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Practical Solutions to Reduce Your Liability
“Your Safer Source for Science” Practical Solutions to Reduce Your Liability
Introduction
Teaching science is different than teaching other academic subjects because to properly teach science, students must receive instruc- tion and engage in appropriate hands-on activities. More importantly, instructors must teach in an environment using materials and equipment that have the potential to cause serious harm. Instructors must be trained in more than just teaching methods and class- room management. They must also receive specific training in laboratory safety. Faculty must know, understand, and follow many rules and regulations to ensure the safety of students in their classrooms. Instructors also owe their students a duty of care to properly supervise, instruct, maintain equip- ment and facilities, and warn students of potential harm in the laboratory. Accidents will happen. However, instructors can significantly reduce their risk of negligence liability and prevent mishaps by following a few simple rules.
1. Know the safety statutes that affect your laboratory and carefully abide by them.
Check with your state and county depart- ments of education, state department of labor or Occupational Safety and Health Administration for statutes and regula- tions that apply to your laboratory. At a minimum, each department should have in place an up-to-date Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) that describes the required safety procedures.
2. Document all efforts to resolve safety issues in your classroom.
Any safety issues or equipment problems that need repair must be carefully docu- mented in writing and submitted to the proper administrator for immediate action.
Save all letters and documentation.
3. It is best practice for instructors to be pres-
ent in the laboratory while students are present.
Every instructor has a primary duty to properly supervise students.
4. All students should wear the appropriate personal protective equipment while work- ing in the laboratory.
Chemical splash goggles and chem- ical-resistant aprons should be worn whenever any chemicals (no matter how minimal the risk of perceived injury) are to be used by students. Protective eyewear must be worn during all laboratory activities and demonstrations.
5. Teach safety all year and review safety procedures often.
Faculty has a duty to provide proper safety instruction. Start the year with a student safety contract. It is critical that you review the appropriate safety precautions with students prior to beginning any laboratory activity. Remember to document all safety instruction that you provide.
6. Make safety a priority in the laboratory by establishing and modeling safe chemical handling practices.
Set a good example for your students by always wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and performing labo- ratory procedures in a safe manner. Not only will your actions speak louder than words to your students, but if an injury to a student occurs, their attorney will not be able to use your good practices against you.
7. Use smaller volumes and amounts of chemicals.
Smaller chemical quantities result in smaller spills, reduced vapors, and less
material for disposal. Smaller chemi- cal quantities also usually result in less severe injuries to your students. Microscale as many labs as possible, particularly those that use volatile or hazardous chemicals.
8. Demand appropriate safety training related to your duty of care in the labora- tory.
Your administration is responsible for
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9. Do not permit students to use damaged or defective equipment.
Damaged or defective equipment can cause serious harm to students. Until the equipment can be repaired, do not use it. If the conditions of your laboratory facil- ity are unsafe, then document the safety issues and do not permit laboratory activi-
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10. Do not permit students to remove chemi- cals or any other equipment from the laboratory to perform “experiments.”
Theft of unlocked chemicals, perfor- mance of unauthorized experiments, and unsupervised home experiments expose students to potential injury.
Laboratory Safety Course for Undergraduates
Flinn Scientific’s online
laboratory safety course
covers responsible
disposal techniques,
proper use of PPE, the
use of SDS, chemi-
cal and physical hazard
recognition, chemical
hazard categorization, and
procedures for handling
exposure situations. The
course uses an interactive
approach to present the content that combines videos, graphics, animations, text, formative and summative assessments, and a digital safety contract. Student-level and classroom/section-level data are reported in an online, faculty dashboard. Faculty and lab managers can view the course content prior to adoption decisions.
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appropriate training to enable you to meet your duty of care in the laboratory.
ties until the conditions are remedied.
11. Be proactive rather than reactive. l
Acknowledgment
Kelly Ryan was a science teacher in San Gabriel High School in California for 17 years and is now a practicing attorney. He has writ- ten a book entitled Science Classroom Safety and the Law—A Handbook for Teachers (Catalog No. AP6118).
Catalog No.
Description
Price/Each
EL9000
Laboratory Safety Course for Undergraduates, Individual License
$ 4.95
EL9001
Laboratory Safety Course for Undergraduates, Classroom Set (1–30)
99.00
EL9002
Laboratory Safety Course for Undergraduates, Classroom Set (31–60)
179.00
EL9003
Laboratory Safety Course for Undergraduates, Classroom Set (61–100)*
299.00
*For enrollments greater than 100 please call for pricing information.
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