Safety Questions From Teachers

Are ductless fume hoods a good alternative to traditional fume hoods?

Question: Are ductless fume hoods a good alternative to traditional fume hoods? Since the summer, we’ve been taking an inventory of the fume hoods in our secondary schools and sending in an inspector to look at them.  We’ve found a few schools with no working hoods.  Given the infrastructure and energy demands of the built-in […]

July 24, 2024

Are there any videos that are available for training on the use of fire extinguishers?

Question: Are there any videos that are available for training on the use of fire extinguishers? Answer: Yes. There are several youtube training videos that are available. Some of these are produced by reputable organizations (Fire Training Facilities, Fire Chief Associations, and Municipal Fire Departments). STAO does not specifically endorse these videos. The decision to […]

Biofeedback body rhythms March 9, 2024

I would appreciate some clarification on the following: i) on page 14 of 2018 Safe ON Science: “Never attempt investigations of biological feedback in which body rhythms (e.g., heartbeat or the electrical activity of the brain) are detected, amplified, and then used to influence existing rhythms.” What activities this may refer to specifically? The policy […]

Can resonance rods do damage to a person’s hearing?

Question: Can resonance rods do damage to a person’s hearing, especially if the demonstration is repeated several times during the day? Tanya Malusev from Arbour Scientific measured the sound intensity. The maximum value achieved was 85 db. The frequency (not determined by them) occurs in a range of 2500 to 5000 Hz. OSHA indicates that […]

Does STAO recommend the use of a vented flammable cabinet?

Question: I was at a school that had an externally vented flammable cabinet.  The cabinet at my current school isn’t vented and there is always a strong (somewhat overpowering) smell whenever the cabinet is opened.  While the MSDS sheet for methanol recommends use in a vented area, the storage requirements are only the use of […]

Laser Classifications

Question: The STAO Safe on Science document (2011) indicates that only class 1 and class 2 lasers are recommended for use in high school science classes. Many of the documents that I have examined indicate that Class 3A (old classification), now called Class 3R (new classification) is also safe unless viewed through an optical device. […]

Should teachers be trained on fire extinguisher use?

Question: Should teachers be trained on fire extinguisher use? Answer: STAO does not have a position as regards this training, nor is it required by regulation. There are some organizations (National Research Council in their book, Prudent Practices in the Laboratory) that suggest that this training should occur. The decision to train or not rests […]

Use of PTC paper as a student activity in Senior Biology?

Question: Recently, the safety of PTC paper, used widely for demonstrating the ability to taste vs the inability to taste PTC, has been called into question. Many school boards in the USA subsequently banned its use. What is the perspective of the STAO Safety Committee with regard to the use of PTC paper as a […]

What are restricted chemicals?

To prevent their criminal use, 10 chemicals have been identified by the Natural Resources branch responsible for compliance with the Explosives Act. They are: Hydrogen peroxide, Nitric acid, Potassium chlorate, Sodium chlorate, Potassium nitrate, Sodium nitrate, Ammonium nitrate, Nitromethane, Potassium perchlorate, and a mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. Click here to read more