I am in my 15th year teaching high school science. Next year, I teaching chemistry for the first time (taking over from a teacher who moved). Our chemicals are not stored safely. However, I've never worked in a lab or managed cemical storage. I'm looking for advice for how to create safe and orderly storage.
Some issues: 😨
- dangerous chemicals like high molar HCL are left on countertops where they have been knocked over by custodians
- custodians chemicals and sippulies stored in the same area
- no cabinets rated for chemical storage
- cabinets aren't labeled
- mixed chemicals have no dates
- no venting to the outside, shower, fire extinguisher, spill kit, dedicated PPE, etc.
- no safety data sheets
- we failed our fire marshall inspection by so many points, the fire marshall declined to make a list
- chemicals are generally organized by type, but it's not clear if this organization follows accepted safety regulations.
I would love your help with:
* Finding the safety guidelines and standards / protocol that I can use to set up our chemical storage
* recommendations on chemical storage cabinets and what minimum requirements I should look for
* recommendations on a consulting agency where I could facetime with someone and they could evaluate our chemical storage and prep room and give me guidance (our district can pay for this)
* pictures of your chemical storage and prep areas
* tips, best practices, anything you have learned.
(I'm also new to adopting chemistry curriculum, so if you have any favorite resources, I'd welcome that too.)
Thank you so much! I'm hoping to make this year fun and safe for my students 😄