Comparative Assessment of Laboratory Safety Practices Among Biology Students and Teachers in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the level of laboratory safety practices among biology students and their teachers. The study was carried out in selected public and private senior secondary schools within Abeokuta, Nigeria. Data collection was facilitated through questionnaires titled "Students Laboratory Safety Practices (SLSP)" and "Teachers Laboratory Safety Practices Implementation (TLSPI)." A total of 256 participants, comprising 240 students and 16 teachers, were randomly selected using a simple random sampling method. The data obtained were analyzed employing T-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), with a significance level set at p < 0.05. The results indicated that both students and teachers in the public and private secondary schools adhered to safety precautions and implemented safety practices during laboratory practical sessions. Consequently, it is recommended that teachers persist in their efforts to reinforce laboratory safety practices among students and utilize instructional posters or flex materials that outline the necessary safety protocols to be followed in the laboratory.