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School Safety: The Lab, What are the teacher's responsibilities?

By Steve Lombardi

Teachers just know that today I'm not picking on you. I do realize you have a tough job babysitting all those kids raised on participation trophies. I know what happens. They show up to class with arms outstretched, hands raised and say, "What? What's your problem? I showed up!" meaning okay so my homework isn't done and I didn't read today's lesson. Its okay with my parents so what's with you getting mad? You know I showed up! So where is my trophy? Yeah that's what ten years of coaching soccer taught me.

Today we continue our series on school safety and will list the lab teacher's responsibilities when running the lab class in order to protect themselves, the school staff and the students. Yesterday we explored student responsibilities and today we explore yours. Also today we will discuss why each has a list of responsibilities and why that is necessary to creating a good and safe learning environment. (School Safety: How to Avoid Accidents and Injury in the School Laboratory and Megan's Experiments in Education.

I'm using NIOSH's list of each. I like the format and simplicity they've chosen. There are six areas of responsibilities to focus on and if you do you should stay out of any lawsuits.

1. Upkeep of Laboratory and Equipment

2. Recordkeeping

3. Safety and Emergency Procedures

4. Maintenance of Chemicals

5. Preparing for Laboratory Activities

6. Ensuring Appropriate Laboratory Conduct

Each area is important to some aspect of safety in the lab. Safety isn't just about what is done before there is an accident. It's also about what to do following an accident. And it's about being able to prove you've been following these simple rules. I'll quote NIOSH and if you follow the link it will take you to the site where they are listed along with a PDF version you can save to your computer, print and post in the class or use as a handout at the beginning of the school year.

What Are the Teacher's Responsibilities?

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Teachers and teacher-aides should lead by example and wear personal protective equipment; follow and enforce safety rules, procedures, and practices; and demonstrate safety behavior and promote a culture of safety. They should be proactive in every aspect of laboratory safety, making safety a priority. The following is a checklist for teachers highlighting essential information for working in the high school laboratory. This is a general safety checklist and should be periodically re-evaluated for updates.

Upkeep of Laboratory and Equipment

• Conduct regular inspections of safety and first aid equipment as often as requested by the administration. Record the inspection date and the inspector's initials on the attached equipment inspection tag.
• Notify the administration in writing if a hazardous or possibly hazardous condition (e.g., malfunctioning safety equipment or chemical hazard) is identified in the laboratory and follow through on the status.
• Never use defective equipment.

Recordkeeping

• Keep organized records on safety training of staff for as long as required by the school system.
• Keep records of all laboratory incidents for as long as required by the school system.

Safety and Emergency Procedures

• Educate students on the location and use of all safety and emergency equipment prior to laboratory activity.
• Identify safety procedures to follow in the event of an emergency/accident. Provide students with verbal and written safety procedures to follow in the event of an emergency/accident.
• Know the location of and how to use the cut-off switches and valves for the water, gas, and electricity in the laboratory.
• Know the location of and how to use all safety and emergency equipment (i.e., safety shower, eyewash, first-aid kit, fire blanket, fire extinguishers and mercury spill kits).
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers near the phone.
• Conduct appropriate safety and evacuation drills on a regular basis.
• Explain in detail to students the consequences of violating safety rules and procedures.

Maintenance of Chemicals

• Perform regular inventory inspections of chemicals.
• Update the chemical inventory at least annually, or as requested by the administration. Provide a copy of the chemical inventory to the local emergency responders (i.e., fire department).
• Do not store food and drink with any chemicals.
• If possible, keep all chemicals in their original containers.
• Make sure all chemicals and reagents are labeled.
• Do not store chemicals on the lab bench, on the floor, or in the laboratory chemical hood.
• Ensure chemicals not in use are stored in a locked facility with limited access.
• Know the storage, handling, and disposal requirements for each chemical used.
• Make certain chemicals are disposed of properly. Consult the label and the Material Safety Data Sheet for disposal information and always follow appropriate chemical disposal regulations.

Preparing for Laboratory Activities

• Before each activity in the laboratory, weigh the potential risk factors against the educational value.
• Have an understanding of all the potential hazards of the materials, the process, and the equipment involved in every laboratory activity.
• Inspect all equipment/apparatus in the laboratory before use.
• Before entering the laboratory, instruct students on all laboratory procedures that will be conducted.
• Discuss all safety concerns and potential hazards related to the laboratory work that students will be performing before starting the work. Document in lesson plan book.

Ensuring Appropriate Laboratory Conduct

• Be a model for good safety conduct for students to follow.
• Make sure students are wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (i.e., chemical splash goggles, laboratory aprons or coats, and gloves).
• Enforce all safety rules and procedures at all times.
• Never leave students unsupervised in the laboratory.
• Never allow unauthorized visitors to enter the laboratory.
• Never allow students to take chemicals out of the laboratory.
• Never permit smoking, food, beverages, or gum in the laboratory.

Links: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-107/

PDF Version: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-107/pdfs/2007-107.pdf

As a lawyer, a parent and a citizen I support bright line responsibilities rather than granting people a free pass to be irresponsible. I don't support tort reform that grants blanket immunity to corporate America because it weakens our system and the American way of life. I can't understand why I should support corporate freedom from responsibilities while working people continue to do the right thing and follow the rules? America will remain strong so long as everyone has lines in the sand and they are held accountable. Special interests support special rights for a select few. That is wrong for one and for all of us.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on September 11, 2008 (boomark / email).