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. 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.
Air quality including ventilation, fume hoods, bioaerosols, radon gas, etc. Electricity including ground fault interrupters, emfs, etc. Heavy Metals - including thermometers, florescent Bulbs, mercury etc. Hazardous Chemicals including storeroom, storage cabinets, desk drawers, cabinets, and other unacceptable site, etc. Personal Protective Equipment including latex gloves, goggles, etc.