Safety Competency in an Online Introductory Science Laboratory Course

An uptick in online enrollments at higher institutions in recent years serves as the driving force behind an increase in the number of science courses available online. The shift to online science courses introduced a new laboratory environment vastly different from the traditional laboratory, giving rise to doubts on how safe these nontraditional laboratories are with the safety competency of these online students uncertain. This study aims to investigate the safety competency of students who worked hands-on with mail-order laboratory kits in an introductory chemistry course. A survey to measure students' safety knowledge, attitudes, and practice, as well as a prelab assessment were used for data collection. Most students displayed competency in safety awareness, hazard communication, knowledge of emergency equipment and procedures, and safe chemical use, but deficiencies in their knowledge were evident in several areas.