Science Safety

Resources for Science Department Chairs

and

Science Teachers

pdf file of:  of Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools

Helpful Online Resources from the National Science Education Leadership Association.

pdf file of:  School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide (Oct. 2006) - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

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Responsibility for Safety

• All employees should be alert for safety hazards associated with school activities and property.  Any such situation should be reported to the principal or designee.  The most urgent and/or most common conditions that might occur  in science classrooms and related detailed instructions are outlined below.  Teachers are obligated to give proper safety instruction and to enforce district safety procedures in classrooms.

• In the event of an injury to a student, a teacher is protected by district liability insurance coverage as long as the teacher has acted within the scope of his/her regularly assigned duties.  The teacher of science must determine which labs/activities are safe to perform based on the size of the room, the number of students, and the maturity level of the students.  Potential safety issues, or conflicts between safety and curriculum needed to meet standards, should be brought to the attention of the principal or designee.  See pages 2-3 of the "Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools."  (attached reference)

Secondary Schools

      Classroom, Laboratory, and Industrial Technology Lab Safety Precautions

Science

• The "Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools" provides detailed guidelines for safety in science classrooms and laboratories.  It is available on-line at http://csmp.ucop.edu/csp/downloads/safety.pdf.  Topics covered include general laboratory safety precautions; safety in biology, chemistry, and  physics laboratories; additional safety practices related to eye safety; field trips; and use of animals in the classrooms.  There are a number of useful appendices, including a Safety Checklist for Science Instructional, Preparation, and Storage Areas."

• Every student shall be given safety instruction appropriate to the course taken, and shall pass a safety test before being able to work in the science laboratory.  "Sample Safety Regulations for Science Students,"  "Student Science Safety Contract," and Sample Science Laboratory Safety Test" are available in Appendices F and G of the "Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools."

• All teachers of secondary science shall attend a Science Safety workshop.

• Clothing and hair length.  Loose-fitting and /or unbuttoned clothing and open- toed footwear shall not be worn in the shop/lab.  Students with hair long enough to increase their risk of injury shall provide and wear suitable protective/restraining headgear while working in the shop/lab.

• Safety tests.  Sample test attached:

• Equipment safety.  Unsafe equipment must be secured against use by students and promptly reported to the principal or designee for immediate repair or replacement.

Chemical Storage

• Chemicals must be stored away from student access, in a preparation room separate from the student area or in a locked cabinet.

• Chemicals should be stored according to chemical type (as opposed to alphabetically).  Oxidizers must be isolated from flammables, and nitric acid must be isolated and not stored with other acids.

• Flammables should be stored in a dedicated flammable storage cabinet, and acids in an acid storage cabinet.  If nitric acid is kept, it must be stored in a separate cabinet.

• Chemical work/storage areas require appropriate ventilation.

Rockets and Missiles.  Interest in rocketry requires the district to frequently restate its position.  Principals shall notify all teachers of the following regulations:

• Classroom/laboratory instruction.  Classroom demonstrations and laboratory activities in rocket propulsion should be limited to appropriate use of rubber  balloons, light coiled springs, and low energy pneumatic devices.

• Extra-classroom and field instruction.  Safety-proven, commercially manufactured model rocket engines and model rockets may be used in an instructional program under the following conditions.

• All launchings must be at a site approved by the Fresno City Fire Marshal.  All requirements of the "Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools," Section 6.C and Appendix Q, which includes state fire marshal's regulations in California Code of Regulations title 19, Sections 1020-1028, shall be met in their entirety.

• Other preparation, development, testing, or use of solid or liquid chemical propellants and/ or construction and use of rockets is prohibited.

• Helium balloon launches or outdoor releases are prohibited.

Poisonous Plants.  Information concerning safe handling of plants and trees is set forth in the "Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools," Section 7.F.

Carcinogens and Reproductive Toxins.  Any substance used in a manner  that would cause the threat of cancer or reproductive toxicity is not permitted  on any district site.

Animals in the Classroom

Secondary schools.  For practices to be followed in care and use of animals in the classroom, including vivisection and experimentation, see the "Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools, "  Sections 4.M and 7.B.   Regulations and forms related to animal experimentation in Science Fair Projects can be found in the rules and regulations for the Central Valley Science and Engineering Fair at www.gsdsef.org.

Elementary and Secondary Schools

1. Limitations

Animals are permitted at school only when needed for the instructional program and when under the strict control of qualified instructors or handlers.  All animals used in the classroom must be lawfully acquired in accordance with state and local laws.  All mammals used in a classroom should be inoculated for rabies, unless they were purchased from a reliable scientific company.  All live-animal studies must comply with Education Code Section 51540 (Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools).

• Animals must be obtained from a reliable source and have written certifications that they are in good health and are not carriers of dangerous disease-causing organisms.
• Hamsters, black widow spiders, rattlesnakes, and unbanded psittacine (parrot-like) birds are too dangerous to have at school.  Domesticated white lab-type rats are safe but wild rats are not.  (Note: Possession of gerbils is illegal in California.

 

• Wild animals or domestic pets shall not be brought to school by children.  (Wild creatures should be released, sent to a zoo, or otherwise disposed of without the knowledge of small children.

2. Teacher responsibilities

• Disapprove any student request to bring animal(s) to school.

• Make proper arrangements for display animals and handlers.

3. Animal care and feeding. 

Animals must be kept in a satisfactory shelter with suitable cages provided.  Animals shall be humanely treated and must receive proper food, water, safety, and care. 

 

• Animals shall be:

• Fed appropriately.
• Protected from over-handling or teasing by students.
• Placed in cages in the classroom, with proper sunlight, heat, shade, and ventilation.
• Not left in the building over a holiday or weekend unless the comfort and safety of the animal can be ensured

4. Pets at school.  Domestic pets shall not be allowed in classrooms or on school grounds.

5. Laboratory animals.  Animals procured for use in the science program (such as mice) shall not be given to students to take home as pets. 

6. Animal bites.    If a child is bitten by a pet while at school, the teacher immediately consults the nurse and/or principal.