LABORATORY SAFETY ISSUES

HOW TO BE SAFE IN SCIENCE CLASS

Joshua Olmstead | Dept. of Ed. Drexel U. | EDUC361/567: Middle Years Science Methods | Prof. Fornaro | Aug. 24, 2021
 GENERAL SAFETY RULES &
PROCEDURES
Always: Never:

Follow all written and verbal directions and warning labels Fool around in lab or experiment on your own

Touch material to face nor eat, drink, or taste anything in

Wear eye protection and wash hands after every activity
lab

Immediately report any accident, injury, or hazard Experiment without lab aprons, hair ties, and proper shoes

Know where safety equipment and exits are Leave work area unattended or uncleaned after use
 SAFETY EQUIPMENT
• Goggles and eyewash stations

• Nonallergic gloves

• Protective aprons

• Safety spray hoses/shower

• Fire extinguishers and blankets

• First-aid kit
 HANDLING CHEMICALS
Even common beverages like soda can be
dangerous when mixed with other chemicals.

Thus, we must be aware of potential safety

hazards, including possible reactions and
storage needs of any chemicals used in class.

For example:
• Labeling & dating all chemical storage
containers Chemicals in the classroom:

• Never storing chemicals with biological Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk

specimens
Table sugar Baking Soda Ammonia
• Avoiding contamination by never returning Table salt Vinegar Lime
unused chemicals to the original container
IN CASE OF STUDENT ACCIDENT

Do’s: Emergency Contacts:

Stay cool, calm, and collected 911 or School Nurse: 555-555-5555

Notify the teacher immediately Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222

Follow the teacher’s instructions Fire Department: 555-555-5555

 EYE PROTECTION
• Goggles must be worn to protect against
liquids that could splash, solids that might
shatter, and heat, fire, projectiles, and
chemicals

• To limit the transmission of bacteria and

lice, goggles must be soaked in a 10%
solution of chlorine bleach and water, then
rinsed and air dried between uses 3M Chemical Splash/Impact Goggle
Meets ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 safety standard
$12.67 *To be provided by school
• Contact lenses may be worn in the
laboratory if appropriate eye protection is
worn over the contact lenses
 ANIMALS
Throughout the school year, we may have the
privilege of guest animals in the classroom.

Working with animals firsthand can engage

and enhance our interest in science, as well
as help instill a general respect for life.

We will learn how to properly care for our

animal guests, and ensure they are treated
humanely, responsibly, and ethically
according to guidelines on the next slide.
 GUIDELINES FOR ANIMALS IN THE
CLASSROOM
• Safety precautions for handling live
organisms

• Appropriate and responsible care of

animals

• Observation and comparison skills

• Plan for future care following guest

visits

• No experiments or dissections of
animals in our classroom
 SPECIAL PROJECT: FUZZ PEDAL
Former Philadelphian Sister Rosetta
Tharpe was one of the first musicians to
use a distorted or “fuzz” guitar sound.

We will be building our own fuzz pedal

in class this year as part of a special
project honoring Philadelphia innovators.

This project will require additional

equipment, materials, and chemicals, as
well as safety precautions as follows.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973)
known as “the Godmother of rock and roll”
 FUZZ PEDAL
Building a fuzz pedal requires soldering, which requires extreme
precaution to avoid injury.

We will be working in a well ventilated area, with goggles, and

immediate hand washing access after each solder use.

Students will take turns making 1-2 solder connections each, and
the instructor will handle the rest.

Materials include:

• Soldering iron and station

• Lead-free solder spool

• Wet sponge

• DIY fuzz pedal kit, including all components

 SAFETY CONTRACT
• Safety contracts ensure everyone
adheres to the same set of safety rules
in science class

• We will follow Flinn Scientific’s

standard safety contract for middle
school science

• Physical copies will be sent home with

students, and PDFs emailed to parents

• Students and parents must sign and

return by Sept. 10, 2021
 REFERENCES
California Department of Education. (2014). Science safety handbook for California public schools. cde.ca.gov.
https://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/documents/scisafebook2014.pdf

Contant, T., Tweed, A., Bass, J. & Carin, A. (2018) Teaching science through inquiry-based instruction (13th ed.). Pearson.

Eye Protection and Safer Practices FAQ. (2021). National Science Teaching Association. August 24, 2021, from
https://www.nsta.org/eye-protection-and-safer-practices-faq

NSTA Board of Directors. (March, 2008). Responsible use of live animals and dissection in the science classroom. National Science Teaching
Association.
https://www.nsta.org/nstas-official-positions/responsible-use-live-animals-and-dissection-science-classroom

Flinn Scientific Incoporated. (2017). Student safety contract. Flinn Scientific.

https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/e225ec725e1f4865a465395b1e79e6c0