College laboratories are generally
perceived to be low-risk environments
in comparison to industrial laboratories and plant operations. However,
accidents in college chemistry laboratories have revealed the safety
conditions to which both students and staff may be exposed. Improving
the effectiveness of laboratory safety training programs and chemical
safety education requires gaining an understanding of how undergraduate
students may perceive the risk associated with chemistry laboratory
settings. This study characterized risk perceptions of safety hazards
in chemistry laboratories among college students. Undergraduate college
students from the chemistry and biology department of a university
in Mexico were surveyed. The Workers’ Risk Perception Dimensional
Evaluation (EDRP-T) was used to characterize risk perceptions through
nine dimensions and the overall perceived risk for three risk factors:
laboratory work, chemical splashes, and chemical-substances inhalation.
Perceived risk was characterized in a sample of 521 undergraduate
students. Students felt confident in successfully dealing with the
risk factors evaluated despite feelings of dread and vulnerability
as well as concerns about the severity of the consequences of an injury.
Their perceived ability to control and avoid these risks might have
reflected the students’ self-efficacy. Discrepancies in characterizing
risk perception as a multidimensional construct or a direct, measurable
characteristic were identified. Gaining an understanding about what
undergraduate students do and do not perceive as hazardous is a valuable
input to develop risk management and communication strategies with
the potential to influence students’ decision-making process
that can result in safer behaviors. Successful design and implementation
of chemical education programs requires recognizing gaps at all levels.
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