Model Classes

3.5 Safety Equipment

The notion of safety equipment in the biology laboratory is to ensure that students, teachers, researchers who work in the laboratory are not injured or killed with the materials and equipment that they use during laboratory activities. Safety

measures and procedures in biological activities should therefore be strictly maintained. The following safety equipments should be available in the biology laboratory.

Eye Wash Facilities

Eyewash facilities are required in all laboratories where injurious or corrosive chemicals are used or stored and should be easily accessible to the laboratory users. Biology laboratories that cannot afford wash fountains can improvise with plastic squash bottles that can be operated by a quick release system that can simultaneously drench the eyes.

Eye Protection

Eye protection must be made available to students, teachers and all users of biology laboratory. Protective eye and face

equipment must be used where there is a reasonable probability of injury from hazardous chemicals.

In a normal situation, the minimum acceptable requirements are hardened glass or plastic safety spectacles. The biology teacher should establish the level of eye protection needed per

laboratory activities. The following are types of eye protection recommended for use in the biology laboratory:

Safety Goggles (Impact-Goggles)

This offers adequate protection against flying particles. This can be worn when working with glassware under reduced or elevated pressure or with drill presses or any other similar conditions.

Safety Glasses

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With its side shields can offer minimal protection against flying fragments, chips, particles, sand and dirt. When a splash hazard exists, other protective eye equipment should be worn.

Chemical Splash Goggles (Acid Goggles)

These are not common in Nigerian biology laboratories. They provide adequate protection against splashes as they have indirect venting for splash proof sides.

Chemical splash glasses offer the best eye protection from chemical splashes, when danger of a splash exists.

Face shields

These protect the face and neck from flying particles and splashes. Always wear additional eye protection under face shields especially

when working with contagious bacteria or viruses Protection of Skin and Body

Protective clothing should be used to protect individuals working in the biology laboratories from chemical exposure. To determine the clothing needed for the chemical being used is not easy to obtain, as protective garments are not equally effective for every hazardous chemicals. Some chemicals will penetrate a garment in a very short time, whereas others will not. Therefore, the basic and most effective forms of protection are gloves and lab coats.

When there is a reasonable anticipation of a splash, always protect exposed skin surfaces. Open-toed shoes, sandals and shorts should not be worn when working with injurious or

corrosive chemicals. Even when there is minimal danger of skin

contact with an extremely hazardous substance, lab coats, coverall, aprons or protective suits should be utilized. These garments should not leave the work sites.

Spill Kits and Other Equipment

Every biology laboratory should have a standard clean up kits and other safety equipment. This should include the following:

Waste containers Brooms

Dusk pans .Mops

Disposable thrash bags

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Mercury clean-up kit Bottle (acid) carriers

Bonding and Grounding cables First Aid Kit

3.6 Disposal Waste

Hazardous wastes can be divided into three broad classes.

Chemical wastes (solids, liquids and gases)

Biological and special wastes (e.g. drugs, biological materials, animal and plant remains, etc.)

Radioactive wastes.

Each of these poses particular waste disposal problems.

Procedures that reduce or eliminate the volume of wastes are encouraged, and when possible the smallest quantity of the

materials can be used to reduce waste disposal. Animal remains should be buried and other chemicals properly disposed

according to manufacturers instructions.

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

Your students are to investigate the process of diffusion and osmosis in a model of a membrane system. Briefly explain how you will ensure safety. What activities will you undertake as a risk assessment? How will you dispose the left over materials used in carrying out the experiment?

4.0CONCLUSION

Safety is fundamental in all biology laboratory activities. Safety techniques are important skill students/teachers must acquire to ensure that nobody gets hurt. A biology teacher should know how to apply safety regulations in storage, use and care of materials, chemicals, and equipments. He/She must also teach the same to his/her students.

5.0 SUMMARY

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In this unit, we have learnt that:

Safety is a fundamental concern in all biology laboratory

activities. Both teachers and students must acquire and apply all necessary safety regulations in the biology laboratory.

Potential hazards in biology laboratory made hazardous through thoughtlessness, carelessness, haste, lack of knowledge and inexperience.

Risk assessment must be carried out before starting any work in biology laboratory.

Chemicals used routinely in biology laboratory, can be dangerous and must be used according to recommended practice. Safety equipments in the biology laboratory must be located before hand. They must be used and handled carefully. Waste from biology laboratory must be disposed of properly and carefully.

6.0TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT

1. Where should the safety equipment in the biology laboratory