Assessing Awareness on Laboratory Safety: A Case Study in Pahang, Malaysia (Penilaian Kesedaran Keselamatan Makmal: Kajian Kes di Pahang, Malaysia)

Abstract

Science education emphasises on obtaining knowledge, in which includes hands-on knowledge involving experiments conducted in laboratories. However, since experiments require interactions between students, substances, and equipment, laboratories that can pose great risks to users. In this regards, the Ministry of Education Malaysia has taken proactive approach to enhance laboratory safety via School Science Laboratory Management and Safety guidebook, textbooks, and science based practical workbooks that are used throughout secondary schools in Malaysia. It is challenging to ascertain students’ awareness on laboratory safety throughout Malaysia, hence this study selected 8 secondary schools located in Pahang as case study to determine students’ awareness on laboratory safety. A questionnaire was developed by focusing on five components, namely work procedure, safety equipment, handling experiments, chemical waste management, and emergency response plan, and then the questionnaire was completed by 558 science stream students from schools located at urban and rural areas. The results of this study indicate that the overall level of students’ awareness on laboratory safety is at medium-high level, and this has shown that the existing measures in secondary school to enhance awareness of laboratory safety is adequate. Nevertheless, there are still room for improvement to further enhance students’ awareness on laboratory safety in Malaysia.Keywords: Laboratory safety, awareness, secondary school, Malaysia Pendidikan sains memberi kepentingan kepada pemerolehan ilmu dan memberi penekanan khusus kepada kerja amali yang dijalankan di dalam makmal sains. Memandangkan kerja amali memerlukan interaksi antara pelajar dengan pelbagai bahan dan peralatan, ia menjadikan makmal sains berisiko kepada penggunanya. Sehubungan dengan itu, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia telah memperkukuhkan keselamatan makmal melalui garis panduan Pengurusan dan Keselamatan Makmal Sains, buku teks dan buku amali yang digunapakai di sekolah menengah. Ia adalah mencabar untuk menentukan tahap kesedaran keselamatan makmal di seluruh Malaysia, maka kajian ini telah memilih 8 sekolah menengah yang terletak di Pahang sebagai kajian kes. Soal selidik telah dibangunkan dengan memberi fokus kepada lima komponen utama keselamatan makmal sains, iaitu prosedur kerja, peralatan keselamatan, pengendalian eksperimen, pembuangan sisa bahan kimia dan pelan tindakan kecemasan, dan kemudian soal selidik ini telah dijawab oleh 558 pelajar sains dari sekolah bandar dan luar bandar. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa tahap kesedaran keseluruhan untuk keselamatan makmal adalah pada tahap sederhanda-tinggi, dan ini telah menunjukkan kaedah sedia ada di sekolah menengah adalah memadai. Walaubagaimanapun, ia masih terdapat peluang untuk penambahbaikan serta memperkukuhkan tahap kesedaran pelajar terhadap keselamatan makmal di Malaysia.Kata kunci: Keselamatan makmal, kesedaran, sekolah menengah, Malaysia