Florida Association of Science Supervisors

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Florida Association of Science Supervisors October
26, 2007
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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)

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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)

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• 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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
administers

• (1) the Resource Conservation and Recovery
  Act,
• (2) the Emergency Planning and Right-to-Know
  laws and regulations, and
• (3) 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/tf
  s/teacher.html).

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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 Z358.1guidelines for establishing the
  correct design, installation, use, and
  performance of emergency safety equipment.
• ANSI Z87guidelines for protective equipment at
  easily accessible locations.
• the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
  has established voluntary standards for
  laboratory safety that include
• ANSI Z358.1guidelines for establishing the
  correct design, installation, use, and
  performance of emergency safety
  equipment.
• ANSI Z87guidelines for protective
  equipment at easily
  accessible locations.

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How does a classroom teacher keep up with the
myriad guidelines and regulations governing lab
safety?
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Lab Safety Best Practices Manual

• Floridas 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.

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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.

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Florida Association of Science Supervisors October
26, 2007