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Hi Stephen,
Lab safety enforcement in chemistry is a must. To help address the importance of wearing googles, I start the year by using [url=https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/9d0dba99ee0a414a8c8fc76a1a738cac]Flinn's acid in the eye demo[/url] as a lab to demonstrate the importance of eye protection. Students use 6M hydrochloric acid as this is a reagent that we will routinely use in the lab throughout the year. Students monitor the denaturing of the egg white protein over the course of the class period and after 24 hours. The egg serves as a model for the human eye. I have them use 32-square grid petri dish labels on glass petri dishes so they can calculate the surface area of the egg affected by the acid over time. Then I have them graph how the egg is damaged over a class period. Next, I have them compare the surface area of the egg to the area of an actual human eye. Once we complete this lab, I rarely have students [i]forget[/i] to wear eye protection. The damage to the egg is proof to them that I only have their best interest at heart. However, if a student refuses to wear goggles, then they are not allowed to finish the lab. They are given an alternate assignment instead.
Based on the results of egg lab, I also rarely have student wear improper attire. However, if they wear sandals, instead of close-toed shoes, I give them the alternative assignment for the lab. If they wear improper attire, I give them a lab coat as I have enough for my entire class.
If a student blatantly disregards the instructions for the activity, they lose their lab privileges. If what they are doing is putting themselves or their peers in danger, they have to sit out of two labs. They are not allowed in the room. They report to our OSS room at school and are given an alternative assignment. I have taught at my current school for ten years. The last time I had to enforce this policy was five year ago because I got a reputation that I mean business.
If students are simply messing around in the lab, but not necessarily being dangerous, then I give them a 30 minutes after school detention. This is our school's policy. Students serve the detention with me and we typically clean the lab together so that I can talk with them. I explain the reasons why they got the detention and what they need to do next time. I find that if we are working on a job together like cleaning the lab sinks or some other type of work, it makes it easier to have a conversation. Students are more receptive to my constructive criticism. I have several repeat offenders depending on the class, but as the year progresses, even those students begin to practice better lab safety.
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