- Schools
- Administrators
- Teachers
- Facilities and Maintenance Personnel
- School Nurses
- Parents
- Prospective Teachers
Teachers
Teachers can reduce the environmental and health hazards in their school by ensuring that classroom chemicals are managed in a responsible manner and working collaboratively to help implement a chemical management program by:
- Learning about chemical hazards, safety practices, and requirements
for handling chemicals;
- Obtaining and maintaining Material
Safety Data Sheets;
- Working with chemical management professionals to identify and remove
chemical hazards in your school;
- Educating students about the proper handling of chemicals and safety
procedures;
- Ensuring that your lab or classroom is equipped to handle potential
mishaps associated with chemicals;
- Keeping chemicals in a locked, restricted area, away from students
and potential vandals;
- Taking into account the toxicity and quantity of chemicals used
to clean and maintain classrooms, and teach science, the arts, and
vocational sciences;
- Evaluating all chemicals coming into the school, including donations,
for risk, storage and disposal requirements, need, and existing stocks
before accepting;
- Centralizing your classroom's chemical inventory;
- Building awareness of the issue with others in the school system;
- Obtaining support at all levels within the school, from the principal
to custodian, to address chemical use and management; and
- Working cooperatively with district wide contacts (superintendent, facility manager, etc.).
To learn more about safe chemical handling and disposal practices, developing a chemical management program, and greening your lesson plans, visit the Resources page.