Lab safety is a valuable and important part of every science class.  From Earth/Space to Biology, safety is one of the most important, and yet overlooked topics in education today.  But why is lab safety so important?  To find the answer, let's look at a safe lab.  What elements make up this safe environment for students?
 

• following the directions.  Each student must read all of the directions before beginning the lab.  A failure to do so could result in injury or death!
• proper protective gear.  Items like safety goggles, lab aprons, and hard hats keep students from injury when they are in potentially dangerous situations.
• a properly equipped lab.  Each lab should have a fire extinguisher, chemical shower and eye wash station, along with a first-aid kit.  Not only should the lab be equipped with these facilities, each student should know the exact location and how to use each one.
• an active teacher.  Without the teacher's influence and attention, the students can very easily mistreat and misuse potentially dangerous substances and create an environment that is unsafe for those around them.
• knowing the chemicals you are working with.  Each student and the teacher should know the chemicals they are working with and the dangers they pose.  Check out the Material Safety Data Sheet Search Page to find out about specific chemicals.

In order to learn a little more about lab safety, don't just take our word for it, read about it!

Follow the links!

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Laboratory Safety Program

BioTech Science: General Techniques and Lab Safety

SCRTec: General Chemistry Laboratory Safety and Procedures

 UVM Lab Housekeeping Practices