Health & Safety

Health and safety in school and college science affects all concerned: teachers and technicians, their employers, students, their parents or guardians, as well as authors and publishers.

Do not undertake any activity unless you are in possession of a risk assessment for that activity approved by your school. It is the teacher's responsibility to ensure this happens.

The guidance in this section of our web site refer to procedures in the United Kingdom. If you are working in another country you may need to make alternative provision.

Please note that we are still working on this section of the web site and taking advice about its content.

General assumptions

It is assumed that:

• practical work is conducted in a properly equipped and maintained laboratory,
• rules for student behaviour are strictly enforced,
• mains-operated equipment is regularly inspected, properly maintained and appropriate records are kept,
• care is taken with normal laboratory operations such as heating substances and handling heavy objects,
• good laboratory practice is observed when chemicals are handled,
• eye protection is worn whenever risk assessments require it,
• any fume cupboard used operates at least to the standard of Building Bulletin 88,
• students are taught safe techniques for such activities as heating chemicals, smelling them, or pouring from bottles,
• hand-washing facilities are readily available in the laboratory.

Last updated: 12 March 2008