COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 19

May 24, 2005

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Linda M. Wallinger Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Safety in Science Teaching

With the increasing emphasis on hands-on inquiry instruction at all levels in the Science Standards of Learning it becomes more incumbent upon science teachers and administrators to be as knowledgeable as possible about laboratory safety issues, such as the use of mercury thermometers, and their own responsibilities. The Department of Education staff frequently receives questions from teachers and administrators about safety issues, responsibilities, and liability.

Safety in Science Teaching is a safety manual that was produced by the Department of Education to support school divisions. The goal of this document is to provide a handy, concise reference, primarily for middle and high school science teachers. The information presented in this document was developed from the collective experiences of teachers, administrators, health department officials, and industrial safety specialists. The manual was developed to provide a summary of safety information relevant to public school teachers and administrators. The information provided can serve as the foundation for safety policies for a school or division.

Safety in Science Teaching may be downloaded at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/safetymanual.pdf.

If you have questions about science safety, please contact Eric M. Rhoades (eric.rhoades@doe.virginia.gov), science coordinator, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, at (804) 225-2676; or Paula J. Klonowski (paula.klonowski@doe.virginia.gov), science specialist, Office of Elementary Instructional Services at (804) 371-0249.

LMW/ER/PK/yba