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Chemical Safety in School Laboratories: Preliminary Findings. Goh Choo Ta, PhD Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), National University of Malaysia (UKM). Outline. Background Preliminary Findings Work in progress Conclusion. Background.
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Chemical Safety in School Laboratories: Preliminary Findings Goh Choo Ta, PhD Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), National University of Malaysia (UKM)
Outline • Background • Preliminary Findings • Work in progress • Conclusion
Background • Hazardous chemicals were found in some of the consumer products. Primary School Secondary School College / university
Background • ‘Chemical Safety in School Laboratories’ is funded by the Potential HiCoE (Higher Education Centre of Excellent) LESTARI awarded by Ministry of Higher Education. • Ministry of Education Malaysia – Management and Safety of Laboratories in School • Challenges: • Check-list available but concern on implementation • Accidents occurred at school laboratories
Background • Objectives of the project: • To identify awareness of chemical safety among the students. • To identify availability and accessibility of infrastructures that are related to chemical safety. • To identify strengths and weaknesses of existing systems that are related to chemical safety • To identify chemical safety components in the syllabus of chemistry
Background • Scopes: • Criteria for chemical safety • Perception on chemical safety • Chemical safety in the syllabus of chemistry • Targeted respondents are from: • Secondary schools • National services training programme
Preliminary Findings • Case study – 3 secondary schools have been selected. • Five criteria have been identified in the questionnaire • Information and procedures • Equipment and facilities • Knowledge and awareness • Waste disposal • Emergency response plan • Three aspects – knowledge, practice and perception
Preliminary Findings • Components of Chemical Safety in the laboratory • Laboratory safety guidelines and warning signs • Personal protective equipment • Safety facilities • Emergency evacuation plan • Emergency apparatus • Storage • Chemical inventory • Chemical safety data sheet (CSDS) • Waste disposal • Key personnel
Work in progress Analysis of the completed questionnaires: • Analysis of the chemical safety levels for secondary schools located in the urban and rural areas. • Analysis of the laboratory safety in secondary schools • Analysis of chemical safety components in the syllabus of chemistry. • Analysis of the preparedness of teachers in chemical safety.
Work in progress Chemical Safety Campaign at National services training programme (CHEM-CAMP): • Overview of Chemicals Management • Importance of chemicals • Chemistry and carrier • Chemical safety and communication • Lifecycle of mercury • Chemical pollution in river • Risk-based chemical contamination in marine ecosystem