I've "suggested" that the Science teachers I used to work with use the Flinn Scientific Student Safety Contract since it was comprehensive. (http://www.flinnsci.com/Sections/Safety/safety.asp) Also, I recently found an interesting article by a lawyer on the liability of teachers, professors & the school if a student is injured that everyone should probably read: http://rbs2.com/labinj.htm Kim Auletta Lab Safety Specialist EH&S Z=6200 kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu 632-3032 Jim KaufmanSent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List 07/24/2006 01:05 AM Please respond to Labsafe**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM To DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU cc Subject [DCHAS-L] Rules Agreements Recently, there was a discussion on the NSTA lists about rules agreements. I thought this might be of interest. ... Jim << Does anyone have a lab safety contract that you've typed up for middle school science that you would be willing to share? Thanks and Happy Summer! Jenny >> The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI) recommends the use of rules agreements or rules understandings. Note that we do not refer to them as contracts because they are, in fact, not contracts. We recommend that the statement that the student signs for four parts: read, understood, agree, and realize. Many rules agreements do not include the realize part. For example: I have READ, UNDERSTOOD, and AGREE to follow the science safety rules. I REALIZE that my failure to follow these rule can result in my permanently losing the privilege of participating in this class for the rest of this school year. Is there anything on the rules agreement that your students sign that you should not be serving as the role model for? Do you get a pass on any of the rules? Of course not! So, do the science teachers in your department sign a teacher science safety rules agreement (with the same four parts)? Most don't. All should! Along with the rules agreement, you should have an introductory cover letter signed by the principal and the superintendent. The "Dear Students" letter welcomes them to science, stresses the importance of the rules agreement, outlines the minimum penalties for breaking the rules, and provides the teachers with the administrative support they need to enforce the rules. Free copies of LSI's model rules agreement and "Dear Student" letter are available for free on request. Requests should be sent to Christina Dillard, _cdillard**At_Symbol_Here**labsafety.org_ (mailto:cdillard**At_Symbol_Here**labsafety.org) . James A. Kaufman, Ph.D. Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI) 192 Worcester Road Natick, MA 01760 Tel: 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 Cell: 508-574-6264 _www.labsafety.org_ (http://www.labsafety.org/)
Previous post | Top of Page | Next post