The Nature of Science 2.2 Laboratory safety equipment
School laboratories have a range of safety equipment such as safety goggles, eye wash, fireblankets and fire extinguishers. When you are working in a science laboratory you must know where to find the safety equipment.
Activity Find out where the safety equipment is stored in your science laboratory.
Case Study Safety first
Ms. Murphy’s class is having a bad day in the school laboratory. During a practical class the following incidents occurred:
1. Joe tripped over the straps of Sarah’s bag. 2. Louise spilled water when she washed her hands at a sink. 3. Seamus knocked over a chemical from Ms. Murphy’s desk onto the floor. 4. A flammable liquid spilt near a lighted Bunsen burner. 5. Sean knocked over and broke a test tube and beaker. 6. A flammable liquid ignited in a test tube when Ms. Murphy was demonstrating an experiment to the class.
7. While putting out the fire she knocked over a tub of iron nails and they fell on the floor.
Questions
1. Identify the safety procedures that should be followed to prevent or deal with each incident.
2. Identify a piece of safety equipment that could be used when dealing with each incident.
