Introduction
These notes provide health and safety guidance for all lab work at Axiom Science, including activities in Axiom Chemistry and Axiom Physics. While some guidelines apply more specifically to certain chemistry or physics experiments, and different experiments require varying levels of caution, users are strongly encouraged to review all the safety information below before engaging in any experiments.
Health and Safety Notes and Guidance
Lab health and safety in the home, in co-ops, and in schools affects everyone involved: students, parents and guardians, supervisors, and teachers.
All the resources relating to practical activities on the Axiom Science website have been carefully reviewed. Occasionally there are links to external websites which are not necessarily subject to the same review process, and for which the Axiom Science accepts no responsibility. As part of the review process for the labs which form part of Axiom Science, the health and safety checks have sought to ensure that all significant recognized hazards have been identified, suitable control measures (precautions) to minimize the risks from these hazards have been suggested, and health and safety information has been communicated in a clear and unambiguous manner.
Axiom Science is accessible world-wide, but the lab resources which form part of the courses were developed in the USA and the UK. At the time of publication, these resources reflected what was considered good practice, and were believed to be compliant with the relevant US and UK legislation. However, an analysis of accidents can sometimes lead to an improvement in practice, standards and practices change over time, and what was compliant with US and UK legislation may not satisfy requirements in other countries. At Axiom Science we continually review our lab safety standards, but parents / guardians / teachers are ultimately responsible for the decision to complete, and the supervision of, all lab activities, including ensuring current legal compliance in the relevant location.
All Axiom Science users must comply with the relevant risk assessment procedures in their country. For instance, in the UK an appropriate risk assessment must be conducted before hazardous materials are used, or hazardous procedures undertaken. Axiom Science does not accept any responsibility and shall not be liable to users or any third party for any losses, damages, claims, expenses, or outcomes resulting from the use of resources published on Axiom Science.
Axiom Science cannot be held liable for any allergic reactions or other health issues that may arise from the use of chemicals and other substances in the labs. Individuals with known allergies or sensitivities should exercise caution and consult with their healthcare providers before participating in lab activities.
General guidelines for all experiments
Unless the activity is specifically designed to be performed in other situations (which will be explicitly noted in the instruction), the following guidelines apply to all experiments:
- All labs should be -supervised by a responsible adult with adequate knowledge of science and the equipment and chemicals being used.
- All labs should be conducted in a suitable location (e.g. a clear kitchen workspace with adequate lighting and ventilation).
- Equipment should be regularly inspected and properly maintained.
- Care should be taken with normal laboratory operations such as heating substances and handling heavy objects.
- Suitable eye protection (and other personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves) should be worn whenever risk assessments require it.
- Hand-washing and eye-washing facilities should be readily available.
- First aid facilities and an adequately trained first aider should be readily available.
- Rules for student behavior should be strictly enforced.
Only attempt to perform specified experiments from "Lab" videos
Axiom Science videos contain many references to different experiments that have been performed by scientists over the years. Many of these are mentioned in passing, or as part of the teaching content found in the video. Some of these experiments would be extremely dangerous to perform. Numerous accidents have arisen in the past because parents or teachers have copied what they had seen in a demonstration, without being aware of all the relevant health and safety precautions.
Questions
At Axiom Science, we aim to maintain the highest level of safety advice on all our lab resources. If for any reason the adult responsible for supervising the lab work is concerned about health or safety issues related to a particular lab, then the lab should not be attempted. Please contact us if you have any concerns about health and safety issues relating to the use of any Axiom Science resources.