Transcript Slide 1

Florida Association of Science
Supervisors
October 26, 2007
What are school science lab
investigations good for?
enhancing mastery of subject matter;
developing scientific reasoning;
understanding the complexity and ambiguity of
empirical work;
developing practical skills;
understanding the nature of science;
cultivating interest in science and interest in
learning science; and
developing teamwork abilities.
America's Lab Report: Investigations in High School Science (2005)
A Study of lab injury data in Iowa
revealed that:
The number of claims rose from 674 in
1990-1993 to 1,002 in 1993-1996,
and the cost to insurance companies
rose from $1.68 to $2.3 million.
the number of law-suits grew from 96 to
245, and awards in these suits grew
from $566,305 to $1.2 million
(Gerlovich et al., 2002)
Maintaining student safety during
laboratory experiences is a critical
concern, but little systematic information is
available about safety problems and
solutions.
America's Lab Report: Investigations in High School Science (2005)
The Council of Chief State
Science Supervisors (CCSSS)
has defined three essential lab
safety duties of every classroom
science teacher :
The duty of instruction.
The duty of supervision.
The duty of maintenance.
Duty of Instruction
“Teachers must instruct students prior to any
laboratory activity,
providing accurate, appropriate information
about foreseeable dangers;
identifying and clarifying any specific risks;
explaining proper procedures/techniques;
and describing appropriate behavior in the
lab. These instructions must follow
professional and district guidelines.”
Duty of Supervision.
“…not tolerating misbehavior,
providing greater supervision in more
dangerous situations,
providing greater supervision to younger
students and those with special needs,
and never leaving students unattended.”
Duty of Maintenance
“…never use defective equipment,
file written reports for maintenance or
correction of hazardous conditions or
defective equipment,
establish regular inspections of safety
equipment and procedures,
and follow all guidelines for handling and
disposing of chemicals.”
What are Standards of Care?
The Building Officials and Code Administrators
International, Inc., and the National Fire Protection
Association, Inc. establish guidelines for class and lab
size. The current standards call for 50 sq.ft. of
workspace per student.
OSHA established the Laboratory Standard (29 CFR
1910.1450), which requires school science teachers to
create and maintain a chemical hygiene plan (CHP). The
CHP requires proper labeling of all chemicals, using a
Material Safety Data Sheet, which outlines important
safety information, and safe storage.
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
administers:
(1)
(2)
(3)
the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act,
the Emergency Planning and Right-to-Know
laws and regulations, and
the Toxic Substances Control Act. To carry
out provisions of the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, EPA issues regulations
and guidelines governing safe storage of
laboratory chemicals, equipment, and
supplies.
(http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tfs/teacher.html).
In addition to these federal standards of
care, the the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) has
established voluntary standards for
laboratory safety that include:
ANSI Z358.1—guidelines for establishing the correct design,
installation, use, and performance of emergency safety equipment.
ANSI Z87—guidelines for protective equipment at easily accessible
locations.
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established
voluntary standards for laboratory safety that include:
ANSI Z358.1—guidelines for establishing the correct
design, installation, use, and performance of
emergency safety equipment.
ANSI Z87—guidelines for protective
equipment at easily accessible locations.
How does a classroom teacher
keep up with the myriad
guidelines and regulations
governing lab safety?
Lab Safety Best Practices
Manual
Florida’s teachers need an up to date
central source that:
Clearly delineates their responsibilities and
provides guidance through the maze of federal and
state regulations,
Provides clear and specific guidelines for safety as
it pertains to each grade level and content area,
and
Offers recommendations for enhancing lab safety
conditions and practices in the environment within
which they teach.
How can FASS help?
Relate the specific needs of your district,
share procedures and best practices that
have been effective in your district, and
work within your district to raise the profile
of lab safety throughout the school
system.
Florida Association of Science
Supervisors
October 26, 2007