Safety Cartoon
Introduction
Scientific discovery is the result of careful laboratory practices. An understanding
of safe lab practices is of utmost importance to ensure your safety and the safety of those
around you. To help you get familiar with lab safety, you will create a comic-strip style
cartoon. Your cartoon should be divided into the following six frames.
1. The first frame should show students performing normal and safe lab procedures.
2. The next frame should show a student thinking or talking about violating some
safety procedure.
3. The third frame should show other students telling that person not to behave in an
unsafe manner.
4. The next frame should show the person performing an unsafe act.
5. The fifth frame should illustrate a reasonable consequence of acting in an unsafe
manner.
6. The final frame should show how to recover from the accident, i.e. safety shower,
eyewash station, cold compress, fire blanket, etc.
For example, if I wanted to illustrate procedure 26, lab aprons, I might start by
drawing a group of people wearing lab aprons. Then I would draw a frame where one
person feels uncomfortable and wants to take off the apron. In the third frame the rest of
the people would, of course, advise against breaking a safety rule. The fourth frame
would then show the person spilling chemicals on him or herself. The student would then
yell ouch to indicate that they were being burned by the chemicals. Finally, the last
frame would show the person’s lab partner leading the contaminated person to the safety
shower and having the person stand under the shower to wash off the chemicals.
1) Choose a safety rule you wish to describe. We will sign up for these quickly in
class to avoid duplication.
2) Create a six framed cartoon. Your drawing abilities are not being graded or
judged; however, I do not want to see any stick figures. Do the best you can.
3) Write the rule number and brief synopsis of the rule at the top of the cartoon.
4) Your best bet is to plan the cartoon in advance, deciding on dialogue and general
action for each frame.
5) Neatly color and create your cartoon; you will be graded on neatness. Each frame
must be fully colored, including the background.
Grading Rubric
When grading, I will be looking for all six parts described above. Neatness will
also cost you. While I do not expect great drawings, everyone can write neat and color
within the lines. Each frame must be fully colored, including the background. As long
as the cartoon appears to have been created with care and has all six components you will
receive full credit.
This cartoon is being created as an assignment for school and should therefore be
appropriate to be displayed on the wall. Inappropriate language, violent acts, weapons,
and other inappropriate actions will result in a reduced grade and a phone call home.
Remember that these are illustrations of safety accidents, not malicious or reckless
behavior. If you are not sure if your idea is appropriate, run it by me!! Have fun with
this assignment.
Name: ______________________
Rule Number and Summary:_______________________________________________________________________________
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