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Hach test kits carry lots of interesting stuff. They also
carry a lot of responsibility:
- for teachers who are liable for the safety of their students.
- for students who need to learn a healthy degree of respect for the glassware, apparatus,
thermometers, chemical reagents, and laboratory equipment packed inside Hach test kits.
Always read the activity first.
It is highly recommended that teachers:
Here are four things teacher should know about supervising the use of Hach
test kits:
- Always wear protective eyewear. While testing with chemicals may be
considered fun, the fact remains that chemicals are serious business and should not be
treated lightly. The first rule is to make sure students always wear protective eyewear
when they handle chemicals or pipet solutions. Contact lenses are strongly discouraged,
due to the volatile or corrosive nature of some materials and the possibility of these
materials getting under the lenses or dissolving them. Glasses, however, may be worn under
the goggles.
- Never treat powder pillows as toys. Hach test kits are equipped with convenient,
premeasured chemicals packed in lengths of sealed plastic tubing, sealed foil packets, or
plastic dropping bottles. While such packaging is designed to minimize measuring,
spillage, and clean-up, the powder pillows are nevertheless tempting toys to some
students. Tell students in no uncertain terms that powder pillows are dangerous
when handled incorrectly and may cause serious internal injuries if ingested. Keep your
administration informed of any problems.
- Always review the MSDS. Chemical reagents used in Hach test kits come with a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Refer to the MSDS for any
questions you may have about safety, first aid, and disposal requirements. Then share
pertinent information with students about the chemicals in question: their physical
characteristics, the health hazard they pose, precautionary measures, first aid protocols,
what to do in the event of a spill, and how to dispose of the chemicals properly.
- Dispose of chemicals properly (and legally). Federal, state, and local
regulations govern the safe disposal of waste chemicals and reagents. It is the
responsibility of the teacher to learn these regulations, share them with students, and
model safe disposal techniques. Section 8 of the MSDS provides guidelines for spills and
disposal. If you have any questions about proper disposal, there are several places you
can contact:
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency
maintains an RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) hotline for disposal questions
at 1-800-424-9346.
- Part 261 of 40 Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) covers federal regulations for the identification and
listing of hazardous wastes.
- Your State Department of Natural Resources may also help you with waste disposal
questions.
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