1. TEACHER & STUDENT PROTECTION
T & S wear goggles when working with any chemical or liquid other than H2O
T & S wear goggles when there is a possibility of flying objects (i.e., rubber bands)
Goggles shared by students should be sanitized between uses
Precautions must be taken when using sharp objects (i.e., knives, scalpels, needles, pins, etc.)
Students should not clean up broken glass
When working with hot materials, noxious plants or live animals, T & S should wear proper hand protection
T & S should always wash hands after any experiments

2. SAFETY WITH FIRE
Teacher should never leave the room when any fire is lit or any heat source is being used.
Never heat flammable liquids. Heat only H2O or H2O solutions.
Use only Pyrex type glassware for heating.
T & S should tie back long hair when working around any heat source.
When using a hot plate, locate it so that S cannot pull it off the worktop or trip over the cord.
Never use alcohol burners.
Candles should be placed in a drip-pan before using and should only be used under adult supervision.
T & S should wear goggles when using any heat source.
A fire extinguisher should be kept near the activity area and T should be trained in its use.

3. DANGEROUS MATERIALS Use only safety matches
Use only non-mercury thermometers
Discard old batteries appropriately
Never allow or encourage students to place any materials near their mouth, nose or eyes
Do not touch dry ice with the bare skin
Clean up all liquid spills immediately. They can be slippery!
Do not use or mix chemicals in any manner other than that stated in the approved laboratory procedure

4. SAFETY WITH PLANTS Wash hands after working with plants and seeds
Never put seeds or plants in mouth
Do not handle seeds or plants if there are cuts or sores on your hands
Some 700 species of plants can cause death or illness!
Be aware of the signs of plant poisoning (i.e., headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, itching or skin eruptions)
Be alert to plant safety on field trips

5. SAFETY WITH ANIMALS
Any handling of animals by S must be carefully supervised & S should have a parent permission slip on file
T & S should never mishandle or mistreat animals
A safety lesson should be given to teach students how to care for and treat classroom animals
Animals caught in the wild should never be brought into the classroom
Be aware of animals S might encounter while on a field trip
At no time should dissection be done on an animal corpse unless it was specifically purchased from a reliable supplier
Never keep animals preserved in formaldehyde in your classroom or school!

6. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
T should establish emergency procedures for (at least) the following…
emergency first aid, electric shock, poisoning, burns, fire, evacuations, spills and animal bites
Review emergency procedures with S before beginning any classroom experiment
Be prepared and have equipment and supplies nearby for unforeseen emergencies
Establish procedures for notifying appropriate authorities in the event of an emergency

7. DISPOSAL
Except for the disposal procedures described in the science text, it is unlikely that any of the wastes generated in elementary science activities will be harmful to the environment. If the T has any questions concerning waste disposal, the district Science Leader or County Elementary Science Consultant should be consulted.
12/07

8. FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
Never do any experiment without the approval and supervision of your teacher
Always wear safety goggles when directed to by your teacher
Know the location of all safety equipment in your classroom
Tell your teacher immediately if an accident occurs
Tell your teacher immediately if a spill occurs
Tell your teacher immediately about any broken or chipped glassware
Tie back long hair and secure loose clothing when working around flames
If instructed to do so, wear lab apron or smock to protect your clothing
Never assume anything that has been heated is cool.
Never taste anything during a laboratory activity
Clean up your work area when you are finished with your activity
Wash your hands with soap and water after completing an activity

9. PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY: Dean Gilbert Science Coordinator Orange County Department of Education
Information for this presentation was provided by the
‘American Chemical Society’