ONLINE

ASSIGNMENT
SUBJECT: THEORETICAL BASE
OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE
EDUCATION-II
TOPIC:IMPORTANCE OF LABORATORY
RULES, ACCIDENTS IN THE LABORATORY,
PRECAUTIONS AND FIRST AID
SUBMITTED
BY,
RENJINI
RAVINDRAN
PHYSICAL
SCIENCE
ROLL.NO:93

INTRODUCTION
The new approach to science education gives
prominence to the process of acquiring knowledge.
Since science is an activity oriented subject, a
separate specially arranged place is needed in
higher classes for conducting the activities. A
school laboratory is essential to transact science in
the activity based method. There are few methods
to be remembered while organizing a laboratory.
There are some rules that must be followed in the
laboratory. Rules are important because the
laboratory happens to be a place of potential
dangers. The science teacher is the supreme
authority in the laboratory and he should be
obeyed. Accidents may happen in the laboratory so
it is necessary to keep first aid kit. The clear
awareness about laboratory rules, accidents,

precautions and first aid make the working in a

laboratory more safe and interesting.

CONTENT
Laboratory safety is a positive undertaking which
the science teacher is expected to take up at the
time of engaging in any activity in the laboratory,
in the presence of his students. This would ensure
acquisition of safety conscious attitude among
pupil, creation of which is a very important duty of
the science teacher. The sign of good discipline is
creating an atmosphere of healthy work. The
following are some suggestions or rules for the
maintenance of discipline in the laboratory.

 No pupil should be allowed to enter the

laboratory in the absence of the teacher or
laboratory assistant.
Every pupil may have a seat assigned to
him.
The arrangement in the laboratory should
be such that there is no need to move a
pupil from his seat.
Everyone should pick up the practice of
putting up his hand to call attention of the
teacher.
When the pupils are working in groups they
might be allowed to discuss in a low tone.
Unnecessary talking should be returned to
the shelves immediately after use.
Stoppers are also to be replaced on the
bottles.
Waste papers, burnt matchsticks should
not be thrown into the sink. Waste boxes
should be used.
Scribbling figures on furniture and on loose
sheets of paper should never be permitted.
The teacher can get the help of the pupils
to distribute the apparatus and materials to
clean them after use and to replace at the
end.

 The pupil must be insisted on keeping the

furniture neat and clean and arranging the
apparatus neatly on the bench during the
experiments. After use the apparatus must
be clean.
The large number of materials in the
laboratory is a source of temptation to the
mischievous pupils. Hence the teacher has
to very vigilant.
Bottles must be labeled clearly.
The wall of the laboratory can be decorated
with pictures of scientist and diagrams of
apparatus.
Useless substances or broken glass,
chemicals, solid waste must be deposited
in a separate basket.
A bucket full of water must be kept not only
when experiments are being done by
always.
The apparatus should be disconnected.
Washed if necessary and replaced in their
proper places.
Consider the safety of fellow students. A
scientific atmosphere should be kept in the
laboratory.
Discipline is taught by making the pupils to
know what to do in the laboratory rather

than donts. The laboratory is essentially a

workshop without any sort of confusion.

ACCIDENTS IN THE LABORATORY

The science teachers have a legal and
moral responsibility to see that the pupils
are safe from the dangers of the laboratory.
Pupils must be made aware of hazards
involved in any experiments they do. Pupils
must be made to understand the
laboratory rules and to follow them.
Dangers chemicals should not be kept in
open shelves. The experiments should not
be started without the permission of the
teacher. Since accidents may very often
occur while setting up of the apparatus.
The common accidents that occur in
laboratory are
Wounds
Burns from fire
Burns from accidents
Burns from alkalis
Burns from phosphorous
Injuries to eye
Acid in the eye
Alkali in eye

 Electric shock

FIRST AID
The purpose of first aid is to make a
patient secure and comfortable and to
prevent deterioration in his condition in
his condition, until professional medical
assistance is available. The strategies of
first aid-diagnosis, treatment and
transport must be understood by every
teacher. Every laboratory must be
equipped with a first aid box. The
contents of the box must be regularly
inspected to ensure replenishment. All
the teachers should have knowledge of
simple first aid for all the common
ailments possible in a laboratory. They
should also identify situations when
medical treatment is needed. An
accidents repot book should be
maintained giving details of accidents
and treatment given. So it is necessary to
keep first aid kit.
This should contain acetic acid,
bandages, carbolic acid, plaster, iodine,
tincture of iodine, Vaseline.

 It should be better to display a

chart depicting the accidents that
are useful in the laboratory and
remedies.
Possible accidents and their
remedies in the laboratory are
Wounds: Apply cotton dipped in
tincture.
Burns from fire: Cover the portion
with linen dipped in Vaseline.
Burns from acids: Wash with plenty
of water and then with 1% sodium
bicarbonate solution.
Burns from alkalis: Wash with
plenty of water and then with weak
vinegar or lime juice.
Burns from phosphors: Wash with
plenty of water and then cover with
cotton dipped in silver nitrate.
Acid in eye: the eye should be
opened and closed under water. It
should be washed with 1% solution
of sodium carbonate solution.
Injuries to eye: It should be dealt
with by doctor.
Alkali in eye: The eye should be
thoroughly washed with water and

then with a solution of 1% of boric

acid.
Electric shock: Switch of the
electric supply. Beat with a wooden
stick. Admit to a hospital.

PRECAUTIONS WHILE DOING

LABORATORY PRACTICALS
Laboratory glass ware must be
never used as drinking vessels.
Solutions split on the bench or floor
should be cleaned up immediately.
Concentrated solutions should be
diluted before they are poured
down the sink.
Do not point the other people with
a test tube.
Do not look in to the mouth of a
test tube while heating its
contents.
Do not sniff at toxic materials.
For constant boiling, chips of
marble pieces should be placed in
the liquid under boiling.

 Always use the test tube holders

while heating materials in a test
tube.

TAKE CARE WHILE HANDLING

Glasses, acids, strong alkalis
Inflammable materials like petrol,
alcohol
Salts of mercury and zinc.
Explore materials.

CONCLUSION
One of the important functions of the
science laboratory is the deepening
of the students understanding that
scientific concept and application are
closely related to its own natural
environment. Practical work in

science even at the school stage is

essential because of the fact we
learn by doing. Scientific principles
and application are thus rendered
more meaningful. More over it is a
fact that an object handled
impressers itself firmly on the on the
mind than an object merely seen
from a distance or in an illustration.
Rules are important because
laboratory happens to be a place for
potential dangers. Laboratory is
essentially a workshop without any
sort of confusion. So it is necessary
to keep first aid kits. And the pupils
must be made aware of the hazards
involved in any experiments and the
precautions. The clear knowledge
about the laboratory may useful for
the safe and purposeful working in
the laboratory.

Reference
Dr.Mariamma Mathew(2014);Teaching science
Malappuram Nas Publication
Science Education-Dr.K. Sivarajan& Prof. Faziluddin