Familiarize your students with the equipment used in the classroom such as fire extinguishers and proper attire including long-sleeve shirts and protective shoes. Review the safety contract your school requires each student and guardian to sign. Get the kids involved through an "If-Then" exercise. For instance, if a solution is spilled in the lab then the student must ___. Once the students recognize the equipment and are familiar with the safety procedures, review your school's first aid policy so the students are prepared for any accidents and know how to proceed during a mishap. Finalize the lesson with a mock fire drill to enforce the actions taken during an interrupted lab procedure, such as turning off burners, closing containers and locking chemical cabinets.
Set up a scavenger hunt for the students to locate the numerous items in a laboratory as they sit in the appropriate area. An easy way to do this in an orderly manner is to take a digital picture of the lab and print out enlarged copies for each student. Provide a list of items the students must locate. Award points for each item found and labeled correctly. Incorporate safety rules into the hunt by moving some items out of their proper place. Students gain extra points for locating out of place items.
Teach safe handling procedures for chemicals used at home and in the lab. For instance, taste no chemical unless instructed, touch nothing with your bare hands and never smell the open containers of chemicals. Ask students how they dispose of radiator fluid, motor oil and other toxins at home. Explain your local municipality's procedure for proper disposal of toxic waste. Set up a practice experiment for proper labeling of chemicals and containers. Explain the importance of marking the manufacturer, chemical strength and first aid instructions on the label. Create a mock chemical spill to demonstrate what to do in the situation as dictated by your school safety policy.
Review student behavior in the classroom, from reaching over burners to leaving the station while doing an experiment. Include information normally taken for granted, such as no rough-housing, practical jokes or throwing substances at other students. Explain the importance of keeping the work area clean and free from food or drink. Set up a checklist for the students to use before the start of each experiment, such as inspecting all equipment and reporting any damaged or missing items. Set up a rotation chart so each student acts as a safety technician prior to experiments to remind their peers about pulling up long hair, removing jewelry, securing baggy clothing and reviewing emergency first aid procedures.