Safety in the Elementary Science
Classroom and Laboratory
CAST ‘08
Fort Worth, Texas
Charles A. Dana Center
The University of Texas at Austin
The purpose of this seminar is to…
• understand safety laws, rules, and
regulations and their requirements
related to public schools.
• examine ways of improving safety in
science laboratories and classrooms.
• provide tools that can be used to solve
problems related to safety issues.
School Chemistry Labs—scene of some
frightening accidents—expose lack of
safety oversight
“In a blinding flash, the routine high school
chemistry experiment turned to chaos. An alcohol-fueled fireball shot into the classroom,
searing the skin of three junior honor students in
the front row.”
Tammy Webber, Associated Press, 2002
Where does it specify safety must be
taught in Texas’ classrooms?
Laboratory and field
investigations must be
part of the instructional
time in K–12 science
classes.
Texas Safety
Standards K-12
Having fun
with Sodium metal
What’s wrong with this activity?
TEKS 6.7(B) Classify substances by their chemical and physical properties.
Released TAKS Question on Safety
*
“The accident rate in schools is 10–
50 times that of the chemical
industry”.
NSTA, Guide to School Facilities, 1999
If an accident occurs in a laboratory
• • • • • • • How should you respond if a student is injured?
Who notifies the principal?
Who alerts the school nurse?
Do you include custodial staff?
Who notifies the parents?
Who supervises the other students?
What happens if you are injured?
Emergency Response System
• Establish an emergency response team.
• Determine should serve on the team.
• Define the team’s responsibilities.
After the accident is over
• Were the safety procedures adequate?
• Did you have the safety equipment to
respond appropriately?
• Did you have proper first-aid training to
respond appropriately?
• Were accident reports completed and filed?
• Were steps taken to prevent similar
accidents?
Scenario I
• Read the scenario to
yourself.
• Discuss what happened
during the accident
with a person at your
table.
• Together, complete the
form on the reverse
side of the scenario.
• Decide who will be the
spokesperson.
Science Facility and Safety
Equipment Checklist
Place a (√) in
the box if the
item is
present in
this science
laboratory
room.
www.utdanacenter.org/sciencetoolkit
Laboratory Safety Equipment
• Eye/face Wash
• Drench Hose
• Fire Extinguisher
• Emergency Fire Blanket
• First Aid Kit
Fire
Extinguishers
What type is needed
for science laboratory
rooms?
Classes of Fires and
Types of Fire Extinguishers
Class A Fire
Class B Fire
Common
combustibles
Flammable
liquids
Class C Fire
Electrical
fires
Class D Fire
Flammable
metals
Type ABC fire extinguisher for science laboratory rooms
Type D fire extinguisher for chemical storage rooms
Emergency Fire Blanket
Drench hose
Recommended for 5th and 6th
grade laboratory rooms.
Personal Protective Equipment
• Protective Eye Wear
• Laboratory Aprons
• Protective Gloves
Standards for safety goggles
 adjustable head band
 flexible frame
 shatter-proof lens
 forms a seal around
the eyes
Must meet ANSI Standard Z87.1-1989
Eye protection using
proper fitting
safety goggles.
These safety goggles met ANSI Standard Z87.1-1989 Predict how well
these safety glasses
will protect a student’s
eyes?
These safety glasses do not meet ANSI Standard Z87.1-1989 Results from a frontal
splash to the face.
A few seconds after
the chemical splash
with safety glasses
remaining on student’s
face.
Maintaining
Personal Protective Equipment
Protective Eye Wear
Safety Goggles
 Clean with warm water and soap
 Replace scratched lenses
 Replace frayed elastic strap
 Sanitize between wearing
Laboratory Aprons
 Replace broken neck straps
 Wash in warm water with soap at the end
of each semester
 Discard cracked or damaged aprons
Protective Gloves
 Wash with warm water and soap while
wearing the gloves, dry, and turn inside
out for storage
 Store in re-sealable plastic bag
 Discard damaged gloves
Scenario III
• Read the scenario to
yourself.
• Discuss what
happened during the
accident with a
person at your table.
• Together, complete
the form on the
reverse side of the
scenario.
• Decide who will be
the spokesperson.
Laws, Rules, and Regulations
• OSHA Eye and Face Protection
• Least Restrictive Environment
• Tort Claims
• Equal Educational Services
• Civil Immunity
Laws, Rules, and Regulations
• Alternative Settings for Behavior
Management
• Protective Eye Devices in Public
Schools
Laws, Rules, and Regulations
• Hazardous Substances
• Hazard Communications Act
• Commissioner’s Rules Concerning
School Facilities
• Educator’s Code of Ethics
• Guidelines for Selection and Use
of Face and Eye Protection
Hazard
Communication
Act
All science teachers
are required
to receive training
on this law.
Comprehensive HAZCOM Program
• Informing employees of workplace
hazards
• Labeling chemical containers
• Reading and understanding MSDS
• Training for employees
Reading and Understanding
Chemical Labels
Primary Container Label
• Name of material—solution concentration
• Name of components and mixture
concentrations
• Appropriate warning signage
• Potential hazards
• Immediate first aid measures
Chemical Label
Personal
Identity
Protection
of Chemical
Information
First
Hazard
AidWarning
Chemical
Formula
Abstract
Weight
Number
24-Hour Number Date Received
Hazard Rating
Manufacturer or Distributor
Temporary Container Labels
• Name of chemical
• Appropriate hazard warnings
Can you read this chemical label?
According to HAZCOM, what must you do?
With a partner,
use the chemical
labels to answer
the questions.
Material Safety Data Sheets
Interpreting and Understanding
Information on a MSDS
MSDS must:
• accompany chemicals
• conform to OSHA standards
• be maintained by school
• be written or electronic copies
• replaced every 3 years
• be readily available on request
The school district shall not
permit use of chemical if it does
not have an MSDS.
Maintain a chemical inventory list
and a current copy of the MSDS
for each chemical used or stored
in the science workplace.
• Notebook (alphabetic order)
• MSDS CD-ROM
• On-line retrieval
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Courtesy of Holly Ahern
Sargent-Welch
Silver Nitrate MSDS: Section I
*
* HMIS (Hazardous Materials Industrial Standards)
Silver Nitrate MSDS: Section V
Silver Nitrate MSDS: Sections VII and VIII
Use the MSDS
packet to answer
the questions.
MSDS
Glossary
of Terms
Section I
CAS No.
Definition
Online MSDS Resources
www.flinnsci.com
www.fisheredu.com
www.freyscientific.com
www.msdsprovider.net
www.sargentwelch.com
Charles A. Dana Center
Science Website
www.utdanacenter.org/sciencetoolkit
James W. Collins
Charles A. Dana Center
The University of Texas at Austin
2901 North IH-35
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 232-6002
jwcollins@mail.utexas.edu