Abstract
Teaching and learning of chemistry involves scientific tests and experiments that take place in laboratories. It involves using hazardous chemicals and equipment posing risks and health hazards to the users. Hence, the users should be thoroughly versed with laboratory safety practices. Therefore, an attempt to understand the safety practices in chemistry laboratories in schools have been examined in this study. The data were collected administering a mixed method. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Congruency of the eight predetermined themes was established by triangulating the quantitative and qualitative data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. The results indicated that the schools had good safety practices with adequate laboratory facilities and safety skills. The schools were also aware of emergency planning and chemical storage and labeling. However, schools lacked properly trained safety practitioners. It was also observed that chemicals and waste materials were disposed of without treatment. Further, it was also observed that there were shortages of safety gloves and goggles fume hood and pipette fillers. The study recommends school administrators, chemistry teachers, and laboratory assistants to procure unavailable items required for the safe conduct of chemistry laboratory activities. The study further recommends the Ministry of Education (MoE) to provide training to chemistry teachers and laboratory assistants on the safe handling of hazardous materials and on first aid techniques to address accidents
Highlights
The laboratory work is considered very important to promote students’ learning of science and scientific inquiry
The use of hazardous chemicals and equipment is unavoidable and they pose a threat to human health and environment in the absence of proper safety practices
The eight major themes that were deduced from the literature are Protective Equipment (PPE), safety facilities and equipment, safety practices, safety knowledge and skills, Emergency Planning (EP), Hazardous Waste Management (HWM), chemical storage and labeling, and training and policy
Summary
The laboratory work is considered very important to promote students’ learning of science and scientific inquiry. The chemicals and equipment possess a significant risk of accidents, a threat to human health, and the natural environment. The situation literally demands conscientious care in order to protect human health, conserve the natural environment and to prevent laboratory accidents. Conserve the natural environment, and protect human health include safety training and enforcement of safety guidelines, use of PPE (PPE), and disposal of the hazardous chemical waste properly. The number of accidents and the state of safety practices in the chemistry laboratories of schools in Bhutan is still unknown due to very limited research in this area. The only study by [36] investigated laboratory safety in one of the middle secondary schools in western Bhutan based on students’ ability to recognize common hazard symbols.
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