A solid understanding of lab safety practices is essential for our students to carry out practical work in the laboratory. Students love completing practical work and can learn a great deal from hands on activities. It's an effective way to teach the principle of scientific inquiry, develop student skills in measurement and observation, and to motivate and engage students, but safety must always come first. A good first step is ensuring that any practical activities are properly and thoroughly risk-assessed by the educator before the activity takes place. Educators should do the experiment or demonstration first before the lesson to understand any risks.
Hazard Symbols Chart and Hazard Examples. Teach lab safety with comics!
Storyboard Text
Hazard Symbol
Serious Health Hazard
Acute Toxicity
Health Hazard
Explosive
Oxidizing
Hazardous to the Environment
Flammable
Gas Under Pressure
Corrosive
Any substance that could cause serious chronic health effects, including any carcinogens
Any substance that can cause harm or fatality after swallowing it, breathing it in, or after contact with the skin
Any substance that can cause irritation and sensitivity on or in the body
Any substance that could explode and is unstable
Any substance that has an oxidizer and is therefore a fire hazard
Any substance that poses a threat to the environment, including danger to aquatic life
Any substance that can easily be set alight
Any gas or dissolved gas that is being kept at pressure. (This doesn’t mean the gas is dangerous, even normally safe gases come with risks when they are pressurized.)
Any substance that can corrode and cause skin or eye damage
