School Chemistry Laboratory Safety

Based on the Michigan Alliance (Dow Chemical, EPA Region 5, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment)

Confirm partners – Regulatory Agencies, along with others (e.g., industry, school district, county, …) then identify a champion for each partner.
Define the target area (e.g, school district, city, county, within x mile radius)

Establish mutual goals and objectives (e.g., increase safety awareness for teachers and students, achieve sustainable school laboratory safety practices, identify the need for collection and dispose of lab waste)
Establish partners’ level of commitment (financial responsibility, agree on timing for the complete cycle)

Select Options to complete each Phase (Note: examples provided, but many options are available. Determine what best fits your partnership agreement.)
- Phase 1: Teacher/Superintendent Training
  - Fund a consultant to conduct safety training
  - Agency or other partners conducts training (with knowledgeable staff)
- Phase 2: School Inventory (within 30 days of Training)
  - Schools develop inventory for possible disposal. Templates provided by Regulatory Agency
  - Consultant hired to prepare inventory for school
- Phase 3: Site Safety Visit (within 30-60 days from inventory)
  - Regulatory Agencies conduct the site safety visit
  - Consultant hired to conduct the site safety visit
- Phase 4: Collection and Disposal (within 30 days of site visit)
  - Partner funds all or a portion of the collection and disposal costs
  - Regulatory Agency grant funding to dispose all or a portion of the collected lab waste