Making Sherbet: Can you tell me if any safety precautions are required for the sherbet activity, which allows students to create an acid–base reaction in their mouth? Is the recipe below okay to use for this activity?
Making Sherbet:
Ingredients
You will need a very dry sieve, tablespoon, bowl and airtight storage container
Directions
Mercury Spills: We have a small amount of mercury in a thick-walled test tube, which only comes out once a year and is handled by the teacher. I do not have a spill kit for this. I was wondering where do I buy one, or can I make one up? Also, what would be the procedure in the event of a mercury spill. I know evacuation would be a must, but that is all I know. I have also been thinking about placing this glass test tube in an appropriate plastic bottle to avoid a spill.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Number of exit doors in labs and prep rooms: How many exit doors must a lab and a prep room have? Should they be on opposite sides of the lab? Are sliding doors allowed? Should the doors open outwards? How close to the fume cupboard can the exit door be?
Chemical Storage: What type of extractor fan should we have to ventilate our chemical storage cupboard? My understanding is that we have an Industrial Extractor fan, but should we have a Chemical Store specific extractor fan?
Making Nylon: It has now been 14 years since I was in a high school classroom, but in those ‘good old days’ we could do an experiment to make nylon 6,6. I am writing some tasks at the moment but don’t want to include this in my tasks if OH&S regulations now means this can no longer be done by students. So, can you let me know if it is still an experiment that is acceptable.
Sulfur hexafluoride: I require information on availability, safety, cost and suppliers of sulfur hexafluride. I would also appreciate advice from anyone with experience in using and disposal of the gas. Thank you.
Sharps container disposal: Hi. I just want to know where we should dispose our full sharps container. Do we just have to secure the lid and make sure it's tight and sealed and then put it in the general bin or do we have to go to the nearest hospital and put it in their hazardous bins? Thank you.
Photocopier / printer stored outside chemical store room: Hi I have just come back off holidays to find a large photocopying machine placed opposite the door to my Chemical Store room—within a metre. This photocopier / printer is for all staff to use. Are there any regulations stating this is not permitted? I dont feel comfortable having the machine in its present position, but I have been told there is nothing to worry about.
Electrical standards for classroom laboratories: Can you tell me the current standard for school laboratories with regard to electrical cut-off switches. Should there be an emergency electrical shut down push button, in each science laboratory classroom.
Gallium Metal: Hi, I was wondering what your thoughts were on the use of gallium in schools (Years 7–12) for the purpose of demonstrating the melting point of metals and possibly other experiments. Is it considered safe for students to handle assuming they're wearing gloves?
