Firefighters investigate a chemistry classroom at Western Reserve Academy after a 2006 fire that severely injured students. Credit: AP
The ACS Division of Chemical Education recently finalized new safety guidelines for chemical demonstrations, following a number of injuries from demo fires and other mishaps in the last several years. The guidelines build on similar efforts by the U.S. National Fire Protection Association and Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board.
The new guidelines seem straightforward and contain nothing surprising. Hopefully they'll help prevent further injuries.
You can download the guidelines here. For a graphical version of the similar National Fire Protection Guidelines, see here.
