In almost every state, teachers—as well as the school—are legally liable for student injuries. In case of an accident, being able to prove that lab safety has been taught, and that safety rules are enforced, becomes your legal protection.

Unfortunately, few science teachers have training in the health and safety hazards of a typical science lab. Add to this lack of formal safety training a shortage of proper equipment and inadequate maintenance procedures and you can see the potential for accidents—and lawsuits.

In an effort to help classroom lab instructors, a series of short articles that discuss basic lab safety procedures has been compiled. Although these guidelines carry no legal weight, they can provide instructors with a general overview for lab safety. (The author, who was a middle school science teacher for many years, as well as a staff consultant for various science education catalogers, has granted permission for these copyrighted articles to be used for classroom distribution.)

1. Wear safety goggles during all experiments and activities.

Chemical splash goggles should have continuous brow and side coverage. The sides should be ventilated. Some chemical splash goggles come with fog-free lenses.

Impact goggles, useful in earth science labs, physics labs, and even art classes, offer protection against flying materials. These goggles should feature brow bars and side protection.

Ultraviolet goggles are a must when using short-wave ultraviolet lamps.

Visitor's spectacles are disposable safety glasses with side shields. Although not suitable for student use in the lab, they are a necessity for observers and visitors.

2. Wear lab aprons or snap front lab coats. Why snap front coats? In an accident, seconds count. Buttons take too long to open.

Tyvek™ lab coats are tear resistant and water repellant, and also resistant to most acids. The cloth-like fabric is anti-static and lint free.

3. Wear shoes that cover the toes and protect the feet. Sandals and flip-flops are not safe footwear in the lab.
4. Wear non-synthetic clothes whenever open flames will be used. Synthetic clothing can melt onto the skin.
5. Loose clothing can be a lab hazard. Do not wear clothing with long or loose sleeves, frills, or frayed edges. Do not wear neckties or scarves.
6. Long hair should be securely fastened back.
7. Always wash face, hands, and arms after handling chemicals.
8. Use appropriate hand protection.

9. Promptly record all accidents. All accidents, no matter how minor, should be recorded by the instructor in a notebook kept just for this purpose. Information recorded should include names, date, what happened, and what follow-up action was taken.
10. Keep emergency information clearly posted. In some states, the placement of emergency information is dictated by law. Phone numbers for the nearest poison control center, fire department, hospital, and ambulance service should be visible to everyone.
11. Never taste, smell, or touch chemicals. A textbook experiment requiring touching, tasting, or smelling chemicals will give clear directions for performing the experiment or activity. Follow the directions.
12. Clean up all spills promptly.

13. Keep aisles cleared at all times. This means books, purses, backpacks, etc., should be stored away from lab work areas.
14. Never drink, eat, chew, or smoke in the lab. This includes chewing gum!
15. Never perform unauthorized experiments.
16. Never work in a lab by yourself.
17. Gather all equipment before the experiment or activity begins.
18. Be aware of your lab neighbor's actions.
19. Only clean lab ware should ever be put away. Get in the habit of cleaning all equipment, including the lab table and sink, when class ends.
20. Review specific safety hazards before an experiment/activity begins.

1. Know your state's guidelines for physical placement of lab equipment. For instance, many states require a minimum of 4 ft. between lab tables, and regulate placement of lab fume hoods, chemical storage cabinets, and eyewash stations.

You can contact your State Board of Education for details. Also, most of the larger science catalogers have sales staff trained in your state's laws.

2. Know your state's requirements for disposal of chemicals, biologicals, or other hazardous materials. Federal guidelines are available from OSHA. State guidelines are available through either your State Board of Education or the local EPA.

3. Every lab must have a fire extinguisher, preferably a dry chemical extinguisher. Some states also require fire blankets be kept in the lab.

     Class A fires: paper, wood, fabric, etc. Water or dry chemical extinguishers work on Class A fires.

     Class B fires: flammable liquids such as alcohols, gasoline, etc. Carbon dioxide, halon, or dry chemical extinguishers work on Class B fires.

     Class C fires: live electrical equipment such as motors and appliances. Carbon dioxide, halon, and dry chemical extinguishers work on Class C fires.

4. Several states now require permanently mounted eyewash stations and safety showers. Faucet adapters and wall-mounted eyewash stations provide supplemental safety assistance but may not meet your state's safety code.
5. Electrical equipment must be properly connected to grounded outlets. Explosion proof refrigerators must be wired into existing circuitry; these refrigerators do not have outlet plugs. Hot plates should have on/off switches.
6. Fume hoods must be ventilated. Stationary fume hoods need to be connected with flexible duct tubing to the school's existing exhaust system. Portable fume hoods should have built-in carbon filters and exhaust blowers.
7. Review operating instructions before using any piece of equipment.
8. Safety goggles need to be kept sterilized. An ultraviolet light sterilizer is the simplest way to sterilize safety goggles. Some schools require students to purchase their own safety goggles, thus reducing or eliminating the need to share goggles.
9. Gas burners should only be connected with a special burner connector tube.

Rubber or plastic tubing, often used in older labs, is a safety hazard because the tubing is easily pulled loose.

10. Acids (corrosives) and flammables need special color-coded, clearly labeled storage cabinets. Traditionally, acid cabinets are blue and cabinets for flammables are yellow.

Chemical cabinet bases should be leak proof and have a high, leak proof sill or trough. High-density polyethylene trays provide extra spill protection.

11. All labs should have an easily accessed first aid kit and burn kit. However, instructors should check with their State Board of Education for specific rulings on administration of first aid.
12. Recommended books for the lab are: First Aid Manual for Chemical Accidents, Merck's Index, Handbook of Lab Safety, and Science Safety for Elementary Teachers.
13. Safety videos such as Safety in the Science Lab and Science Safety Program should be required viewing for students and instructors.
14. Safety reminder signs should be posted in the lab.

© 2004 Anne Wallingford. All rights reserved.

To contact us, please click Email.