NATURE OF ACCIDENT AND SAFETY PRACTICES IN SECONDARY SCHOOL LABORATORY IN EDUCATION

ABSTRACT

Science is a systematic enterprise which builds and organizes knowledge in a form of testable explanation and predictions about nature (Editorial Staff 2008). Miriam Webster dictionary defined science as the knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation while According to business dictionary.com defined science as the body of knowledge comprising of measurable or variable facts acquired through application of the scientific method and generalized into scientific laws or principles. Practical is defined as an examination or lesson in which theories and procedures learned are applied to the actual making or doing of something (stock, 2009). Accident is defined as an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap (Modesty 2013). In teaching of Science the practical work is of great importance as it develops the confidence of doing something by one’s own self. Practical work not only enhances the knowledge about a particular phenomenon but also explains the underlying ideas about it (Cooper &stock, 2009). Practical ‘shave an essential place in science, and safe practical practices are the most basic and fundamental parts of laboratory experiments. According to World Health Organization (2009) safety is the prevention of the adverse effects, both short- and long-term, to humans and the environment from the production, storage, transportation, use and disposal of chemicals. There are four main ways that is routes of exposure, for chemical substances to enter the human body: Inhalation, Absorption, Ingestion (eating, swallowing) etc.