Laboratory Safety and Management Sophia Cheng Science Education

Laboratory Safety and Management Sophia Cheng Science Education Section, EDB

n n Who is the one responsible for laboratory safety in individual laboratories? Who is the one responsible for laboratory safety in science KLA?

Can accidents be prevented?

Accident Statistics (05/06) n n 464 schools responded (response rate : 93. 4% ) Statistics • 296 schools without accident (64%) • 554 cases in 168 schools (36%) • 1. 19 cases per school 500 students and 8 staffs injured; most injuries were minor cuts or scalds Cause of accidents: Carelessness (students: 91. 7%; teachers: 0. 5%; LTs: 1. 8%)

Types of accidents (05/06)

Subjects involved (05/06) 309 (56%) 134 (24%) 92 (17%) 18 (3%) 1 (~0%)

Survey on school laboratory accidents n n EDBCM 151/2009 Collect data for 2008/09 school year Data input via http: //cd. edb. gov. hk/sc_survey 09 Deadline: 30 November 2009

Why accidents happen? Careless Unsafe Experiments Inadequate Equipment Misbehavior Inadequate Instructions Inadequate Safety Training Overcrowding Inadequate Facilities Inadequate Preparation Ignorance Poor Laboratory Management Teaching Experiences

Responsibilities in maintaining a safe learning and working environment n Who should be responsible? • • • n n Students Teachers Laboratory Technicians Panel Chairpersons School Authority … Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility Have you performed your duties? (有否盡一 己之本分)

Students n n n Know and follow all safety rules Be alert in the laboratory Do not attempt unauthorised activities Exercise proper experimental techniques Consider the safety of oneself and the others Read and study lab manual before coming to class Report lab accidents to teacher immediately Keep area clean Proper disposal of biological and chemical waste Do not enter preparation or store rooms …

Teachers n n n n n Ensure the safety of all practical activities and must be thorough in preparation Try out experiments in advance Check that technicians know how to carry out safely the requested hazardous operations Issue students with safety rules and explain what they mean and why they are necessary Give clear instructions to students and remind them of the potential hazards and safety precautions Provide sufficient supervision and guidance to students during experiments Insist students to use proper personal protective equipment Never leave students unsupervised in the lab Familarise with the operation of safety facilities and emergency procedures…

Panel Chairpersons n n n n n Set and model high standards of safety Raise everyone’s concern on safety Ensure all panel members provide adequate safety instructions and equipment to students Be well informed of laws, rules and regulations concerning safety, assist school principal in formulating and implementation of safety policy Co-ordinate the provision of safety resources / facilities Organise/co-ordinate professional development on safety Access and disseminate up-to-date safety information to teaching and technical staff Keep a record of all accidents and details of treatment given Develop and implement a regular schedule for safety inspection …

Laboratory Technicians n n n Have responsibilities for each other’s safety and should warn each other of hazardous situations Co-operate with safety policies of panel, school and EDB, etc. Prepare, operate and maintain apparatus and equipment Procurement of stores and equipment Tryout experiments Provide assistance in class demonstrations Assist teachers in supervising students performing experiments Observe all the normal safeguard in a laboratory Familarise with the operation of safety facilities and emergency procedures Check regularly to ensure all safety measures are in place Supervise the work of other LTs / laboratory attendants …

School Authority n n n n Ensure school complies with the Education Ordinance Build up an effective management system Draw up safety policies, administrative and operational procedures Set up an accountability mechanism for such policies and procedures including how to handle emergencies Provide necessary safety facilities and equipment Support professional development on safety …

Safety Management n Setting up a Standing Committee on Laboratory Safety to: • convene regularly to discuss issues related to lab safety • plan and conduct lab safety programmes • carry out safety inspections regularly • formulate, implement and revise the emergency plan • conduct evacuation drills regularly

Safety Policy n Includes: • Emergency measures and evacuation procedures • How new staffs are to be inducted • How students are to be trained in safety awareness • How safety equipment should be kept and used • How safety information and resources are circulated or disseminated

• How to keep records of lab accidents • In what circumstances non-science lessons may be conducted in laboratories • How to carry out safety inspections • What procedures for risk assessment are to be adopted in open-ended investigations or projects

Resources for Lab Safety

Laboratory Safety and Management (http: //www. edb. gov. hk/cd/sc References & Resources Laboratory Safety and Management)

Handbook on Safety in Science Laboratories English version: http: //cd 1. edb. hkedcity. net/cd/science/laboratory/safety/SHB_2002 e. pdf Chinese version: http: //cd 1. edb. hkedcity. net/cd/science/laboratory/safety/SHB_2002 c. pdf

Learning and Teaching Resources on Safety in Science Laboratories http: //cd 1. edb. hkedcity. net/cd/science/laboratory/SAFETY/safety_exemplars_e. pdf http: //cd 1. edb. hkedcity. net/cd/science/laboratory/SAFETY/safety_exemplars_c. pdf

http: //resources. edb. gov. hk/~ses/

In open-ended investigations n n n Value learning experience from scientific investigations and inquiry based experiments Cultivate correct attitude towards lab safety Train students to be responsible for their and others’ safety at lab • • • Follow safety regulations Conduct and implement risk assessment Be alert and attentive of every procedure to be taken

Risk Assessment n n An analysis of a practical activity to identify hazards and to take precautions to minimise the risk Procedures: • Identifying hazards (Materials / Procedures / Equipment) • Assessing how likely the hazard will actually cause harm (risk) • Deciding what control measures to reduce risk to acceptable level • Finding how to dispose of hazardous residues

Hierarchy of Controls Order Control Example 1 Eliminate Removing the hazard, e. g. taking a hazardous piece of equipment out of service 2 Substitute Replacing a hazardous substance or process with a less hazardous one 3 Isolate Isolating the hazard from the person at risk, e. g. using a guard or barrier 4 Engineer Redesign an experiment, piece of equipment or process to make it less hazardous 5 Administrative Adopt safe work practices. Provide appropriate training, instruction or information 6 Personal Protective Equipment Use of lab-coat, gloves, safety glasses, safety footwear, dust masks, face shields, goggles, etc.

Safety information about chemicals n Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS); City. U • http: //cd 1. edb. hkedcity. net/cd/science/l aboratory/safety/msds_ss_2000. pdf n International Chemical Safety Cards; ILO • http: //www. ilo. org/public/english/protect ion/safework/cis/products/icsc/dtasht/ind ex. htm

Maintenance and repairs for laboratories and equipments

Minor repairs n Government schools • Expanded Subject and Curriculum Block Grant n IMC aided schools • Expanded Operating Expenses Block Grant n Non-IMC aided schools • Composite Furniture and Equipment Grant • Operating Expenses Block Grant (General domain) n Consolidated Subject Grant (EDBCM No. 100/2009)

Minor repairs n Rates for 2009/2010 school year: • EDBCM 110/2009 n For details: • http: //www. edb. gov. hk => school administration => financial management

Major repairs n n Cost > $8000 (e. g. installation of fume cupboard, fire service installation, exhaust fan maintanance) Apply for non-recurrent grants in Mar/Apr every year • EDBCM No. 60/2009 (Estimates for 2010 -11 Financial Year - Aided Schools Applications for Non-Recurrent Grants: Major Repairs/Alterations) n n Estate schools => Housing Department Non-estate schools => Architectural Services Department

Procedures for Major Repairs 1. Application for funding by school 4. EDB estimates budget 2. HD or Arch SD conducts site inspection 5. HD or Arch SD initiates meetings with school 3. Classify items into “essential” , “desirable but not essential” and “not necessary” 6. Repair works by contractor

Emergency Repairs n n n Cost < $200, 000 Submit Standard Request Form for emergency repairs to HD or Arch SD with a copy to REO. Examples of emergency repairs: • Blackboard repair, serious water seepage, re-charging of fire extinguishers, broken windows, etc.

Conversion with structural alteration and extension n n Require approval from EDB Seek advice from • Regional Education Office • Housing Department / Architectural Services Department • Department of Health • Fire Services Department

For details on Maintenance of Premises: http: //www. edb. gov. hk/index. aspx? no de. ID=1621&langno=1 (http: //www. edb. gov. hk => School administration => Regulations => School administration guide => 8. School premises & safety) n

Designing and Planning Laboratories http: //www. ase. org. uk/ldtl/docs/L 014. pdf

Group Discussion

Thank you! Sophia Cheng sophiaslcheng@edb. gov. hk 3698 3439