The Extent Of Implementation And Adherence To Safety Practises Among Staff And Senior Secondary School Students In Enugu South Local Government Area Of Enugu State

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Since the inclusion of laboratory experience in the teaching and learning of biology, the question of both staff and students during practical work have become crucial. Biology laboratories have been established in some Nigeria secondary schools without safety considerations in their designs and constructions (Abdullahi, 2000).  Poor safety practices in biology laboratories have led to accidents such as glass breaking, skin contact with specimens and chemicals, injury, fire out breaks and even death.

In the light of the above, it is therefore necessary to investigate the extent of implementation on safety practices in biology laboratories in using randomly selected secondary schools in Enugu South of Enugu state, Nigeria.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 

The purpose of this study is to identify the extent of implementation and adherence to safety practices among staff and senior secondary school student in biology laboratories in Enugu South Local Government Area.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 

Specifically the study intends to find out:

The general designs and fittings of biology laboratories relevant to safety.

The availability of safety equipment and materials in biology laboratories

The services of laboratory assistants that are employed to ensure safety.

The extent of implementation of safety rules biology laboratory.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work will be beneficial to the following groups: National science teachers association (NSTA), students, teachers and school administrators.

Student who have phobia for practical’s in science laboratories due to the occurrences of  hazards and accident in the science laboratory will find this work   reliable in order to develop good attitudes, safe and conscientious laboratory habits  in any  practical field of study.

The teachers and other laboratory staff should also see the need of keeping the rules, developing slogans about them, writing some of them on the cardboard sheets hung on the laboratory. With these, practical work will be conducive through safety measures in the science laboratories.

The school administrators will find this work relevant by providing an adequate facility such as good modern and reliable building with necessary equipment where laboratory investigation can be conducted with ease.

The national science teachers association will find the best means to administer the groups of objectives that may be achieved through the use of laboratory in science classes such as attitude, understanding the nature of science, cognitive abilities, acquisition of knowledge concept and skills.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions have been formulated to guide the study.

How does the type of design and fitting in the biology laboratory appropriate to ensure safety?

To what extent is safety equipment available in the biology laboratory?

How often do services of laboratory assistants employed,  ensures safety during laboratory instructions.

To which measures does the secondary school biology student apply safety practices during practical sessions?

THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study looks at the extent to which safety practices are implemented by staff and adherence to safety rules among students in biology laboratories in senior secondary schools in Enugu south local government area of Enugu state.