Guidelines on science laboratories for Diploma Programme science courses

Advice on science laboratories is a difficult area as there are wide variations within and between countries with regard to resources available to schools for
the provision of science laboratories and equipment. This is meant to be a broad and not overly prescriptive document as far as apparatus is concerned but
needs to be quite clear about safety considerations.
It is recommended that you read this document taking into consideration the subject(s) from sciences to be offered, the plan of experiments to be
implemented and the context of the school.
The first recommendation to teachers of science is to be familiar with the corresponding subject guide and teacher support materials and to attend the
workshop related to their subject and use the Programme Resource Centre (PRC). The current subject guides for biology, chemistry, design technology, physics
and sports exercise and health science also contain 40 suggestions for a safer lab that are taken from the Laboratory Safety Institute’s Laboratory Safety
Guidelines.
Teachers should also be familiar with the Guidelines for the use of animals in IB world schools which can also be found on the PRC.
It is recommended that, in the absence of any internationally binding standards, schools ensure that their science laboratories conform to any local legal
requirements. If there are no local/national requirements, schools should consult a recognized safety authority, for example CLEAPSS
(http://www.cleapss.org.uk). Within the context of the Diploma Programme, the school's choice of subjects and experiments in the sciences subject group
will partly affect their choice of equipment.
The size of laboratories and the quantity and type of apparatus and consumables available should be compatible with the requirements for all biology,
chemistry and physics students to undertake either 40 hours (SL) or 60 hours (HL) practical work, including independent work for the internal assessment.
This includes adequate provision of ICT to satisfy the requirements in the subject guides and the prescribed practicals that are now listed in the biology,
chemistry and physics subject guide. However, there are certain basic requirements, particularly in regard to safety standards, that schools need to consider.
These are listed below in table 1 and should form a guide to schools as to their readiness for authorization.
Table 1 – Basic safety requirements

Sports,
Environmental exercise
Computer Design
Requirement Biology Chemistry systems and Physics and
science technology
societies health
science
The gas supply should be mains or bottled gas. If bottled X (if X (if
X (if using X (if using
gas is used, the supply must be externally located. using X (if using gas) using
*Schools may opt to use spirit burners or electric hot plates. gas) gas)
gas) gas)
Master shut-off switches should be provided for gas and
electricity. *This will depend if these laboratories are using
X X X X X X X
gas or not; if not using gas check only for electricity shut-off
switch.
Electrical safety – need earth leakage trip switch/overload
X X X X X X X
cut off.
Provision of safety equipment must include
• fire extinguishers (type depending on location) X X X X X X X
• fire blankets (if open flame is used) X X X X X
• fume hoods X
X (if
• emergency showers (or a continuous flow of water necessary,
that is available to cover a person from the top of X based on
their head) practical
programme)
• first aid kit X X X X X X X
X (if
necessary,
• eyewash stations (these may be attached to a
X X X based on X
water supply or be standalone)
practical
programme)
All chemicals and other dangerous equipment must be
stored in a lockable, ventilated room with no direct access
X X
for students. Flammable or corrosive chemicals should be
placed separately in cabinets designed for this purpose.
 Sports,
Environmental exercise
Computer Design
Requirement Biology Chemistry systems and Physics and
science technology
societies health
science
All chemical containers must be labelled with the name of
the chemical and the appropriate hazard warning.
X
The school must maintain an inventory of their laboratory
X
chemicals.
Regarding radioactive sources (if kept): need to keep to
local regulations for storage and disposal of sources, safety X X
guidelines available for teacher and student use.
Regarding lasers: safety guidelines should be available for
X
teacher and student use.
Students should wear protective clothing and splash
resistant spectacles when using chemicals. Protective
gloves should be worn when working with strong acids or
X X X X X
bases. Appropriate safety spectacles should be worn for
certain physics experiments involving lasers, heating, stress
testing materials, etc.
Teachers (and technicians when available) should be
qualified to follow all safety rules/procedures when X X X X X X X
undertaking practical work.
Safety rules are prominent on laboratory walls. X X X X X X
Table 2 – Desirable safety aspects

Sports,
Environmental exercise
Computer Design
Requirement Biology Chemistry systems and Physics and
science technology
societies health
science
Where possible, separate laboratories should be provided for
X X X
the three major science areas.
Science laboratories should be scheduled for science classes
X X X X X X
only.
Adequate laboratory space should be provided for each
student, with sufficient gas, electrical and water outlets for
X X X X X
student laboratory activities. Ideally there should be one sink
per four students at a laboratory “station”.
The preparation room for science classes involving movement
X X X X X X
of chemicals should be adjacent to the teaching rooms.
Electrical items should be inspected on an annual basis and
X X X X X X X
this should be appropriately documented.
There should be a full inventory of all apparatus showing age,
X X X X X X X
safety checks, etc.