Science Safety
Resources to help school districts and county superintendent of schools ensure adults and students are safe when they are on a school site.It is the duty of the governing board of every school district and of every county superintendent of schools to ensure adults and students are safe when they are on a school site. Science instruction and science laboratories can cause the need for specific safety protocols to be in place at each school site.
California Education Code Section 32030 states:
It shall be the duty of the governing board of every school district, and of every county superintendent of schools, and of every person, firm, or organization maintaining any private school, in this state, to equip schools with eye protective devices as defined in Section 32032, for the use of all students, teachers, and visitors when participating in the courses which are included in Section 32031. It shall be the duty of the superintendents, principals, teachers or instructors charged with the supervision of any class in which any such course is conducted, to require such eye protective devices to be worn by students, teachers, or instructors and visitors under the circumstances prescribed in Section 32031.
The governing board of any school district may request consultation services from the California Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Service to ensure hazardous materials are being used and stored safely in school laboratories.
In 2012, the California Department of Education assembled a team of experts to revise the Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools (Handbook). Some updates were made to this Handbook in 2014. The current Science Framework to help guide science instruction was published after the 2014 Handbook. Changes to legislation and resources mentioned in the Handbook since 2014 are not captured in the 2014 Handbook. Therefore, the 2014 Handbook does not contain current information. A copy of the 2014 Handbook publication can be provided upon request for historical reference by emailing the Professional Learning Support and Monitoring Office at PLSMO@cde.ca.gov.
Below is a list of resources that can help the governing board of a school district, county superintendent of schools, and school staff ensure adults and students are safe when they are performing science related activities in a school.
Resources
State Board of Education Approved Resources
The 2016 Science Framework
The 2016 Science Framework has science safety guidance embedded in places where instructional guidance is mentioned.
Legislation
Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories; chemical hygiene plan (California Code of Regulations, Title 8, General Industry Safety Orders, Section 5191)
This legislation has been updated since 2014 and applies to all employees in schools.
Other Resources
Importance of a Chemical Hygiene Plan
This article explains the components of a school Chemical Hygiene Plan.
Flinn Science
Science safety information specifically for schools.
Laboratory Safety Institute
This website provides science laboratory facility guidelines and information specifically for schools.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Database of Topics
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides a searchable database of topics that can provide information specifically applicable to schools.