Urgent moves to prevent science-room explosions

SAFETY AUTHORITY PROBE MAYO SCHOOL BLASTS

By Tom Kelly and Tom Shiel

STRICT NEW measures are being undertaken in Mayo to prevent a repeat of the explosions which occurred recently in classrooms during science experiments.

The move follows a number of incidents at a second level school in south Mayo in which staff and students sustained injuries. Now, the Mayo Vocational Education Committee is conducting a total review of safety measures at their seven centres in the county. And the National Health and Safety Authority is compiling a report on the science-room blasts following a full investigation by their officers.

Mr. Willie Ruane, Regional Representative of the ASTI, who brought the second explosion before Christmas to the attention of the Health and Safety Authority, said yesterday (Tuesday) he was delighted that safety in the classroom was at last being highlighted.

ALARM

"School authorities have a responsibility to ensure that the workplace is a safe and healthy environment for teachers and pupils and nothing should stand in the way of achieving that objective.

"There is a statutory obligation on all employers to ensure that this is the case".

Mr. Ruane added : "I am concerned about the whole question of school safety, not just science -rooms. The fact that high profile incidents have occurred in science labs should not give rise to false sense of security. People can be seriously injured by slipping on poor quality floor covering or in a waxed corridor."

COMPLYING

Mr. Langan pointed out that the review covered all aspects of the school and was not confined to safety in the science rooms.

Mr. Patrick Durcan (Westport ) expressed the concern of parents about safety aspects, particularly in science rooms where experiments were carried out.

Mr. Langan said Mayo schools had experienced very few claims and had a good safety record.

All of the school principals and teachers were very conscious of the need for care and each of the schools had a safety matter.

"Safety is very much a matter of being aware", he pointed out.

Mr. Padraig Cosgrove (Bangor Erris) cautioned against overdoing the safety aspect in the classrooms. He pointed out that it was alright to use mercury in classroom experiments some year ago but not anymore. Mercury was only dangerous when heat was applied.

"The safety aspect can be overdone in relation to experimental work", he added. "If we eliminate experiments we will be left with education by prescription".