Government is investing $2.2 million to improve laboratory safety standards in intermediate and high schools throughout the province. The Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education, announced today this funding has a dual purpose. The first is to undertake a professional disposal of outdated or unnecessary chemicals. The second is to bring uniformity to lab safety resources and equipment.

"The Department of Education recently conducted an inventory of grades 7-12 schools to determine exactly what we were dealing with in terms of laboratory requirements and shortfalls," said Minister Burke. "School reorganization, new staff and improved safety standards all contributed to the need for an overhaul of our safety measures. To that end, we will shortly begin a major clean-up of school laboratories. We are also investing significantly in new safety-related equipment that meets modern standards and regulations."

Professional disposal of used or outdated chemical products will commence early in the new year. This will be followed by the purchase of modern safety equipment for the schools, including such items as eye wash stations, safety blankets, lab coats and chemically-resistant gloves.

"In the past, work such as this has been done on an ad-hoc basis. However, we recognized that significant government investment was necessary to ensure grades 7-12 schools are operating at the highest safety standards," the minister said.

In addition to the physical modifications, intensive professional development is being provided to science teachers to ensure they have the necessary updated knowledge and abilities to safely operate in a laboratory setting. Any school offering grades 7-12 science will have at least one teacher who has completed two days of lab safety professional development. A School Safety Science Manual is also under development which will outline proper procedures in the use, storage and disposal of chemicals. The manual will be ready for distribution to schools early in 2007.

"Government is being proactive in providing safe, optimum learning environments for students and teachers. By bringing uniformity to the system, we can ensure everyone is operating to the highest safety standards. This funding will also help support new science courses the Department of Education has recently introduced. Hands-on activity is an important component of learning science and this new equipment and training will maximize science skills development in our schools," said the minister.

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Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca