Safety-Specific Features You Need in Your School's Laboratory
The importance of science laboratories in schools cannot be underestimated. They are an essential part of the learning process, as they literally bring theoretical concepts to life. Your students need them for disciplines such as physics, biology, chemistry and agriculture, among others. If you want to set up one, then you are on the right path to steering your school to the next level. However, these research facilities can endanger the safety of the students, workers and other people nearly because of the equipment and materials needed to perform experiments. Here is a look at some of the safety features that your school's laboratory should have.
Emergency Gas Shut-off
Natural gas is a convenient, efficient and cost-effective source of heat for laboratories. Main supply lines can be connected to secondary supply lines in the lab so that heat can be accessed through Bunsen burners and cookers. Without a doubt, such a maze of piping and connections has an elevated risk of leakages, resulting in unprecedented fire accidents. This is why you should invest in an emergency gas shut-off system to cut off gas supply whenever it is depressed. Thereafter, only authorised personnel can restore the gas supply to the laboratory after ascertaining that the imminent threat of fire has been thwarted satisfactorily.
When the fire alarm goes off, when you smell natural gas and when there is a nearby explosion or earthquake are some of the circumstances in which the emergency gas shut-off will come in handy.
Carbon-Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
The laboratory should also be fitted with carbon-monoxide and smoke detectors. These are instrumental in detecting a fire outbreak early enough so that people can leave the building in good time. Whenever the sensors detect smoke or carbon monoxide in the air, the fire alarms will go off to alert the occupants of the impending danger.
Safety Shower Units
With students, you just never know. Some are clumsy and as forgetful as they come. Students can easily overlook the dangers posed by some of the chemicals, play around in the lab and spill things. Some of these chemicals are unfriendly to the skin, nose and eyes. For this reason, you should make sure that your lab has a drench hose, eyewash and safety-shower units where students can clean themselves in case of a spillage.
Student safety is a priority in school laboratories. Inspection officers from relevant state and local government departments will pay attention to the level of risk that your students will be exposed to before deeming the lab fit for use.