Safety in Science Labs: the Dirty Dozen!
(Article #12)

The Winds of Change

Increased enrollments renewed emphasis on hands-on laboratory science, master teachers retiring and neophyte teachers entering service, and building/renovation programs are major factors affecting science in our schools today. Boards of education are at the helm of the ship of learning, trying to negotiate the winds of change to navigate in the best direction. Of utmost importance in all planning and policy making relative to facilities, curriculum, students and personnel is safety.

Board members and superintendents of schools need to be aware of areas for potential safety concerns in typical middle and high school science laboratories. This knowledge will help them make sound fiscal, curricular, personnel and safety policy decisions.

The purpose of this article is to simply expose those safety problems I call the “dirty dozen!” Several past and many future articles will address the specific dangers of the “dirty dozen” in science laboratories. I will include what and how science educators can do to protect themselves and others for a safer laboratory environment. This information will be helpful for science educators to educate and work with administrators. Administrators can then be advocates for change, leading to improvements in the science laboratory.

What Are the Dirty Dozen?

Air quality including ventilation, fume hoods, bioaerosols, radon gas, etc.

Water quality including radon gas, lead, copper, nitrates, methane gas, eyewash/shower, etc.

Electricity including ground fault interrupters, emfs, etc.

Heavy Metals - including thermometers, florescent Bulbs, mercury etc.

Asbestos including floor/ceiling tiles, burners, laboratory table tops, walls, etc.

Hazardous Chemicals including storeroom, storage cabinets, desk drawers, cabinets, and other unacceptable site, etc.

Personal Protective Equipment including latex gloves, goggles, etc.

Walls including lead paint, etc.

Radiation including ionizing (radioactive materials), nonionizing (UV, lasers), etc.

Biohazards including microbes, mold spores, bloodborne pathogens, etc.

External Factors including roofing materials, oil base paints, custodial chemical technology revolution, custodial mechanical technology revolution - Propane buffers, etc.

Personnel including unsafe practices, unskilled, insufficient knowledge, etc.

“AAA” And We Not Talking Automobile Club Here!

Once science educators are aware of the “dirty dozen,” they can take steps to insure a safe working environment. Using the process “AAA” Awareness, Assessment and Action, each of the dirty dozen will be addressed in future columns.

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LIVE LONG AND PROSPER WITH SAFETY!

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Dr. Ken Roy
K-12 Director of Science & Safety & authorized OSHA instructor
c/o Glastonbury Public Schools
Glastonbury, CT 06033-3099
Fax 860-652-7275
E-Mail: royk@glastonburyus.org