Happy New Year! As schools reopen after extended breaks, it’s easy to focus on lesson plans, calendars, and supplies. One critical safety step, however, is often overlooked: running the water in your science labs . Any plumbing that has gone unused, lab sinks, prep room faucets, emergency eyewash stations, and safety showers, can accumulate  bacteria, sediment, and debris, including Legionella bacteria .. When that water is the first thing students or staff encounter, it intr

Leaving a Li-ion battery charging unattended can lead to a failure Holiday breaks are a time to rest, recharge, and step away from our buildings. Unfortunately, preventable fires do  occur , often in empty schools, offices, and other facilities. One of the most common and overlooked risks is lithium-ion battery chargers left plugged in  during extended closures. Why This Matters Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere: laptops, tablets, radios, power tools, e-bikes, scooters, dr

Published: December 2025, By : Kevin Doyle, Kevin Doyle Consulting An electric school bus operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)  caught fire on a Los Angeles street Wednesday morning, raising important questions about emerging vehicle technologies and school safety protocols. According to authorities, the bus — powered by lithium-ion batteries — erupted in flames just after 9:20 a.m. under the 210 Freeway overpass near Foothill Boulevard in Sunland . Tha

Vape Batteries are a danger when disposed of improperly. Fire officials in West Sussex recently battled a blaze that investigators believe was caused by a vaping device left charging in a bedroom. This incident is far from isolated. According to the nonprofit Material Focus, the U.K. experienced over 1,200 fires in 2023  in trash bins, garbage trucks, and waste facilities — all tied to improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries . Many of those batteries came from vapes. The

Most people understand that lithium-ion batteries shouldn’t be exposed to high heat. But very few realize that cold temperatures can be just as damaging — and even more deceptive. As we head into winter, this is a critical safety message for schools, districts, families, and workplaces that use battery-powered devices, tools, and equipment. The Hidden Winter Hazard: Separator Damage Inside every lithium-ion battery is a thin, porous separator —a film that keeps the positive

By:  Kevin Doyle Category:  Lab Safety • K-12 STEM • Risk Management Introduction:  A recent incident at Lord Williams’s School in Oxfordshire, UK, serves as a wake-up call for everyone involved in K-12 science education. Three students were taken to the hospital after drinking water from contaminated water bottles taken from a school science lab. This was not a sophisticated chemical attack—it was curiosity, colour , and access combining to create a serious risk. What happe

In Moorestown, NJ, a teenager was recently charged after an illegal explosives lab was discovered in their home’s basement. Authorities recovered highly volatile chemicals and described the situation as a “ticking time bomb.” 🔗 ABC News This incident is a stark reminder that science doesn’t stay in the lab—it follows students home. That’s why Chemical Hygiene Citizenry  is not just a school policy issue; it’s a community-wide responsibility. 🧪 Students must understand that

A recent incident at Bainbridge High School  serves as an important reminder that even small lapses in science safety can have significant consequences. According to the Bainbridge Review  (October 15, 2025), firefighters responded to a chemistry lab fire  on September 26 after a reaction between sodium hydroxide and zinc produced flammable hydrogen gas . The resulting fire ignited a recycling bin, but was quickly extinguished using a dry chemical extinguisher. No injuries we

October is recognized nationally as Fire Safety Month —a time to reflect, prepare, and strengthen our commitment to keeping students,...

On September 19, 2025, a lab explosion at Georgia Tech resulted in minor student injuries. According to Fox 5 Atlanta , emergency...

Li-ion batteries are used to power many devices we use today. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries power nearly every device we rely on...

Li-ion Storage - Do not forget where it is or what is in there A colleague from another institution recently contacted me with a concern....

Li-ion batteries are very safe, until they are not Do You Know How to Store Them? How Do You Dispose of Them? As we start the new school...

Start the School Year with Sound Safety Habits As a new school year begins, science and STEM classrooms come alive with curiosity and...

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are everywhere—and while they are generally safe, they can fail  when not used, stored, charged,...

Your go-to resource for creating a culture of safety in K–12 science classrooms. The Science Laboratory Safety Manual, 4th Edition,  is a...

Li-Ion Battery failures can happen anywhere. We often associate danger with labs, factories, or industrial settings—not our own homes....

Be safe in the summer too!! Even during the quieter summer months, the importance of maintaining strict science lab safety protocols...

Two middle school students were hospitalized last Spring following a science lab incident in South Los Angeles. What we do know is clear:...