How to Teach Students About Lab Safety?

Answer 1

If you teach chemistry students or other students who work in a lab, you might be concerned about safety, and you have a good reason to do so. As an educator, it is your responsibility to do your best to keep your students safe, and you surely don't want to end up feeling guilty because one of your children got hurt while on your watch. Therefore, it is important for you to work hard to teach your students about lab safety, regardless of the types of chemicals that you typically work around or the age group of your students. You never know when something could happen, and things typically happen when we least expect them to, so don't hesitate to teach your students about lab safety. Instead, you should start today.

Many teachers are surprised by just how effective it can be to talk to their students about lab safety. Although you are probably used to your students ignoring lectures, you should realize that many students are scared of the things that can happen in a lab. If you make a point to talk to all of your students about wearing their safety gear and about how to act and behave while in the lab, you might be surprised by just how much they will listen to you. You may have to repeat yourself every now and then, but make it clear that you are only setting these lab safety rules because you don't want anyone to get hurt. After you have set clear lab safety rules, it is important to stick to these rules. If students don't see any consequences for their actions, they may continue to act up in the lab. If you discipline these students, however, they will be more likely to follow the rules.

Also, consider finding videos about lab safety. There are a surprising number of videos out there, and a lot of them show exactly what can happen if students aren't careful in the lab. You might be surprised by just how effective an example of poor lab safety gone wrong can be on your students, so consider showing them a video or two today.