The safety of our students and teachers is our top priority.   
​We have procedures in place to aid in safe practices and procedures.  

Rock Hill Schools Science Laboratory
​ Chemical Hygiene Plan
​for Middle & High Schools - 2018
Presentation in PDF

Forms you may need:

Chemical Inventory Form

​Chemicals Requiring Outside Disposal

Lab Safety Addendum for Schools

Lab Safety Summary

For Students

• Students must watch the RHSD Lab Safety video and sign a Lab Safety Agreement.
• Students must follow the directions given by the teacher.
  -Measure correctly.
  -Only combine the chemicals stated in the directions.
  -Clean up as directed by the teacher.
• Students must wear their apron and goggles appropriately.
• Students should tie back long hair and wear closed-toe shoes during lab experiments.
• Students must alert the teacher of any spills, broken glass, or unintentional fires.
• Students should know the location and proper use of the fire extinguisher, fire blanket, safety shower, and eyewash station.

For Teachers

• Teachers must watch the Safe Schools Lab Safety videos and complete the quizzes.
• Teachers must clearly explain directions and expectations to students prior to each lab experience.
• Teachers must maintain an inventory of all chemicals and the proper SDS for each chemical stored in the Science lab storage area.
• Teachers must give students clear directions for lab experiments and maintain a safe atmosphere during such experiments.
• Teachers must keep the chemical storage area locked at all times.
• In the event of a spill, fire, or injury, the teacher should send an email to 1) the school’s Department Chair, 2) Chemical Hygiene Officer, and the 3) District Chemical Hygiene Officer (kmassey@rhmail.org).  
  The email should contain the following information:
  -date and time of incident
  -names of affected students
  -explanation of the incident
  -teacher’s response to the incident

Standard Operating Procedures

The safety of our staff and students in Rock Hill Schools is of the highest importance.  We encourage our teachers to conduct labs with students on a regular basis.  At the same time, we strongly encourage teachers to consider the safety of the labs they conduct.  Below are guidelines that are followed by ALL middle and high school students.

• Annually, each of our teachers will watch two lab safety videos, and successfully complete the quiz through Safe Schools.
   1) Science Lab Safety

           2) Science Laboratory Chemical Spills

• Each student enrolled in Middle or High School Science will be shown the Rock Hill Schools Student Lab Safety Video by their teacher.  The video will be discussed and the students will each sign a lab safety pledge.

 

• When conducting labs, teachers and students will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including aprons and goggles.  Gloves may also be worn depending on the nature of the experiment.

 

• Each semester, in August and January, Science teachers must complete and submit a Lab Safety Inventory (Appendix A) to submit to their school’s Chemical Hygiene Officer.

 

• To determine and implement proper control measures, to reduce exposure to hazardous materials, teachers will review the SDS of any chemicals used for laboratory purposes.  

 

• Any chemicals are found to be mutagenic, teratogenic, or carcinogenic, will not be used in Rock Hill Schools.   

 

• In Rock Hill Schools, no labs will be conducted that involve an open flame that is not fueled by a Bunsen burner, or larger than the flame of a tea candle.  Teachers take special care to ensure that students maintain a proper distance, wear flame retardant aprons, and have flame distinguishing materials nearby.

 

• The door to each chemical storage area will bear a sign, Lab Safety Summary, (Appendix E) stating a summary of our Lab Safety procedures.  Behind the sign will be the list of chemicals stored in that storage area.

 

• All chemicals ordered for use in Rock Hill Schools, will be ordered from Flinn Scientific.  

 

• All preserved specimens for use in Rock Hill Schools, will be ordered from either Flinn Scientific (Appendix B) or Carolina Biologicals (Appendix C).

 

• Rock Hill Schools will adhere to the NSTA Minimum Safety Practices and Regulations for Demonstrations, Experiments, and Workshops  (Appendix H)

 

• Any past and future NSTA Safety Alerts will be added to this Lab Safety Plan to be adhered to by teachers in Rock Hill Schools.​

To read the details of these procedures, please see the 
Rock Hill Schools Science Chemical Hygiene Plan for Middle and High Schools.