KNOWLEDGE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENT ON LABORATORY SAFETY EDUCATION

1.1 Introduction

A laboratory is an environment for acquisition of skills and other scientific learning; it could be comprehensive where more than a trade is taught, it may be a building room or outside room designed for scientific research or for the teaching of practical science. Generally, laboratory are infrastructure whose goal are to promote human learning and efficiency for a definite goal therefore an expert must oversee the construction, sitting and equipping of these building to enhance safety. Safety simple means a state of being secure, protected, uninjured, out of danger and not involved in risk. All hazardous condition could not be eliminated, but safe living demands the ability to function at optimum level in the presence of hazards. The prevention of accident in laboratories is the duty of every individual using or entering them.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Managing laboratory safety at universities is critical due to a large number of laboratory accidents involving students that have been reported worldwide. Laboratory at university is the place where undergraduate students first develop their laboratory practices and the practice they learnt from the laboratory may carry throughout their careers. The laboratory setting can be a hazardous place to work since it mainly endow with microbial, chemical, glassware, equipment, radiation and explosion hazards. Therefore the workers are usually faced with various hazards at work. As a result the person’s health and safety may be severely threatened unless satisfactory preventive defensive measures are not taken (Zaveri & Karia, 2012).

The condition of laboratory facilities and infrastructure of some schools has differences. Some schools have complete laboratories, but there are some schools with minimal laboratory conditions. This will affect the quality of the practice learning process in the laboratory. Learning with a laboratory involves interactions between students, equipment and materials (Gobaw, 2016). Tools and materials in the laboratory must be utilized optimally in practicum activities. Laboratory accidents generally occur in students because they do not know how much risk if they do not understand the safety of workers in the laboratory (Yuliani et al., 2020). Some chemicals that come into direct contact with the skin, eyes or interactions between chemicals can cause injury (Cimera et al., 2020).

The role of teachers and learning resources used to make students understand occupational safety in the laboratory will be well-formed (Li et al., 2015). Knowing how to use laboratory equipment is an essential factor in supporting practice training. Misuse of laboratory tools by students can result in errors or errors in the use of tools and errors in obtaining practicum results. Knowledge of operating laboratory equipment is essential to be passed on to avoid laboratory accidents to students from the start as a critical skill for performing exercises and improving process skills.

Awareness of work safety can be grown one of them with knowledge of work safety (Tarawi et al., 2020). Students with good work safety knowledge will know the risks that can occur if ignored. Students' compliance with safety regulations on using available equipment, materials, and substances in the laboratory may reduce the risk of accidents (Salazar-Escoboza et al., 2020). With sufficient knowledge of workplace safety procedures in the laboratory, students can anticipate and handle cases of accidents and care for laboratory facilities.

Laboratory accidents at universities cannot be prevented by engineering control systems, although the system might increase laboratory testing performances (Steward et al., 2016). Gibson et al. (2014) noted that accidents in laboratories in universities were still rising despite engineering control systems have been implemented. Thus, Purohit (2018) asserted that the need to develop, consolidate, and enhance safety culture, especially related to safety behavior, is highly anticipated. Previous safety researchers have clearly distinguished these two categories of safety behaviors. Safety compliance denotes generally mandated safety behaviors for the maintenance of safety at work; however, safety participation grants voluntary safety practices leading to a safe organizational environment (Neal et al., 2000).

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to examine the Knowledge of University Student on Laboratory Safety Education.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that students’ attitudes towards laboratory safety were lacking and needed more safety training and awareness activities or programs in the university. The association between safety knowledge and safety behavior could also be clarified by the connection of safety knowledge and safety participation. Individuals with stable emotions are considered fit to take part in safety activities, disseminate safety information, and help colleagues resolve technical safety problems (Mirza et al., 2019).

The unfortunate and regrettable state of equipment tools and laboratories have been attributed to inability of the operators to apply preventive and total maintenance culture as at when due, on the equipment tools and laboratories.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Knowledge of University Student on Laboratory Safety Education. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the knowledge regarding laboratory safety precautions among University Students in the area under study;
2. To determine the current level of laboratory safety awareness among University Students in the area under study;
3. To find out if all the equipment in the University laboratory are up to the necessary standard with respect to safety and risk to health;
4. To analyze the understanding of high school students on laboratory work safety material; and
5. To proffer solution to the problem affecting laboratory safety education among University Students.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is the knowledge regarding laboratory safety precautions among University Students in the area under study?
• What is the current level of laboratory safety awareness among University Students in the area under study?
• What is the understanding of high school students on laboratory work safety material?
• What is the problem affecting laboratory safety education among University Students?
• What is the equipment in the University laboratory are up to the necessary standard with respect to safety and risk to health?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no significant factors affecting laboratory safety education among University Students in the area under study
• H1: There are significant factors affecting laboratory safety education among University Students in the area under study

1.7 Significance of Study

The following are the relevance of this research work which is stated as follows:

1. The study will ensure that investment of laboratories and equipment are optimally used for teaching and learning of Laboratory Safety Education.
2. The findings will expose student teachers and administrators strategies of maintaining laboratories and equipment in Laboratory Safety Education.
3. The study will improve the performance of students in terms of access to functional laboratories and equipment for teaching and learning of Laboratory Safety Education.
4. Finally, the study will also assist managerial and teachers in minimizing cost of maintenance.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Knowledge of University Student on Laboratory Safety Education using Enugu State University Teaching Hospital as a case study.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Definition of Terms

Safety: Safety simple means a state of being secure, protected, uninjured, out of danger and not involved in risk.

Chemical: Substance used in or obtained by chemistry.

Procedure: The order or regular way of doing things

Precaution: Care taken before an event or accidents in order to prevent it happening or in order to cause it to happen without doing harm.