Safety Measures For The Prevention Of Laboratory Accidents Among Secondary School Biology Students

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

The main objective of this study to examine safety measures for the prevention of laboratory accidents among secondary school biology students, to make the research easier the specified objectives are:

1. Determine if the science laboratories in schools are safe enough for the users.

2. Determine if all equipment are up to the necessary standard with respect to safety and risk to health.

3. Determine if adequate arrangement are made for storage, maintenance, cleaning and renewal of the available equipment.

4. Determine effectiveness of the emergency procedures been formulated to cover for spillage of toxic or dangerous material, fire escape of gases etc.

5. Find out if there is provision by regular inspection, examination and where necessary, testing to ensure that equipment and its safety devices have not deteriorated.

1.4 Research Questions

Every research work is stirred up as a result of problem situation. In other words, research is a product or an off-shoot of a problem situation. This project is aimed at finding answers to the following questions:

1. Are the science laboratories in schools safe enough for the users?

2. Are all equipment up to the necessary standard with respect to safety and risk to health?

3. Are adequate arrangement made for storage, maintenance, cleaning and renewal of the available equipment?

4. Have emergency procedures been formulated to cover for example, spillage of toxic or dangerous material, fire escape of gases etc.

5. Is there provision by regular inspection, examination and where necessary, testing to ensure that equipment and its safety devices have not deteriorated?  

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: There are no safety measures for the prevention of laboratory accidents among secondary school biology students.

Ha: There are safety measures for the prevention of laboratory accidents among secondary school biology students.

1.6  Significance Of The Study

There is little research work available in Nigeria on the safety of students in the science laboratory. This study was intended to examine science laboratory safety in secondary schools in the County and to help administrators and school system policymakers in reducing dangerous chemical use and implementing responsible chemical management practices. Therefore, the study will give more insights to the school administrators institutionalize safe laboratory practices meant to minimize the incidences of accidents, exposures, and emergency scenarios in schools leading to science laboratory safety. This study focused on broad policy considerations that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends school administrators consider implementing proper management and use of all dangerous chemicals (EPA, 2006).

The study is also significant because the results can be used by schools as a blueprint for the best safety practices that enhance safety among learners in the laboratories. Parents and others in the community interested in school health and safety policiesalso may use this document to determine whether their children's schools are effectively minimizing potential exposure to dangerous chemicals and products.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study will focus on safety measures for the prevention of laboratory accidents among secondary school biology students. The respondents for this study will be obtained from students of some selected secondary schools in Abeokuta.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scanty literature on the subject owing to the nature of the discourse thus the researcher incurred more financial expenses and much time was required in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. Additionally, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. More so, the choice of the sample size was limited  as few respondent were selected to answer the research instrument hence cannot be generalize to other secondary schools. However, despite the constraint  encountered during the  research, all factors were downplayed in other to give the best and make the research successful.

1.9 Definition Of Terms

Safety - Safety simple means a state of being secure, protected, uninjured, out of danger and not involved in risk. Is a co-efficient of common sense, knowledge of physical, chemical and physiological effects of substances and knowledge of behaviour of human beings.

Precaution - Care taken before an event or accidents in order to prevent it happening or in order to cause it to happen without doing harm.

Chemical -    Substance used in or obtained by chemistry.

Procedure -  The order or regular way of doing things

1.10 Organization of the Study

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the  review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study,  sample size determination,  sample size, abnd selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.