What Are the Hazards What Are the Hazards You Might Encounter You Might Encounter When Teaching Science?When Teaching Science?

What is a hazard?What is a hazard?

• A hazard is anything with the potential to A hazard is anything with the potential to harm. Hazards in the science laboratory can harm. Hazards in the science laboratory can be be

• Chemicals (e.g. hydrochloric acid)Chemicals (e.g. hydrochloric acid)

• Apparatus (e.g. Low Voltage Power Supply)Apparatus (e.g. Low Voltage Power Supply)

• Procedures (e.g. heating a beaker of water) Procedures (e.g. heating a beaker of water)

General hazardsGeneral hazards• Heat (flames/hot objects-tripods)Heat (flames/hot objects-tripods)

• Hot liquidsHot liquids

• Sharp instrumentsSharp instruments

• Voltages above 25vVoltages above 25v

• Lifting heavy objectsLifting heavy objects

• Taste, smell, touchTaste, smell, touch

Hazards in BiologyHazards in Biology• ChemicalsChemicals

• Living or once living materialsLiving or once living materials

• TastingTasting

• Hazardous equipmentHazardous equipment

• Field workField work

Chemical Dangers in Chemical Dangers in BiologyBiology

• EthanolEthanol

• StainsStains

• Reagents - iodine solution, Reagents - iodine solution, Benedict’s reagent, ninhydrin ……..Benedict’s reagent, ninhydrin ……..

• Formalin?Formalin?

Using Animal and Plant Using Animal and Plant MaterialsMaterials• Dissection and human emotional Dissection and human emotional

disturbancedisturbance

• Contamination e.g. Contamination e.g. SalmonellaSalmonella

• Plants. allergies and toxins(e.g. Plants. allergies and toxins(e.g. buttercup, foxglove, laburnum)buttercup, foxglove, laburnum)

• Saliva and bloodSaliva and blood

• TastingTasting

Pupils As the Subject of Pupils As the Subject of ExperimentsExperiments

• Asthma and bronchitisAsthma and bronchitis

• Tasting materialsTasting materials

• Avoiding competitive activitiesAvoiding competitive activities

• ExerciseExercise

MicrobiologyMicrobiology

• Choice of organismsChoice of organisms

• Facilities and resourcesFacilities and resources

• Preparation and disposalPreparation and disposal

• AutoclavesAutoclaves

• Staff expertiseStaff expertise

Biological Equipment and Biological Equipment and Apparatus Apparatus

• Scalpels and sharpsScalpels and sharps

• Aquariums (electric shock)Aquariums (electric shock)

• SyringesSyringes

• SphygmomanometersSphygmomanometers

• SpirometersSpirometers

FieldworkFieldwork

• AdministrationAdministration

• In loco parentisIn loco parentis

• Group controlGroup control

• Dangerous areas?Dangerous areas?

• Supervision levelsSupervision levels

Hazards in Chemistry (1)Hazards in Chemistry (1)

• Toxic e.g.ammonia gas, asbestos, chlorine, leadToxic e.g.ammonia gas, asbestos, chlorine, lead

• Harmful e.g. copper sulphate, napthalene, iodineHarmful e.g. copper sulphate, napthalene, iodine

• Irritant e.g. dilute acids and alkalis, calcium chlorideIrritant e.g. dilute acids and alkalis, calcium chloride

• Corrosive e.g. conc. acids and alkalis, soda limeCorrosive e.g. conc. acids and alkalis, soda lime

• Flammable e.g. ethanol, sulphur, paraffinFlammable e.g. ethanol, sulphur, paraffin

• Oxidising e.g. potassium nitrate and permanganateOxidising e.g. potassium nitrate and permanganate

• Explosive e.g. ammonium nitrite, nitrocelluloseExplosive e.g. ammonium nitrite, nitrocellulose

• Radioactive e.g. thorium saltsRadioactive e.g. thorium salts

Hazards in Chemistry (2) Hazards in Chemistry (2) • Heating solids and liquids (quantities)Heating solids and liquids (quantities)

• Smelling gasesSmelling gases

• SpillageSpillage

• Broken glassBroken glass

• Chemical disposalChemical disposal

• Personal protection (goggles, gloves, Personal protection (goggles, gloves, aprons, lab coats, screens)aprons, lab coats, screens)

• Fume cupboardsFume cupboards

Hazards in Physics (1)Hazards in Physics (1)

• ChemicalsChemicals

• Electricity and electrostaticsElectricity and electrostatics

• Electron and gas discharge tubesElectron and gas discharge tubes

• HeatersHeaters

• Large massesLarge masses

• LasersLasers

Hazards in Physics (2)Hazards in Physics (2)

• High pressures or vacuumsHigh pressures or vacuums

• Steam enginesSteam engines

• Stroboscopes/signal generatorsStroboscopes/signal generators

• Viewing the sunViewing the sun

• Wires under tensionWires under tension

• RadiationRadiation

Hazards in Physics (3)Hazards in Physics (3)• Power supplies (less than 25V and 10A)Power supplies (less than 25V and 10A)

• Van de Graaff generator (electric shock)Van de Graaff generator (electric shock)

• High tension discharge tubes (up to High tension discharge tubes (up to 400V)400V)

• Electric fires, fan heaters, radiant Electric fires, fan heaters, radiant heaters (burns and electric shocks)heaters (burns and electric shocks)

• Heavy masses (feet, lifting, whirling, Heavy masses (feet, lifting, whirling, beam collapse)beam collapse)

• Lasers (classes-danger to eye)Lasers (classes-danger to eye)

Hazards in Physics (4)Hazards in Physics (4)• Bell in jar/collapsing can (implosion/explosion-Bell in jar/collapsing can (implosion/explosion-

scattering of material)scattering of material)

• Steam engines (exploding boilers, fuel ignition)Steam engines (exploding boilers, fuel ignition)

• Strobes/signal generators (possible migraine Strobes/signal generators (possible migraine or epileptic trigger)or epileptic trigger)

• Viewing sun (care when focusing rays)Viewing sun (care when focusing rays)

• Wires/strings/plastic filaments (breakage Wires/strings/plastic filaments (breakage under tension producing whiplash injuries)under tension producing whiplash injuries)

• Radiation (headaches, eye damage, skin Radiation (headaches, eye damage, skin ‘burning’, cell damage)‘burning’, cell damage)

General Principles General Principles

• Find it out (refer to documentation)Find it out (refer to documentation)

• Think it out (use your common sense)Think it out (use your common sense)

• Ask about (teachers/technicians)Ask about (teachers/technicians)

• Try it out (practice experiments)Try it out (practice experiments)

• Get it out (no Bernie, don’t….)Get it out (no Bernie, don’t….)

• DfEE (1996) DfEE (1996) Safety in Science Education Safety in Science Education HMSOHMSO