Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research
ISSN (Print): 1949-4270 - ISSN (Online): 1949-4289

Research article    |    Open Access
Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research 2022, Vol. 17(3) 263-291

Thinking about the Chemical Substances through Real-life Incidents: A Case Study on Pre-service Teachers' Knowledge on Various Dimensions of Laboratory Safety

Nalan Akkuzu-Güven & Meli̇s Arzu Uyulgan

pp. 263 - 291   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/epasr.2022.461.13

Publish Date: September 01, 2022  |   Single/Total View: 207/481   |   Single/Total Download: 331/689

PDF Download

Abstract

Pre-service teachers who conduct experiments are faced with various risks in terms of physical, health and environment due to the chemicals they are exposed to in the laboratory classes. Working in a laboratory without knowing these risks causes accidents such as chemical spills, explosions and fires, and even individual injuries. For this reason, pre-service teachers should be trained about the importance of safety and the properties of the chemicals with using various learning strategies. In this context, we aimed to determine the knowledge about lab safety among the pre-service teachers through real-life laboratory accidents. This study, which focuses especially on the role of chemical substances in laboratory safety, was discussed with its various dimensions. 21 pre-service teachers taking the Laboratory Safety course and attending the Chemistry Teaching Program in a state university's the Faculty of Education in Aegean region (Turkey), participated in this research, based on the case study method. Worksheets containing cases related to laboratory accidents and semi-structured interview form were used as data collection tools. Considering the results of the research, we found that the pre-service teachers generally had a lack of knowledge on the chemicals' hazard classifications, physical, health and environmental hazards, pictograms, chemical properties, and safety precautions of chemicals within the frame of laboratory safety.

Keywords: Laboratory Safety, Chemical Substance, Hazard Classification, Accident, Pre-service Teacher

How to Cite this Article?

APA 7th edition
Akkuzu-Guven, N., & Uyulgan, M.A. (2022). Thinking about the Chemical Substances through Real-life Incidents: A Case Study on Pre-service Teachers' Knowledge on Various Dimensions of Laboratory Safety. Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, 17(3), 263-291. https://doi.org/10.29329/epasr.2022.461.13

Harvard
Akkuzu-Guven, N. and Uyulgan, M. (2022). Thinking about the Chemical Substances through Real-life Incidents: A Case Study on Pre-service Teachers' Knowledge on Various Dimensions of Laboratory Safety. Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, 17(3), pp. 263-291.

Chicago 16th edition
Akkuzu-Guven, Nalan and Meli̇s Arzu Uyulgan (2022). "Thinking about the Chemical Substances through Real-life Incidents: A Case Study on Pre-service Teachers' Knowledge on Various Dimensions of Laboratory Safety". Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research 17 (3):263-291. https://doi.org/10.29329/epasr.2022.461.13

References
  1. Abu-Siniyeh, A., & Al-Shehri, S., S. (2021). Safety in medical laboratories: Perception and practice of university students and laboratory workers. Applied Biosafety,26(S1), 34-42. https://doi.org/10.1089/apb.20.0050 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  2. Adane, L., & Abeje, A. (2012). Assessment of familiarity and understanding of chemical hazard warning signs among university students majoring chemistry and biology: A case study at Jimma University, Southwestern Ethiopia. World Applied Sciences Journal, 16(2), 290–299. [Google Scholar]
  3. Akıllı, H. İ. (2018). Determination of objectives “safe use laboratory” teacher and pre-service teachers with theory of planned behaviour (Doctoral disertation). http://www.openaccess.hacettepe.edu.tr:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11655/5283/10192152.pdf?sequence=1 [Google Scholar]
  4. Akkuzu N., & Uyulgan, M., A. (2017). Step by step learning using the I diagram in the systematic qualitative analyses of cations within a guided inquiry learning approach. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 18(4), 641–658. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RP00050B [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  5. Akpullukçu, S., & Cavaş, B. (2017). The development of laboratory safety questionnaire for middle school science teachers. Science Education International, 28(3), 224–231. [Google Scholar]
  6. Altınkaya Kurtulmuş, G. (2019). Comparison of safety culture perceptions of university student groups (Master’s thesis). https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/28087 [Google Scholar]
  7. Al-Zyoud, W., Qunies, A. M., Walters, A. U. C., Jalsa, N. K. (2019). Perceptions of chemical safety in laboratories. Safety, 5, 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/safety5020021 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  8. Anılan, B. (2010). The recognition level of the students of science education about the hazard symbols of chemicals (Case of ESOGU, Eskisehir). Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 4092–4097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.646 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  9. Artdej, R. (2012). Investigating undergraduate students’ scientific understanding of laboratory. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 5058-5062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.385 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  10. Aydogdu, C. (2015). Science and technology teachers’ views about the causes of laboratory accidents. International Journal of Progressive Education, 11(3), 106-118. [Google Scholar]
  11. Aydogdu, C., & Yardımcı, E. (2013). Accidents occured in elementary science laboratories and teachers’ behaviour manners toward these accidents. Hacettepe University Journal of Education, 44(44), 52-60. [Google Scholar]
  12. Banda, S. F., & Sichilongo, K. (2006). Analysis of the level of comprehension of chemical hazard labels: A case for Zambia. Science of the Total Environment, 363(1-3), 22-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.10.011 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  13. Barrier, R. (2005). Making sense of safety: Cooperative learning activities allow students time to reflect on the implications of lab safety rules. The Science Teacher, 72(6), 30. [Google Scholar]
  14. Can, Ş., Aksay, E. Ç., & Orhan, T. Y. (2015). Investigation of pre-service science teachers’ attitudes towards laboratory safety. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 174, 3131-3136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.1051 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  15. Carr, J. M., & Carr, J. M. (2016). What can students learn about lab safety from Mr. Bean? Journal of College Science Teaching, 45(6), 32–35. [Google Scholar]
  16. Ching, C. P. (2014). Linking theory to practice: A case-based approach in teacher education. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 123(2014), 280 – 288. [Google Scholar]
  17. Coşkun, M. (2017). Pre-service science teachers’ knowledge levels about laboratory safety (Unpublished master’s thesis). Gazi University. [Google Scholar]
  18. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage. [Google Scholar]
  19. Feszterová, M. (2015). Education for future teachers to OHS principles- safety in chemical laboratory. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 191, 890-895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.698 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  20. Fivizzani, K. P. (2016). Where are we with lab safety education: Who, what, when, where, and how? Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, 23(5),18-20. [Google Scholar]
  21. Fuller, E. J., Picucci, A. C., Collins, J. W., & Swann, P. (2001, Spring). An analysis of laboratory safety in Texas. https://www.shsu.edu/academics/agricultural-sciences-and-engineering-technology/documents/lab_safety_report.pdf [Google Scholar]
  22. Gallego, A., Fortunato, M. S., Rossi, S. L., Korol, S. E., & Moretton, J. A. (2013). Case method in the teaching of food safety. Journal of Food Science Education, 12(3), 42-47. [Google Scholar]
  23. Gerring, J. (2007). Case study research: Principles and practices. Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar]
  24. Gong, Y. (2019). Safety culture among Chinese undergraduates: A survey at a university. Safety Science, 111, 17-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2018.09.010 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  25. Grabowski, L. E. (2017). Advances in chemistry, Part I: Noise, calibration, and educational advances in analytical chemistry. Part II: Safety oversight in chemical journals (Doctoral dissertation). https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/4106 [Google Scholar]
  26. Gudyanga, R. (2020). Probing physical sciences teachers’ chemical laboratory safety awareness in some South African high schools. African Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 24(3), 423-434. https://doi.org/10.1080/18117295.2020.184196 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  27. Hancock, D. R., & Algozzine, B. (2006). Doing case study research: A practical guide for beginners researchers. Teachers College. [Google Scholar]
  28. Hill, R. H. (2021). Building strong cultures with chemical safety education. Journal of Chemical Education, 98(1), 113-117. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00089 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  29. Hill, R. H. (2016). Undergraduates need a safety education! Journal of Chemical Education, 93(9), 1495−1498. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00825 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  30. Hill, R. H., & Finster, D. C. (2016). Laboratory safety for chemistry students (2nd ed.) John Wiley and Sons Inc. [Google Scholar]
  31. Hoff, D. J. (2003). Science-lab safety upgraded after mishaps. Education Week, 22(33), 1-21. [Google Scholar]
  32. Hofstein, A., Kipnis, M., & Abrahams, I. (2013). How to learn in and from the chemistry laboratory. In I. Eilks & A. Hofstein (Eds.), Teaching chemistry – A studybook: A practical guide and textbook for student teachers, teacher trainees, and teachers (pp. 153–182). Sense Publishers. [Google Scholar]
  33. Hofstein, A., & Lunetta, V. N. (2003). The laboratory in science education: Foundations for the twenty-first century. Science Education, 88(1), 28–54. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.10106 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  34. Hofstein, A., Navon, O., Kipnis M., & Naaman, M. (2005). Developing students’ ability to ask more and better questions resulting from ınquiry-type chemistry laboratories. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 42(7), 791- 806. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20072 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  35. Huston, E. M., Milligan, J. A., Powell, J. R., Smith, A. M., Neal, D., Duval, K. M., DiNardo, M. A., Stoddard, C., Bell, P. A., Berning, A. W., Wipf, P., & Bandik, G. C. (2018). Development of an undergraduate course in chemical laboratory safety through an academic/industrial collaboration. Journal of Chemical Education, 95(4), 577–583. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00599 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  36. Kang, N., & Wallace, C. S. (2004). Secondary science teachers’ use of laboratory activities: Linking epistemological beliefs, goals, and practices. Science Education, 89(1), 140–165. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.20013 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  37. Karapantsios, T. D., Boutskou, E. I., Touliopoulou, E., & Mavros, P. (2008). Evaluation of chemical laboratory safety based on student comprehension of chemicals labelling. Education for Chemical Engineers, 3(1), e66–e73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ece.2008.02.001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  38. Kırbaşlar, F. G., Özsoy, G. Z., & Derelioğlu, Y. (2010). Investigation of pre-service science teachers’ opinions and knowledge degrees on laboratory safety. Journal of Gazi Education Faculty, 30(3), 801-818. [Google Scholar]
  39. Lacy, S. L. T. (2006). The status of safety in the public high school chemistry laboratories in Mississippi (Doctoral dissertation). https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006PhDT228L/abstract [Google Scholar]
  40. Li, Z. (2014). Research on statistical analyses and countermeasures of 100 laboratory accidents. Experimental Technology and Management, 31(4), 210-213. [Google Scholar]
  41. Lunar, B. C., Padura, V. R. S., & Dimaculangan, Ma. C. F. T. (2014). Familiarity and understanding of chemical hazard warning signs among select college students of De La Salle Lipa. Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(5), 99-102. [Google Scholar]
  42. Lunetta, V. N., Hofstein A., & Clough M. (2007). Learning and teaching in the school science laboratory: An analysis of research, theory, and practice. In N. Lederman & S. Abel (Eds.), Handbook of research on science education (pp. 393–441). Lawrence Erlbaum. [Google Scholar]
  43. Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2014). Designing qualitative research. Sage. [Google Scholar]
  44. Ménard, A. D., & Trant, J. F. (2020). A review and critique of academic lab safety research, Nature Chemistry, 12(1), 17-25. [Google Scholar]
  45. Merriam, S. B. (2013). Qualitative research a guide to design and implementation. John Wiley & Sons Inc. [Google Scholar]
  46. Meyer, T. (2017). Towards the implementation of a safety education program in a teaching and research institution. Education for Chemical Engineers, 18, 2-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ece.2015.06.003. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  47. Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook (2nd edition). California: SAGE Publications. [Google Scholar]
  48. National Research Council [NRC] (2011). Prudent practices in the laboratory: Handling and management of chemical hazards, Updated version. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12654 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  49. Richards-Babb, M., Bishoff, J., Carver, J. A., Fisher, K., & Robertson-Honecker, J. (2010). Keeping it safe: Chemical safety in the high school laboratory. Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, 17(1), 6−14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2009.05.001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  50. Rohr Daniel, A. (2011). Investigations of polymorphic germylene structures, experimental calculations of a new boron-sulfur heterocycle and assessment of a safety curriculum in an undergraduate laboratory (Doctoral dissertation). https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/89685/rohrac_1.pdf?sequence=1 [Google Scholar]
  51. Ryder, G. (2014, April 28). ILO director-general: Curbing chemical risks in the workplace. World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2014. https://www.ilo.org/beirut/media-centre/statements/WCMS_241804/lang--en/index.htm [Google Scholar]
  52. Schenk, L., Taher, I. A., & Öberg, M. (2018). Identifying the scope of safety issues and challenges to safety management in swedish middle school and high school chemistry education. Journal of Chemical Education, 95(7), 1132-1139. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b00054. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  53. Shariff, A. M., & Norazahar, N. (2012). At-risk behaviour analysis and improvement study in an academic laboratory. Safety Science, 50(1), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2011.06.008 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  54. Sigmann, S. (2018). Chemical safety education for the 21st century — Fostering safety information competency in chemists. Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, 25(3), 17-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2017.11.002 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  55. Stuart, R. B., & McEwen, L. R. (2016). The safety “use case”: Co-developing chemical information management and laboratory safety skills. Journal of Chemical Education, 93(3), 516−526. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00511 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  56. Svinicki, M. D., & McKeachie, W. J. (2012). McKeachie s teaching tips: Strategies, research, and theory for college and university teachers (14th ed.). Wadsworth. [Google Scholar]
  57. Trump, K. S., & Moore, A. (2001). The school science lab: An emerging safety issue. Inside School Safety, 5(11), 1, 6-8. [Google Scholar]
  58. Turner, B., & Shamsid-Deen, K. K. (2005). Good, messy, frothing fun. Teaching problem-based lab safety. Science Scope, 28(7), 10-13. [Google Scholar]
  59. Uyulgan, M., A. & Akkuzu, N. (2019, November). Development of an achievement test on laboratory safety: A study of validity and reliability [Paper Presentation]. 1st International Science, Education, Art & Technology Symposium UBEST 2019 (pp. 885-890), Izmir, Turkey. [Google Scholar]
  60. Vaz, K., McGrowder, D., Alexander-Lindo, R., Gordon, L., Brown, P., & Irving, R. (2010). Knowledge, awareness and compliance with universal precautions among health care workers at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica. The International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1(4), 171–181. [Google Scholar]
  61. Walters, A. U. C., Lawrence, W., & Jalsa, N. K. (2017). Chemical laboratory safety awareness, attitudes and practices of tertiary students. Safety Science, 96, 161– 171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2017.03.017 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  62. West, S. S., Westerlund, J. F., Stephenson, A. L., Nelson, N. C., & Nyland, C. K. (2003). Safety in science classrooms: What research and best practice say. The Educational Forum, 67(2), 174-183. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131720308984555 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  63. Wu, T.-C., Liu, C.-W., & Lu, M.-C. (2007). Safety climate in university and college laboratories: Impact of organizational and individual factor. Journal of Safety Research, 38(1), 91–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2007.01.003 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  64. Wu, K., Jin, X., & Wang, X. (2021). Determining university students’ familiarity and understanding of laboratory safety knowledge—a case study. Journal of Chemical Education, 98(2), 434-438. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c01142 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  65. Yang, Y., Reniers, G., Chen, G., & Goerlandt, F. (2019). A bibliometric review of laboratory safety in universities, Safety Science, 120, 14-24. [Google Scholar]
  66. Yılmaz, A. (2005). Knowledge level of the students regarding the dangerous features of chemical substances used in some experiments mentioned in the 19th grade chemistry book and relevant suggestions. Hacettepe University Journal of Education, 28(28), 226-235. [Google Scholar]
  67. Yin, R. K. (2014). Case study research: Design and methods (5th ed). Sage. [Google Scholar]
  68. Zhang, X., Hu, X., Bai, Y., & Wu, J. (2020). Risk assessment of gas leakage from school laboratories based on the Bayesian Network. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,17(2), 426. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020426 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  69. Ziara, K. S., Ibraheem, A. K., & Al-Furaiji, A. (2021). Chemical safety awareness for undergraduate analytical chemistry students: A case study at Baghdad University, Republic of Iraq. Scholars International Journal of Chemistry and Material Sciences, 4(4), 30-35. https://doi.org/10.36348/sijcms.2021.v04i04.004 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
Meta
Vol. 17 (3)
Download
Metric
History
Related

Volume 17 Issue 3

September 2022

All Manuscript

Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research

Copyright © 2025 Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CC BY
All elements of this website were created using the BOQ™ - Intelligent Webverse System.