be available for every chemical in the laboratory
Store MSDSs in alphabetical order in an obvious, convenient location
Provided by suppliers, also online

40. Extended Hazard Communications Act (1990)
Laboratory Standards
specifically for academic laboratories
Same “right to know” laws
Chemical Hygiene Plan - written report
laboratory regulations
Personal protection equipment and materials
proper lab procedures
spills, storage, inspections, and training
how to respond to emergencies
Chemical Hygiene Officer

41. Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH)
Virginia requires:
Chemical Labeling
MSDS
Written Inventory
Chemical Hygiene Plan
Training