Recent serious and sometimes fatal accidents in chemical research laboratories at United States universities have driven government agencies, professional societies, industries, and universities themselves to examine the culture of safety in research laboratories. These incidents have triggered a broader discussion of how serious incidents can be prevented in the future and how best to train researchers and emergency personnel to respond appropriately when incidents do occur. As the priority placed on safety increases, many institutions have expressed a desire to go beyond simple compliance with regulations to work toward fostering a strong, positive safety culture: affirming a constant commitment to safety throughout their institutions, while integrating safety as an essential element in the daily work of laboratory researchers. Safe Science takes on this challenge. This report examines the culture of safety in research institutions and makes recommendations for university leadership, laboratory researchers, and environmental health and safety professionals to support safety as a core value of their institutions. The report discusses ways to fulfill that commitment through prioritizing funding for safety equipment and training, as well as making safety an ongoing operational priority. A strong, positive safety culture arises not because of a set of rules but because of a constant commitment to safety throughout an organization. Such a culture supports the free exchange of safety information, emphasizes learning and improvement, and assigns greater importance to solving problems than to placing blame. High importance is assigned to safety at all times, not just when it is convenient or does not threaten personal or institutional productivity goals. Safe Science will be a guide to make the changes needed at all levels to protect students, researchers, and staff.

The National Science Teachers Association, in response to the emergence of new science curricula and the need for updated science facilities in the nation's public schools, convened a task force to develop guidelines for K-12 science facility design and use. This guide, a result of NSTA Task Force on Science Facilities and Equipment, includes information about planning facilities design; budget priorities; space considerations; general room and laboratory design; and furnishings for the laboratory/classroom specifically targeting K-5, middle, and high schools. It is designed to familiarize educators, administrators, and citizens with the stages of the planning process for new and renovated science facilities and provides specific, detailed information on many aspects of the planning and design phases. Additionally, chapters address current trends and future directions in science education and safety, accessibility, and legal guidelines. Appendices include discussions on solar energy for school facilities, equipment needs planning, checklists, a glossary of construction terms, and classroom dimensional considerations. (GR)

This timely book presents a data-driven approach to preventing and responding to school violence. As school violence receives increasing attention across the nation, the application of scientific knowledge is critical. For maximum effectiveness, transdisciplinary teams should use school data, logic models, and theories of change to design, implement, and evaluate interventions. Collaboration among key stakeholders is also necessary to address both structural and systemic barriers to success with violence prevention. With concrete methods for promoting safety in primary and secondary educational settings, this book will engage and enable school faculty, counselors, administrators, and other partners to better understand areas of common interest and learn how to work together more effectively.

Safer hands-on STEM is essential for every instructor and student. Read the latest information about how to design and maintain safer makerspaces, Fab Labs and STEM labs in both formal and informal educational settings. This book is easy to read and provides practical information with examples for instructors and administrators. If your community or school system is looking to design or modify a facility to engage students in safer hands-on STEM activities then this book is a must read!This book covers important information, such as: Defining makerspaces, Fab Labs and STEM labs and describing their benefits for student learning.· Explaining federal safety standards, negligence, tort law, and duty of care in terms instructors can understand.· Methods for safer professional practices and teaching strategies.· Examples of successful STEM education programs and collaborative approaches for teaching STEM more safely.· Safety Controls (engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment, maintenance of controls).· Addressing general safety, biological and biotechnology, chemical, and physical hazards.· How to deal with various emergency situations.· Planning and design considerations for a safer makerspace, Fab Lab and STEM lab.· Recommended room sizes and equipment for makerspaces, Fab Labs and STEM labs.· Example makerspace, Fab Lab and STEM lab floor plans.· Descriptions and pictures of exemplar makerspaces, Fab Labs and STEM labs.· Special section answering frequently asked safety questions!