SAFE SCIENCE

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SAFE SCIENCE

• Safety for Elementary and
• Middle Level Teachers
• Richard J. Reif
• Science Consultant, NMPED
• Math / Science Conference
• Las Cruces, NM
• December 4, 2003

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Purpose of this workshop

• To prevent accidents in science classrooms
• To emphasize sound practices that not only
  protect the health and well-being of students and
  teachers, but protect the environment as well.
• To promote an atmosphere of scientific inquiry in
  all classrooms.

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In case of an accident

• If serious injury is a possibility,
• Immediately obtain medical help by calling
  emergency number or police or fire dept.
• Give first aid per district policy. Do not treat
  or provide medication.
• Contact parent or guardian.
• If not available, contact alternative person or
  family physician.

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In case of an accident

• Notify the school principal and, if you have one,
  the school nurse.
• Follow school rules when dealing with bodily
  fluids.
• Have a properly trained person administer first
  aid, if necessary.
• Be sure parent or guardian has been notified in
  any accident.

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Eye Protection

• Be sure that eye protection equipment meets ANSI
  Z87.1 standards.
• Introduce students to the need of eye protection
  devices, and emphasize importance of using them.
• Consider eye safety when planning lessons.
• Make sure everyone performing science activities
  that involve possible hazard wears approved
  protection devices.

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Eye Protection (contd)

• Have policy for distributing, storing, and
  sanitizing glasses.
• If not individual, sanitize after each use.
• Blindfolds should not be used on more than one
  student. Eye diseases are highly contagious!!
• Demonstrations Teacher and students wear
  goggles use safety shield if necessary.

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Plants in the Classroom

• Never place any part of a plant in mouth.
• Never allow sap or fruit juice to penetrate your
  skin.
• Never inhale or expose skin or eyes to smoke from
  any burning plant.
• Never pick unknown wildflowers, seeds, berries,
  mushrooms, or cultivated plants.
• Never eat food after handling plants without
  scrubbing hands with soap.

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Plants in the Classroom

• Never transport plants across state lines or
  release exotic plants into the wild.
• Some students may be allergic to mold, mildew,
  and other fungi. Use only commercial potting
  soils.
• Many parts of a plant can be toxic, even fatal.

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Examples of toxic plants
Plants poisonous to the touch due to exuded oils

• Poison ivy (T. radicans R. diversiloba)
• Poison oak (R. quercifolia T. diversilobum)
• Poison sumac (R. vernix)
• Oleander (N. oleander)
• Yew (T. baccata)

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Examples of toxic plants
Plants poisonous when eaten

• Many fungi (mushrooms)
• Aconite (A. napellus)
• Belladonna (A. belladonna)
• Wake Robin (genus Trillium)
• Henbane (H. niger)
• Pokeweed (P. americana)

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Examples of toxic plants
Plants poisonous when eaten

• Tansy (genus Tanacetum)
• Foxglove (D. purpurea)
• Indian Tobacco (L. inflata)
• Jimson weed (D. stramonium)
• Poinsetta (E. pulcherrima)
• Mistletoe (V. album)

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Examples of toxic plants
Saps of the following plants are toxic

• Oleander (N. oleander)
• Poinsetta (E. Pulcherrima)
• Trumpet vine (C. radicans)

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Examples of toxic plants
Common house plants that are toxic

• Dieffenbachia (D. maculata)
• Poinsetta (E. Pulcherrima)
• Castor bean (R. communis)
• Mistletoe (V. album)
• Lantana (sp.)

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First Aid

• Purpose is to protect, not treat.
• Obtain medical aid for any injury or illness, in
  every case of injury to the eye.
• Do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe or offer
  medication.
• Give first aid if properly trained.
• BE AWARE OF YOUR SCHOOLS STANDARD PROCEDURES.
  THERE SHOULD BE DESIGNATED PERSONNEL TO DEAL WITH
  BODILY FLUIDS AND SPILLS.

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First Aid

• Restore breathing, using one of the following in
  which you have sufficient training
• Mouth-to-mouth (mouth-to-nose) method
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Techniques for clearing airway (Heimlich maneuver)

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First Aid

• Stop bleeding (slight, moderate, or massive)
• Wear latex or similar gloves to minimize risk of
  infection
• Apply a large compress to the wound using heel of
  the hand severe or profuse bleeding must be
  stopped before other aid can be given.
• If cut is slight, remove foreign matter, wash
  with water, and apply a sterile dressing.

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First Aid

• Prevent shock (symptoms are paleness, cold moist
  skin, nausea, shallow breathing)
• Reclining position with head lower than body
  (unless student is having difficulty breathing)
• Control bleeding by direct pressure
• Wrap person in blankets, coats, etc.
• Keep persons airways open.

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Animals in the Classroom

• Check your school districts policy!
• Do not allow poisonous animals to be brought to
  school.
• Do not allow live or dead wild animals.
• No animals with high dander levels (e.g., rabbits
  or guinea pigs)
• Watch for ticks and mites on birds, even though
  purchased. (no nests!)

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Animals in the Classroom

• Obtain animals from reputable supply house or
  licensed pet shop.
• Fish from tanks where all fish appear healthy.
• Provide properly sized living quarters. Keep
  clean and free from dust well ventilated.
• Provide for care on weekends and vacations.
• Use heavy gloves when handling animals.
• Wash hands before and after handling animals.

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Animals in the Classroom

• Take care with mammals they protect themselves
  and young by biting, scratching, and kicking.
• Discourage bringing personal pets to school.
• In field, students should not pick up or touch
  unfamiliar animals.
• Students should never tease animals or poke
  fingers or objects into cages
• Report animal bites or scratches to office
  immediately. Provide basic first aid.

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Animals in the Classroom

• Rats, mice, and hamsters are best picked up by
  scruff of neck.
• If young are to be handled, remove mother to
  another cage she will be fiercely protective by
  nature.
• If you bring an animal into the classroom, make
  plans for its eventual return. NEVER release pet
  store animals into the wild.

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Field Trips

• Check environment before bringing students to
  site (hazards, access, etc.).
• Never take anything for granted where students
  are concerned. Always be alert for the
  unexpected.
• At least one responsible adult should accompany
  teacher and students.
• If possible, keep adult/student ratio no less
  than 110. Trips to more hazardous sites require
  more supervision.

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Field Trips

• Bring a cell phone
• Get parental permission (with emergency
  information, health concerns, etc.)
• Send home a list of proper clothing and
  equipment, supplies.
• Pair students with buddies.
• Students should wear clothing that covers legs
  and arms to minimize risk of mite and tick bites,
  plant poisoning, scrapes.

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Field Trips

• Check first aid kits.
• Do not go on any body of water unless at least
  one person in the party is familiar with latest
  methods of artificial respiration and rules of
  ordinary water safety.
• If trip is near or into the water of a stream,
  lake, river, or ocean, students should first
  learn to recognize dangerous aquatic or marine
  plants and animals common to the area.

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Field Trips

• Use buddy system in any trip involving wading.
• Life jackets should always be worn.
• Trips to factories and laboratories should be
  well supervised and conducted by an experienced
  representative of the company.
• Have a list of student allergies and medications.

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Fire Control

• Know location of fire extinguisher, fire blanket,
  and fire alarm.
• KNOW HOW TO USE THEM!
• Move students immediately away from the fire
  area.
• Sound fire alarm.
• Evacuate room.

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Fire Control
A common accidental fire occurs when a student
leans too close to an open flame..

• Hair or clothing fire
• Water is most effective remedy.
• Fire blanket can also be used.
• Do not use CO2

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Classes of Fires
CLASS A Fires in wood, paper, cloth, and other
ordinary combustibles

• Can be extinguished with water.
• Function is to cool the combustible and prevent
  rekindling.
• Smothering is also a valid approach.
• General purpose dry chemical extinguisher is also
  effective.

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Classes of Fires
CLASS B Fires in gasoline, oil, or other
flammable liquids that vaporize easily when
heated.

• Extinguish by smothering DO NOT USE WATER!!
• Use dry chemical or CO2 extinguisher.
• Do not hold horn of CO2 extinguisher with your
  hand.
• Can also use a foam extinguisher.

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Classes of Fires
CLASS C Fires in live electrical equipment.

• Must use a non-conducting agent. NO WATER!!!
• CO2 smothers flame without damaging equipment.
• Dry chemical extinguisher is also effective, but
  makes a mess.
• Shut off power to burning equipment if possible.

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Classes of Fires
CLASS D Fires in combustible metals such as
magnesium, sodium, potassium, lithium, titanium,
and others.

• New and specialized classification.
• Need special extinguisher powder, administered by
  scoop.
• Dry sand may also be used for small fires.

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Storage and Labeling Storage

• Provide enough shelf space so there is no
  crowding.
• Bar or lip on edge of shelf prevents items from
  falling off.
• Store chemicals, large glassware, and heavy
  articles on lower shelves not accessible to
  students.
• Keep all toxic substances behind a locked door.
  (Suggestion use the same precautions you would
  with a small child in the home.)

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Storage and Labeling Storage

• Keep materials in easily handled containers
  appropriate and approved for the materials they
  contain.
• Label containers properly.
• Store volatile liquids away from sunlight,
  switches, and heat sources.
• Reacting materials should not be stored near each
  other.

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Storage and Labeling Quantity

• Dont store anything you dont need.
• Dont store anything that is not part of the
  curriculum.
• Store only what you are going to use a years
  supply is recommended.
• For a one-shot activity, have on hand only what
  is needed for the activity.

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Storage and Labeling Quantity

• Dont store anything you dont need.
• Dont store anything that is not part of the
  curriculum.
• Store only what you are going to use a years
  supply is recommended.
• For a one-shot activity, have on hand only what
  is needed for the activity.

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Storage and Labeling Labeling

• Label both storage area and individual items.
• Labels for chemicals should include date of
  purchase.
• Never accept old material from another class,
  school, teacher, or other source.
• Material safety data sheets (MSDSs) should be
  kept in room and in school office.
• Chemicals should be identified by common name,
  scientific name, formula, precautions, and
  antidote.
• Discard substances if they have lost their
  labels.

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Storage and Labeling Handling

• Store acids, bases, and salts in separate areas.
• Develop a system for moving materials from
  storage to classroom areas (e.g., rolling carts).
• Hazardous chemical list
• Mercury special precautions

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Use of Glassware

• Remove sharp edges from mirrors, prisms, and
  glass plates by grinding or by having edges
  covered with nail polish.
• When inserting glass tubing into a rubber
  stopper
• End should be fire polished do not insert tubing
  with a jagged end
• Aim tubing away from palm of hand
• Lubricate glass with glycerin or petroleum jelly
• Do not let students do this!!!

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Use of Glassware

• Have a separate disposal system for broken glass.
• Use plasticware whenever possible.

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Use of Electrical Devices

• Do not grasp any electrical device that has just
  been used it may be hot.
• Do not short circuit dry cells or storage
  batteries. Connecting wire will become hot, can
  cause serious burns or fires.
• Pull on plugs, not on power cords.
• Plug devices into nearest outlet do not use
  extension cords.
• Use ground fault interrupters (GFIs) on all
  classroom laboratory electrical outlets

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Use of Electrical Devices

• Inspect cords. Replace worn or cracked cords.
• Remind students not to insert any object into
  electrical outlets.
• Use plastic covers over sockets not in use.
• Never run a piece of electrical equipment near
  water.

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Use of Electrical Devices

• Electrical circuits for students should be
  mounted on wood or other insulating material.
• Steel tables or trays are not suitable for
  conducting electric circuit activities.
• Limit circuit voltage to 30 v. In most cases,
  circuit activities need only one or two 1.5 v.
  D-cells.

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Use of Optics and Light

• Never permit students to look into direct or
  reflected laser beams.
• Set up experiments at a low height, making it
  more difficult to look into the beam.
• Holograms should be viewed with a beam greatly
  expanded (use firmly mounted diverging lens).
• Beam intensity can be reduced by
• Using beam splitters or spreaders
• Using neutral density filters
• Working at greater distances from the laser

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Observing the Sun

• NEVER look directly at the sun with unaided eye
  or camera, telescope, binoculars, etc.
• NEVER use an eyepiece filter.
• To observe the sun, you CAN safely use
• Projected pinhole image.
• Projected telescope image
• Telescope with full aperture solar filter
  (1/100,000 intensity or less)

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Use of Tools and Machines

• If using hand tools, have a suitable work space
  and storage facility for tools.
• Use tools only for the purpose for which they
  were designed.
• Ties, gloves, or loose clothing should not be
  worn when using power tools.
• Avoid contact with heating elements or moving
  parts.
• Use 3-prong plugs, no extension cords, safety
  glasses.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
General Safety Practices

• Obtain copy of federal, state, and local
  regulations that relate to school safety, as well
  as district policies and regulations.
• Know your schools policy and procedure in case
  of accidents.
• Check your classroom regularly to insure safety
  precautions are being taken.
• Store equipment and materials properly.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
General Safety Practices

• Do not leave hazardous materials exposed.
• Review material safety data sheets (MSDS).
• Before carrying out an actyivity or experiment,
  familiarize yourself with its possible hazards.
• Do not use alcohol burners.
• Be familiar with your schools fire regulations,
  evacuation procedures, and the location and use
  of firefighting equipment.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
General Safety Practices

• At start of science activity, instruct students
  about potential hazards and the precautions to be
  taken.
• Limit size of a group of students working on an
  experiment to a number that can perform the
  experiment safely.
• Plan enough time for an experiment or activity.
• Clean up and properly store equipment and
  materials when finished.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
General Safety Practices

• Instruct students to never taste, or place in
  their mouths, any substance used in a science
  laboratory setting.
• Instruct students not to touch classroom
  substances or material without first obtaining
  instructions from you.
• Instruct students to report all accidents or
  injuries, however small, to you immediately. Be
  sure they know that there is no penalty for this.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
General Safety Practices

• Instruct students that it is unsafe to touch
  their faces, mouths, eyes, and other parts of
  their bodies while working with plants, animals,
  or chemical substances and afterwards, until they
  have washed their hands and cleaned their nails.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
Working with Chemicals

• Wear approved goggles.
• Teach students not to mix chemicals just to see
  what happens.
• Instruct students never to taste chemicals and to
  wash hands after using chemicals.
• With elementary students, use vinegar or lemon
  juice for activities calling for an acid.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
Working with Chemicals

• Combustible materials must be stored in a
  fireproof metal cabinet equipped with a lock.
• Chemicals should be properly stored in a locked
  cabinet in a cool, dry place.
• Store only minimum amounts of chemicals.
• Discard chemicals not used in a given period, in
  accordance with your school district policy.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
Glassware

• Whenever possible, substitute plastic.
• Dont heat hard class test tubes from the bottom.
  They should be tipped slightly, but not in the
  direction of another student.
• Tell students to report sharp edges on mirrors or
  glassware.
• Keep a whisk broom and dust pan available for
  sweeping up broken glass.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
Glassware

• Place broken glass in a separate disposal
  container.
• Warn students not to drink from glassware used in
  science experiments.
• Use thermometers filled with alcohol, not mercury.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
Electricity

• Teach students to use electricity safely in
  everyday uses.
• At start of any unit on electricity, tell
  students not to experiment with the electric
  current of home circuits.
• Check your school building code or regulations
  about temporary wiring for devices to be used
  continuously in one location.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
Electricity

• Electrical cords should be short and in good
  condition.
• Plug electrical devices into the nearest outlet.
• Students hands should be dry when touching
  electrical cords, switches, or devices.
• Have ground fault interruptors installed on
  outlets near water sources.

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SAFETY CHECKLIST
Class Size

• Strongest correlate of accidents is crowding.
• National Fire Protection Association requires 50
  sq. ft. of net free space per student in school
  science laboratory.
• Pathways calls for 60 sq. ft.
• 20 sq. ft. for science classroom.
• Science rooms usually designed for 24 students
  maximum.

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Good Practice

• Lesson plans In any lesson plan that includes
  an activity, list all safety precautions and
  announcements.
• Safety contracts spell out standards of
  behavior, justify consequences
• Document!

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Resources

• Safety in the elementary classroom. NSTA.
• Exploring safely A guide for elementary
  teachers. NSTA.
• Inquiring Safely A guide for middle school
  teachers. NSTA.
• Safety in Physics Education. AAPT.
• Safety in academic chemistry laboratories. ACS.

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Resources

• Chemical safety for teachers and their
  supervisors. ACS. (downloadable?)
• Flynn Scientific. Downloadable publications,
  www.flynnsci.com
• NSTA, NABT, AAPS, ACS, CSSS, other professional
  organizations with documents and position
  statements.

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Enjoy SAFE
Science!!

• END