Safety in the Senior Science Lab

In every classroom in every school, everyone has the right to a safe learning environment. Science laboratories present a whole range of potential hazards to people's health and well-being, and it is critical that both teachers and students are fully aware of their responsibilities to ensure the learning environment is kept safe at all times. Everyone's behaviour must be such that danger is minimized - both to themselves and others. After a few years performing experiments in the school lab, it is easy to forget that science laboratories can be dangerous places. Unfortunately, accidents can and do occur. The most common ones are fire, chemical and thermal burns, cuts from broken glass, absorption of toxic chemicals through the skin, and inhalation of toxic fumes. Some of these accidents result in permanent injury. Awareness and preventative action are therefore paramount to maintaining a safe environment. This program is aimed at students who are not new to science laboratories. It covers a range of safety areas, including general safety in science laboratories and specific areas of potential risk in chemistry, biology and physics labs. It is an ideal learning resource for students of this level to remind them of the ever-present need to act with safety foremost in mind at all times during science classes.