School
Science
Laboratory
Management
and
Safety
Handbook
For
Primary
and S
econdary
Schools
,
and
Junior
Colleges
in
Singapore
Scien
ce U
nit,
Sciences
Branch
Curriculum
Planning
and
Development
Divisi
on 1
Ministry
of
Education
I
Publish
ed by
Curriculum
Planning
and
Development
Divisi
on 1
Ministry
of
Education
1 N
orth
Buo
na
Vist
a Dri
ve
MO
E
Building
Singapore
138675
Revised
October
2020
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e e
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©
2016
Curriculum
Planning
and
Development
Division
1.
This
publication
is
not
for
sale.
FOR
RESTRICTE
D
CIRCULATION
ONLY.
All
rights
reserved.
N
o part
of
this
publicati
on
m
ay be
reproduced
without
t
he
pri
or
permissi
on
o
f
t
he
Ministry
of
Education,
Singapore.
ISB
N 9
78-981-11-1066-5
School
Science
Laboratory
Management
and
Safety
Handbook
II
P
REFACE
Laboratory
work
and
investigations
are
an
integral
part
of
effective
science
teaching
an
d
learning.
Practical
work
is
a
gatew
ay
for
teachers
t
o
make
scien
ce come
alive
an
d
demonstrate
its
relevance
in
daily
life.
By
leveraging
on pra
ctical
work
to
deep
en
studen
t
learning,
schools
are
also
increasingl
y of
fering
science
research
opportunities
that
enga
ge
students
in
more
in-depth
and
complex
investigations.
In
recent
years,
students
and
teacher
s
have
been
engaging
in
experiments
and
activities
beyond
the
traditional
or
routine.
Som
e
schools
have
established
specialised
laboratories
such as p
hotonics
laboratories
,
nanoscience
laboratories
and
Science
an
d
Technology
centres.
In
light
of
the
increa
sed
variety
of
science
activities
in
schools,
there
is
a
need
to
constantly
review
existing
laborat
ory
safety
regulatio
ns and
recommend
safety
measur
es
to
mitigate
t
he p
otenti
al
risks
that
coul
d
arise.
Therefore,
a
committ
ee c
omprising
practitioners
from
schools
and
professionals
fro
m
the
institutes
of
higher
learning,
government
ministries
and
government
agencies
was
form
ed
to
review
an
d
refine
this
3rd
editi
on
o
f
the
handbook.
This
edition
guides
HODs,
teachers
and
laboratory
staff
on
the
management
of
schoo
l
science
laboratories
and
safe
working
practices
within
them,
with
emphasis
on
safety
bein
g
everyone
’
s
responsibility.
N
ew
to
this
edition
are
sections
that
explicate
the
importance
o
f
managing
a
school
laboratory
using
a co
mm
on
framework.
The
content
in
the
section
on
laboratory
safety
has
also
been
reorganised
to
make
it
more
user-friendly.
These
changes
t
o
the
handbook
will
make
it
easier
for
teachers
and
laboratory
staff
to
develop
appropriat
e
management
and
saf
ety
guidelines
that
will
ensure
the
safe
and
professional
execution
o
f
laboratory
work,
including
curriculum-guide
d acti
vities
and
extension
or
specialise
d
investigations.
No
publication,
however,
can
completely
describe
the
procedures
for
ensurin
g
safety
under
all
conditions.
Teachers
have
to
exercise
professional
judgement
an
d
tak
e
precautio
ns
when
dealing
with
l
ess
familiar
procedures,
equipment,
haz
ardous ch
emical
s a
nd
microorganisms.
The
School
Science
Laboratory
Management
an
d
Safety
Handboo
k
will,
however,
suppor
t
teachers
as
much
as po
ssibl
e in
thei
r
rol
e
o
f
teachi
ng a
n
d l
earnin
g by
ensuring
that
their
laboratories
are
safe
and
conducive
places
for
students
to
pursu
e
t
he
learning
and
investigatio
n
of
science.
School
Science
Laboratory
Management
and
Safety
Handbook
III
W
ORKING
C
OMMITTEE
1
CHAIRPERSON
M
r S
in
Kim
Ho
Director,
Sciences
Curriculum
Planning
and
Development
Division
1
(CPDD1
)
Ministry
of
Education
MEMBERS
Dr Se
Thoe
Su
Yu
n
Deputy
Director,
Biosafe
ty
Public
Health
Grou
p
Ministry
of
Health
M
r C
hia
Guo
Hao
Senio
r
Assistant
Director,
Sciences
Curriculum
Planning
and
Development
Division
1
(CPDD1)
Ministry
of
Education
Ms
Quek
Hui
Leng
Senio
r
Assistant
Director,
Institutional
Administration
Environmental
Heal
th I
nstitute
National
Environment
Agency
Ms
Cindy
Goh
Assistant
Director
Institutional
Biosafety
Committee
SingHealth
M
r C
heong
Kim
Fatt
Senio
r C
urriculum
Specialist,
Biology
Curriculum
Planning
and
Development
Division
1
(CPDD1)
Ministry
of
Education
Ms
Soo
Sze
Mun
Senio
r
Specialist
Occupational
Safety
and
Health
Specialist
Department
Ministry
of
Manpower
A/P
Yan
Yaw
Kai
Head
Natural
Sciences
and
Science
Education
National
Institute
of
Education
M
r S
aravanan
s/o
Gunaratnam
Head
Safety
&
Health
Management
Division
National
University
of
Singapore
Mrs
Koh
Siok
Im
Senior
Lecturer
School
of
Chemical
and
Life
Sciences
Singapore
Polytechnic
Mr
Tommy
Hs
u
Vice
Principal
(Admin)
Millennia
Institute
1
C
ommittee composition as at 2016.
Dr
Tan
Guo
Xian
Head
3
D Pr
inting
Research
Programme
Raffles
Institution
Mrs
Har-Chia
Hui
Peng
Director
of
Studies
Hwa
Chong
Institution
Ms
Wong
Su
May
Head
of
Department,
Sciences
Hua
Yi
Secondary
School
Ms
Leong
Chin
Ling
Head
of
Department,
Science
Victoria
Junio
r C
ollege
M
r C
harles
Maxim
Wong
Senio
r
Manager,
Data
Analysis/Policy
School
Safety
Unit
Ministry
of
Education
Mr
Watson
Teo
Assistant
Manager
Institutional
Biosafety
Committee
SingHealth
Mr
Terence
Ong
Senio
r C
urriculum
Planning
Officer,
NT
Scienc
e
Curriculum
Planning
and
Development
Division
1
(CPDD1)
Ministry
of
Education
Ms
Sharon
Tan
Assessment
Officer,
Biology
Singapore
Examinations
and
Assessment
Board
Ms
Seow
Ratnakumar
i
Technical
Support
Office
r
Jurong
Junio
r C
ollege
Ms
Joanne
Tan
Lay
Kwe
e
Technica
l S
uppo
rt
Office
r
Anderson
Junior
College
School
Science
Laboratory
Management
and
Safety
Handbook
IV
SECRETARIAT
Officers
from
Curriculum
Planning
and
Development
Division
1
(CPDD1),
Ministry
of
Education,
w
ho
supported
the
review
committee:
Mr
Gary
Neo
Curriculum
Planning
Officer,
Biology
Dr Ch
ok
Yew
Keong
Curriculum
Planning
Officer,
Chemistry
M
r Er
ic
Tan
Senio
r C
urriculum
Planning
Officer,
Physics
Ms
Julieanne
Choy
Curriculum
Resource
Development
Officer,
Biology
M
r S
erwin
Leong
Curriculum
Planning
Officer,
Chemistry
Ms
Sylvia
Wang
Curriculum
Resource
Development
Officer,
Primary
Science
M
r A
ng
Keng
Kiat
Senio
r C
urriculum
Planning
Officer,
Physics
R
ESOURCE
P
ANEL
The
working
committee
would
like
to
acknowledge
the
input
from
our
resource
panel:
A/P
Lim
Tit
Men
g
Chief
Executiv
e
Science
Centre
Board
Prof
Sow
Chorng-Haur
Head
Department
of
Physics
National
University
of
Singapore
M
r
Lee
Seng
Hai
Superintendent
West
3
Schools
Division
Ministry
of
Education
School
Science
Laboratory
Management
and
Safety
Handbook
V
C
ONTENTS
1.
INTRODUCTION
..................................................................................................................
1
1.1.
O
RGANISATION
OF
HANDBOOK
.............................................................................................................................................
1
2.
SCIENC
E
LABORATORY
MANAGEMENT
FRAMEWORK
–
PEOPLE,
PLA
CE,
PRACTICES
.........................................................................................................................
3
2.1.
M
ANAGEMENT OF
P
EOPLE
…….
...............................................................................................................
4
2.1.1.
Professional development of laboratory staff and teachers
.............................................................
4
2.1.2.
Inculcating in students and staff that safety is everyone’s responsibility
.....................................
4
2.1.3.
Managin
g student research and science enrichment activities
..................................................
4
2.2.
M
ANAGEMENT OF
P
LACE
…….
..................................................................................................................
5
2.2.1.
Maintenance plan for equipment, apparatus and laboratories
...................................................
5
2.2.2.
Labelling of chemicals, equipment and apparatus
......................................................................
5
2.2.3.
Displaying of safety information
..
..................................................................................................
5
2.
2.4
Ensuring schools are explosive precursors (EP)
-free
…………………………………
.
……………
5
2.3.
M
ANAGEMENT OF
P
RACTICES
……
.........................................................................................................
....
5
2.3.1.
Purchasing and discarding of obsolete equipment and apparatus
..........................................
5
2.3.2.
Borrowing/use of equipment and apparatus
...........................................................................
5
2.3.3.
B
udget planning
......................................................................................................................
6
2.3.4.
Safety guidelines for the conduct of laboratory lessons
............................................
.............
6
2.3.5.
Stocktake checklist
...............................................................................................................
.. 7
3.
GENERA
L ROLES
O
F
SCIENC
E T
EACHERS
AND
LABORATORY
TECHNICIANS
......
9
4.
SCIENC
E
LABORATORY
SAFETY
MANAGEMENT
.........................................................
11
4.1.
L
EADERSHIP
.............................................................................................................................................................................
11
4.2.
M
OTIVATION
.............................................................................................................................................................................
11
4.3.
C
ULTURE
...................................................................................................................................................................................
12
4.4.
P
RACTICES
.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
12
5.
GENERA
L
LABORATORY
SAFETY
GUIDELINES
............................................................
13
5.1.
G
ENERAL
LABORATORY
SAFE
TY G
UIDELINES
.....................................................................................................................
13
5.2.
S
AFETY
PRECAUTIONS
RELATED
TO
HEATING
....................................................................................................................
15
5.3.
S
AFETY
PRECAUTIONS
RELATED
TO
GLASSWARE
.............................................................................................................
16
5.4.
S
AFETY
PRECAUTIONS
RELATE
D TO
SHARP
OBJECTS
......................................................................................................
16
5.5.
S
AFETY
PRECAUTIONS
RELATED
TO
USING
ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT
.............................................................................
16
5.6.
U
SE
OF
MERCURY
THERMOMETERS
.....................................................................................................................................
17
5.7.
U
SE
OF
3D
PRINTIN
G
MACHINES
..........................................................................................................................................
18
6.
ASSESSMENT
O
F RI
S
KS IN
SCHOOL
SCIENCE
LABORATORIES
................................
21
6.1.
H
AZARDS
AND
RISKS
.............................................................................................................................................................
21
6.2.
C
ONDUCTING
RISK
ASSESSMENTS
.....................................................................................................................................
21
6.2.1.
Identifying and analysing safety and health hazards associated with work
............................
21
6.2.2.
Evaluating the risks involved
........................................................................................................
22
6.2.3.
Prioritising measures to control hazards and reduce risks
.........................................................
24
7.
FIRE
PREVENTION
AND
CONTROL
..................................................................................
27
7.1.
F
IRE
PREVENTION
....................................................................................................................................................................
27
7.2.
F
IRE
CONTR
OL
IN
THE
EVENT
OF
A
FIRE
..............................................................................................................................
27
7.3.
U
SE
OF
FIR
E
EXTINGUISHERS
................................................................................................................................................
28
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School
Science
Laboratory
Management
and
Safety
Handbook
VI
8.
ACCIDENTS
AND
EMERGENCIES
.....................................................................................
31
8.1.
A
CCIDENTS
IN
TH
E
LABORATORY
...............................................................................................................
31
8.2.
E
MERGENCY
RESPONSE
CONTACT
LIST
.....................................................................................................
31
8.3.
R
EPORTING
AN
D
INVESTIGATION
OF
INCIDENTS
..........................................................................................
31
8.3.1.
Reporting of incidents
............................................................................................................................
31
8.3.2.
Incident investigation
........................................................................................................................................
31
9.
GLOBALLY
HARMO
NISED S
Y
STEM OF
CLASSIFICATION
AND
LA
BELLING OF
CHEMICALS
(GHS)
....................................................................................................
33
9.1.
B
ACKGROUND
.
.......................................................................................................................................
33
9.2.
U
NDERSTANDING
S
AFETY
D
ATA
S
HEETS
(SDS)
..........................................................................................
33
9.3.
GHS
LABELLING
........................................................................................................................................
33
9.4.
R
EDUCED
W
ORKPLACE
L
ABELLING
..........................................................................................................
36
10.
BIOLOGY-RELATED
EQUIPMENT,
APPARATUS
AND
SAFETY
GUIDELINES
.............
37
10.
1.
H
IGH
TEMPERATURE
EQUIPMENT
..............................................................................................................
37
10.1.1.
Autoclaves
.........................................................................................................................................
37
10.1.2.
Hot bead sterilisers
...........................................................................................................................
38
10.1.3.
Incubators
........................................................................................................................................
38
10.1.4.
Ovens: conventional and microwave ovens
.....................................................................................
38
10.1.5.
Thermocyclers (polymerase chain reaction machines)
....................................................................
39
10.1.6.
Water baths
......................................................................................................................................
39
10.
2.
O
THER
EQUIPMENT
...........................................................................................................................................
39
10.2.1.
Electrophoresis chambers
.........................................................................................................................
39
10.2.2.
Biosafety cabinets