Science Safety Needs Assessment

Please tell me your name? *

First

Last

What is the best email for you? *

and what is the best phone number to reach you? *

Who are you inquiring for? *

My School District
My School or Building
My Instructional Space (e.g., classroom, lab)
Myself

What is the name of your school district? *

Documentation

Do you currently have a Science and/or STEAM Safety manual or Chemical Hygiene Plan that teachers have access to? *

Yes
No
Unsure

When was the Science &/or STEAM Safety manual or Chemical Hygiene Plan last updated? *

Within the last year
About 2 years ago
About 3 years ago
Unsure or unknown

Does the Science &/or STEAM Safety manual reflect the impacts and new or updated safety procedures related to COVID-19, Influenza, or other biological based infection in school labs? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Are there any additional supplemental documents or other safety resources that teachers use for safety compliance awareness and requirements in their science &/or STEAM programs? (e.g., NSTA, NSELA, ACS, CSSS or other recognized authorities) *

Yes
No
Unsure

Do you have a Chemical Hygiene Plan in your school district? (It might be called an Environmental Hygiene Plan) *

Yes
No
Unsure

When was the Chemical Hygiene Plan/Environmental Hygiene Plan last reviewed? *

Within the last year
About 2 years ago
About 3 years ago
Unsure or unknown

Are your standard operating procedures updated to include current COVID-19, Influenza, or other biological based infection protocols? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Who is your designated Chemical Hygiene Officer? (if there is not a designated CHO, that is the responsibility of the Superintendent of Schools Program Services or Director of Education automatically)

Inspections

Are each of your school science &/or STEAM departments minimally inspected annually and documented/reported for the school’s chief building administrator/supervisors or local/state regulatory reporting purposes? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Do you know who conducts the annual science &/or STEAM department inspections in each building? *

Yes
No
Unsure

How are safety compliance deficiencies identified and corrected? (school level or district level decisions) *

Suggestions given to building Principal, Supervisors and/or Chemical Hygiene Officer
Suggestions given to School District Board Office Administrators
Suggestions given to school maintenance or facilities supervisor
Not sure or not known

When was the last inspection for safety compliance completed in each of the school’s science or STEAM instructional sites? *

Within the last year
About 2 years ago
About 3 years ago
Unsure or unknown

Are there joint health and safety committees in each school comprised of teachers, administrators/supervisors and facilities people who regularly inspect the school instructional spaces and related locations (preparation rooms, storerooms, etc.) for potential hazards (biological, chemical and physical)? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Are these joint health and safety committee members adequately trained in what to observe and investigate during their inspections specifically in the instructional areas and related locations (e.g., preparation rooms, storerooms) of science and STEAM? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Equitable Access

Are accommodations and modifications made for students with special needs for equitable access to science and/or STEAM education instructional spaces across the district? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Safety Equipment

There is a sufficient amount of Personal Protective Equipment or PPE at each school to provide the basic safety protection thresholds in all science/STEAM instructional sites. This includes indirectly vented chemical splash safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields as appropriate (meeting the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 D3 standard), non-latex lab coats or lab aprons, and vinyl or nitrile gloves as appropriate. *

Yes
No
Unsure

Is there a formal PPE eyewear (safety goggle / safety glasses) safety plan in place for your district? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Are engineering controls such as laboratory ventilation systems, fume hoods, eyewash stations, drench showers, fire extinguishers, GFCI electrical receptacles, etc. regularly inspected for proper functionality? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Chemicals

Do you know how many hazardous chemicals are in each of the district’s schools’ science and/or STEAM instructional spaces and/or associated sites? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Is there a banned list of chemicals that cannot be purchased or used in the schools that is communicated to the science and/or STEAM educators? *

Yes
No
Unsure

How are chemicals ordered for schools in the district? *

Chemicals are centrally purchased and approved in advance by the Chemical Hygiene Officer
Each school can order what they want from any chemical supplier they want
Unsure or unknown

Student Safety

What procedures are in place to ensure that students have the necessary skills and safety information for using the available tools and lab equipment? (For example, a “passport” system could be used in which students demonstrate their ability to use a tool/apparatus effectively and safely, and are then “licensed” to use the tool under supervision. Other teachers keep an anecdotal record of when instruction was given and the date the student successfully demonstrated her/his ability to use the tool safely.) *

All students complete a laboratory safety training program prior to doing any hands-on lab activities or demonstrations.
All students complete a lab safety acknowledgement form and is signed by the students and their parents or guardians that is archived.
All teachers demonstrate the proper lab techniques before using various equipment.
All students are able to perform a potential safety hazard analysis and resulting health and safety risk assessment of their investigation.
All teachers directly supervisor student hands-on lab activities and enforce appropriate student safety behaviors.
All educators are safety certified and can easily handle emergency situations.
All of the above
None of the above

Are your science and/or STEAM teachers using a student safety acknowledgment form with their students to illustrate and reinforce safety practices and techniques? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Are these safety acknowledgement forms digitally archived for liability purposes? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Professional Development

Is there a requirement for completion of a formalized safety course or certificate specifically for science and/or STEAM educators prior to or immediately upon starting employment, prior to course assignments involving new potential hazard exposure situations and updating in safety protocols/Chemical Hygiene Plan with your school system? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Are all teachers trained with a consistent set of rules and protocols for safety in their programs which are current and compliant as well as being grade-level and subject-area specific? *

Yes
No
Unsure

How are teachers assessed on their skill set to identify/analyze potential safety hazards, mitigate, and assess resulting health and safety risks and take the appropriate safety actions in their instructional spaces?

Does your school district have dedicated days for professional learning and collaboration? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Is there an annual budget for teacher professional development? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Science Safety Risk Management

How beneficial would it be to have a current, compliant, and consistent safety training and formalized risk management program for educators, administrators/supervisors and students in your school(s)? *

Very beneficial
Somewhat beneficial
Not beneficial at all

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