Duval Science Safety Agreement

Student Safety Agreement
Duval County (FL) Public Schools
The purpose of this document is to provide you with information and instructions about general safety procedures for science laboratory activities. You are expected to read, understand, and follow the safety rules below. Your parent or guardian is asked to read and sign also so he or she knows what the safety expectations are for your science class.
I shall:
1. Follow all instructions given by the teacher, including safety procedures.
2. Use only materials, equipment, and directions authorized by my teacher.
3. Not play around in the lab.
4. Protect eyes, hands, face, and body while conducting lab activities.
5. Wear approved safety goggles when lab activities involve chemicals, glassware, heat, and/or projectiles. (This includes those who wear glasses or contact lenses.)
6. Never enter the chemical storage area.
7. Never remove chemicals or equipment from the classroom or lab area.
8. Know the location and proper use of safety equipment: fire blanket, eyewash, safety shower, spill containment materials, and fire extinguisher. (Tampering with safety equipment is not allowed.)
9. Know the proper exit route in case of a fire or fire drill.
10. Never run if clothing should catch fire. (Smother the flame with a fire blanket or use the safety shower.)
11. Notify the teacher if there is a safety hazard.
12. Report any accident, injury, spills, or glass breakage immediately to the teacher. (Do not try to clean up broken glass yourself.)
13. Pull back and secure long hair and long sleeves.
14. Wear proper clothing and shoes for lab work (no open toe shoes, bulky winter coats, or long hanging jewelry).
15. Not chew gum or consume food or beverages in lab unless they are part of the planned activity and I have the teacher’s approval to do so.
16. Never taste or sniff chemicals or touch chemicals with my bare hands. (If a lab requires you to detect the odor of a chemical and you are not allergic to it, use the wafting method taught to you by your teacher.)
17. Be careful when using a hot plate or Bunsen burner and not reach across an open flame. (Turn them off when not in use and do not leave them unattended.)
18. Point the open end of a test tube away from myself and others when heating it.
19. Not touch glassware that may still be hot. (Hot glass looks the same as cold glass.)
20. Be sure that electrical cords from hot plates, microscopes, computers, or other equipment are not in or near water or obstructing walking through the lab area.
21. Never work alone in the lab.
22. Clean my work area when finished and return supplies and equipment to designated places.
23. Wash my hands after lab activities.
24. For science projects, know which kinds of projects require prior approval from the Regional Science Fair committees (IRB/SRC) and which kinds of project should not be done at home.
I have read, understand, and agree to follow the safety procedures stated above. I also agree to follow
other written or verbal safety procedures specific to a particular lab activity.