Chapter 9: Safety
Objectives:
1. Understand legal responsibilities for safety in curriculum
2. Know safety preparations to make before school-year
3. Know responsibilities for promoting safety during year
4. Present specific safety guidelines for biology, chemistry,
physics
5. Discuss necessity of direct instruction on safety both for
students and for science teachers
I.
Safety and the Law
A.
How courts look at safety issues
1.
2.
Is there a duty owed? YES
What was the standard of care provided?
a.
b.
c.
B.
Active instruction on conduct and safety in the classroom
Adequate supervision
Consideration of potential hazards
Liability
1.
2.
3.
4.
State regulations must be followed
If accidents occur, the teacher may be liable to fine or lawsuit
Local school boards often have safety policies; won’t be in contract
Contributory Negligence:
a.
b.
5.
Defense that student behaved in a way contributing to the accident
Teacher may still be held partially liable (20% teacher’s fault)
Must be in a position to show you took reasonable precautions
a.
b.
c.
Prepare students for an activity
Point out possible danger
Proper supervision
II.
General Safety Responsibilities
A.
Preparing for the school year
1.
2.
Inspect classroom and lab for dangers (checklist p. 176)
Keep records of inspection and changes made
a.
b.
3.
4.
5.
B.
Get cooperation of administrators
Get qualified individuals to make repairs
Arrange room to prevent congestion
Plan for evacuation in case of emergency
Storage area should be uncluttered and items properly stored
During the school year
1.
2.
Class size must be appropriate to the activity
Unit on safety at the beginning of the year
a.
b.
3.
Direct instruction prevents accidents later on
Grade it and treat it as important
Teacher must model good safety practices throughout the year
a.
b.
c.
Demonstrate dangerous procedures before (or instead of) students do
Report any accidents and keep a record
Have first-aid kit and know how to use it
C.
Eye Protection
1.
2.
Eye is vital, vulnerable sensory organ exposed to the environment
Eye protection is always mandatory: it is the law
a.
b.
3.
Should be in good condition
Should be sanitized when shared
Contact lenses are generally not allowed due to increased risk
a.
b.
Some evidence that hard lenses are not that unsafe
Often have a waver form to sign if students allowed to wear contacts
III. Specific Safety Guidelines
A.
Biology
1.
Precautions for using animals
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Handle cautiously and with thick leather or rubber gloves
Discourage teasing, poking, prodding behaviors
Illegal to use poisonous or known disease carrying animals
Inoculate any animals known to carry rabies
Cages should be clean and well maintained
Arrangement for care over breaks and holidays must be made
ILAR = Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources p. 182
h. Animal research should not cause harm to vertebrates
i. Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement of experimental procedures
2. Care during animal dissection
a.
b.
c.
d.
Clean scalpels only to reduce infection from cuts
Substitute razor blade or scissors if needed
Incisions should be made away from students body
Wear gloves to prevent cuts and infection
3. Using live material
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Store decaying material in a refrigerator
Avoid allergy inducing materials
Don’t use pathogenic bacteria
Don’t use viruses in the secondary school
Don’t use human oral material—can lead to pathogenic bacteria
Sterilize all lab equipment following use
4. Using Hypodermic Syringes
a. Drug related implications argue for avoidance or demonstration only
b. Teacher needs to lock, account for, and control
5. Body Fluids and Tissue
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Common to use blood, saliva, etc… from students
Considered biological hazards; disposal is regulated
Some schools have restrictions on these materials
Get permission from parents; student shouldn’t have medical condition
Draw blood from fingertip using alcohol sterilization
Alternative: use blood samples from biological supply company
6. Additional Considerations
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Fully inform students about safety precautions for field trips
Avoid direct sunlight when using microscopes
Avoid alcohol burners; use Bunsen burners or hot plates
Require appropriate clothing/shoes in lab
Require students to wash hands after any lab
B. Chemistry
1. Basic safety rules
a. Lubricate glass tubing and wear heavy gloves when inserting
b. Light match before turning on gas to Bunsen burner
c. Point test tubes away from people when heating
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Use only clean glassware; residue may cause unintended reaction
Clean up spills immediately
Use tongs, gloves with hot glassware; it looks like cold glassware
Never heat a closed vessel; use boiling chips
Use fume hood with toxic/dangerous materials
Avoid flames around flammable materials
2. Chemical storage
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Combustibles stored in metal cabinets
Acids and bases separated and in metal cabinets
Glycerin and nitric acid should be separate
Acids and cyanides should be separate
Potassium chlorate and organics should be separate
Organics, organics, volatiles, acids, and bases separate
Teratogens cause birth defects; avoid using them
Carcinogens cause cancer; avoid using them (p. 189)
3. Chemical Disposal
a.
b.
c.
d.
Federal, state, and local regulations must be followed
Don’t store waste for long periods
Contract with a disposal company if possible
Check with someone who knows before disposing of chemicals
C. Physics/Physical Science
1. Electrical safety
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Know voltage and current in circuits before using
Turn off power before working on circuits
Use properly insulated tools that are in good condition
Don’t wear metal rings or necklaces
Use Underwriters Laboratories approved electrical equipment
Use electric motors approved by National Electric Code
Properly ground all electrical devices
Use GFI (ground fault interrupters) in outlets to avoid electrocution
2. Wall outlets
a. Inspect periodically
b. Teach using low voltage rather than 110-120 V regular outlets
c. Don’t expose students to high voltage
3. Vacuum pumps
a. Wear safety glasses when evacuating glassware
b. Make sure belt guards are in place
4. Ovens and Refrigerators
a. Use only approved refrigerators for storing flammable materials
b. Drying ovens shouldn’t have exposed heating coils
IV. Safety Units
A.
Research indicates direct instruction is useful
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Dombrowski and Hagelberg, 1985
Develops awareness and responsibility in early stages
Teach how to avoid and how to respond to emergencies
Stress housekeeping as important safety precaution
Hands on activities, handouts, demonstrations are useful
Administer safety quiz at mastery level before going on (p. 195)
Student safety contract signed by student and parents (p. 195)