Name: ______Date: ______Period: ______
“Typical Robert Harrison...”A Story on the Importance of Lab Safety
Please read the following example of a lab situation and identify the safety rules that were broken. Select two rules and explain why the rule is important. What should Robert have done instead? Your response should be written in paragraph form (at least 5 complete sentences!)
The students in Miss Scott’s science class were excited to begin the next lab on measurement because they loved science. As they quietly filed into the lab space, they took their seats and waited for instructions. Miss Scott explained that first each student must put on his or her safety goggles and gloves. Then the students could go to each station and pick up their graduated cylinders, beakers, and chemical solutions to complete the lab. During instructions, Robert was talking to his neighbor, Alex.
Robert was so eager to start the lab that he figured he could run over and grab the chemical solutions and glassware before anyone else got there. He quickly ran to the chemical table, got his beaker and graduated cylinder. He stuck his nose into each of the unmarked solutions, took a big whiff to guess what they were, then began to pour each of the solutions into separate, unlabeled beakers. He spilled a clear solution on the counter, but since it was clear he figured no one would notice. Robert placed his goggles on his forehead and started the lab.
The students were working with mostly household chemicals, including cornstarch, a salt solution, rubbing alcohol and strawberry Jell-O. Upon finishing his lab, Robert decided to take a quick taste – he was done with the lab, so it wouldn’t affect the results. The strawberry Jell-O was terrific!
As the class period ended, Robert was throwing a ball back and forth with Alex, and he knocked a beaker, causing it to fall on the floor and break. In a hurry to get to the next class, Robert
Name: ______Date: ______Period: ______
“Typical Robert Harrison...”A Story on the Importance of Lab Safety
Please read the following example of a lab situation and identify the safety rules that were broken. Select two rules and explain why the rule is important. What should Robert have done instead? Your response should be written in paragraph form (at least 5 complete sentences!)
The students in Miss Scott’s science class were excited to begin the next lab on measurement because they loved science. As they quietly filed into the lab space, they took their seats and waited for instructions. Miss Scott explained that first each student must put on his or her safety goggles and gloves. Then the students could go to each station and pick up their graduated cylinders, beakers, and chemical solutions to complete the lab. During instructions, Robert was talking to his neighbor, Alex.
Robert was so eager to start the lab that he figured he could run over and grab the chemical solutions and glassware before anyone else got there. He quickly ran to the chemical table, got his beaker and graduated cylinder. He stuck his nose into each of the unmarked solutions, took a big whiff to guess what they were, then began to pour each of the solutions into separate, unlabeled beakers. He spilled a clear solution on the counter, but since it was clear he figured no one would notice. Robert placed his goggles on his forehead and started the lab.
The students were working with mostly household chemicals, including cornstarch, a salt solution, rubbing alcohol and strawberry Jell-O. Upon finishing his lab, Robert decided to take a quick taste – he was done with the lab, so it wouldn’t affect the results. The strawberry Jell-O was terrific!
As the class period ended, Robert was throwing a ball back and forth with Alex, and he knocked a beaker, causing it to fall on the floor and break. In a hurry to get to the next class, Robert
swept up the glass pieces in his hand and put them in the trash. He missed a few pieces but thoughtthat no one would notice. Class was over and Robert rushed out, shoving Alex in the process, to race him to English class.
______
Which lab safety rule do you think might be hardest for you to remember to follow? Why? ______
swept up the glass pieces in his hand and put them in the trash. He missed a few pieces but thoughtthat no one would notice. Class was over and Robert rushed out, shoving Alex in the process, to race him to English class.
______
Which lab safety rule do you think might be hardest for you to remember to follow? Why? ______