Australia's Science Forum

Hi Curie
There is only so much you can do. One of our teachers has an early class of Bio12 and always makes them tea/coffee etc. She says it is all clean and spreads on large butcher paper on the benches, but I wash my hand off it. I reported it to HOD and he did nothing.
Lada

We have strict no eating or drinking in the labs. I confiscate kids drink bottles if I see them and none of my teachers would dare bring anything into the lab for fear of my wrath . OH&S is my "thing" plus I am the OH&S rep for this campus

Helps that I have 17 years experience in working labs, my teachers like the students to get real life experience and that includes universal laboratory OH&S rules. One of the Australian standards on laboratories (can't think of which one of the top of my head) has a list of rules for the laboratory, one being no eating or drinking. Every lab I have worked in has that as a rule including no application of makeup which always makes me chuckle.

I'm also OHS rep, however I'm a do as I say, not as I do type of guy (ie if I want to eat, I eat although it's never in the lab - I used to in the main prep room because that's where my desk was - now I'm in the science teacher's office unless I am required to be in the prep are)

Linotas, I've worked in industry for about as long, it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Just happen to be browsing Aus.Standards.AS/NZS 2243.1:2005
4.1 REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE CONDUCT
(i) Do not handle, prepare, store or consume food or drink for personal consumption in the laboratory.

Does any one have a list of school lab rules they display in their labs - I'm updating mine and wonder what everyone else lists on their walls.....

I have found it difficult to get all the important rules onto something that is easy to read. These are the two I came up with along with another pic I also put up for fun!

Hi All,

I have never allowed food in the laboratories, "Sigh" I guess it just a general consensus that in Industry we have standards and those aren't being pushed right from the start (e.g. at high school level), This may seem a bit harsh but I guess it only my opinion, we move our food operations to the cooking area of TAS to complete food practicals. Its just not right..

There are govening rules for standards in Laboratories, and we just encourage the wrong sense of Laboratories and what our standards are. After all standards are ther to set a profewssional bench mark.


BTW, I like the comic pictures....

Cheers,

Robb.....

ri wrote:Can I ask my colleagues what rules they have regarding food in labs - students snacking or food tasting experiments??
~Robyn

"No Comment" on the grounds that I might incriminate myself/my science department!

Cheers
Ian

I used to work in a forensic lab and the old boys would tell us about how they would sit around smoking while pipetting blood samples! Worryingly not that long ago! And then they would go upstairs to the bar and have a drink with any of the police officers who happened to be around.

Yes, smoking was common in labs. I was working in a QC lab for a major food company in the 80s - there was strictly no smoking in the production area, so the plant operators came into the lab for a smoko. I tried to get the lab designated a no-smoking area, but failed to get management support.

Think I would rather take a chance with my prep room rather than put my food in the staff fridge. There are some serious experiments going on in there sometimes

Definition of ironic? Me telling off a student for eating a wizz fizz in the science lab while the teacher is handing out choc chip cookies...

Hi All,
As a part-timer now and also as a Uni student I thought I would update my impressions regarding food in the labs......
I have never been able to influence the high school teachers here regarding a no-food/drink policy in the Science labs.
If only I could, because when these kids hit Uni they are in for a huge shock!! Food/water bottles in labs is a definite NO-NO and they are really jumped on. Gum chewing is prohibited and even my dissection kit stored in an old chocolate tin makes them nervous.
I would have thought for any high schools reputation, it would be a good idea to train kids in this aspect BEFORE they enrol at University?

I totally agree. However at our school the tutor groups use the labs as a home room and have parties in these rooms. I have had to turn a blind eye to this. Also its not only science teachers that have these groups in the labs. I also have signs on our fridge not to store food in them but at certain times we have food in them.