SAFETY IN SCIENCE EDUCATION

TEXAS LAWS & TEA REGULATIONS

1. PROTECTIVE EYE DEVICES 289.61-68
A. Industrial quality eye-protective devices SHALL be worn by every teacher & pupil participating in
1. laboratories involving experience

a. hot molten materials
b. milling, sawing, turning, shaping, cutting, or stamping of any solid materials
c. heat treatment tempering
d. caustic or explosive materials or

2. chemical or combined chemical-physical labs involving caustic or explosive chemicals or hot liquids or solids.
B. Industrial quality eye-protective devices must meet standards set by State Dept. of Health
C. Districts must provide FREE to teachers (& other employees)
D. Required eye injury reports to State Dept. of Ed. (no longer implemented)

1a STANDARDS FOR EYE PROTECTION 5.5
A. Description
B. Goggles shall provide eye protection from fine dusts, fumes, liquids, splashes, mists & spray
C. Application

	Hazard	Body part
Permissible device
goggles, spectacles, face shields	(1) dust/small flying particles	eyes, face
goggles	(2) gases, fumes, smoke	" "
goggles, face shields	(3) liquids	" "

1b. STANDARDS 289.66 Appendix
A. Disinfection - clean/disinfect regularly & before use by a different person
1. soap & HOT water
2. Rinse w/ fresh distilled water
3. Swab thoroughly or immerse for 10 min. in germicidal deodorant fungicide
4. Air dry & store in clean, dust-proof containers.

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NOTE:

GOGGLES, NOT GLASSES or spectacles, are required for science lab or field activities involving ANY hazardous chemical which could damage the eye(s) if the chemical splashed into the eye or the eye was rubbed with fingers that had the chemical on them.

Goggles may also be sanitized w/ UV radiation or w/ germicidals such as 10% Chlorox solution (& rinsed w/ clean distilled water, then air dried).

If there is a concern about head lice, then the Tx. Dept. of Health recommends the product that is specific for lice - "Rid".

Note: There are some cheap goggles on the market that look like the high quality goggles, but are not as high a quality. Among other problems, the plastic is sharp & cuts into the face.

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