Educational

Portland, OR — Episodes of agitated student behavior – including verbal abuse of fellow students and teachers, as well as physical acts such as hitting, weaponizing school supplies, and destroying school or student property – may foster a “disrupted learning environment” that puts teachers’ safety and health at risk, according to a recent report from the Oregon Education Association.

Washington — NIOSH recently introduced checklists to help employers assess damp areas and identify mold.

Atlanta — As a new school year gets underway, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has released two teacher training videos as part of a campaign intended to call attention to the dangers of mercury exposure.

Columbus, OH — One out of five teachers who experiences physical or verbal violence on the job does not report it to school administrators, according to a study led by researchers at Ohio State University.

Washington – A new video from the Chemical Safety Board reminds teachers, staff and school administrators of the hazards of using flammable materials such as methanol during classroom science demonstrations.

East Lansing, MI – Less-experienced teachers are more likely to experience burnout if co-workers feel the same way, suggests a recent study from researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Virginia.

Washington – Threats of physical violence from students can result in teachers becoming discontented with the profession – and sometimes quitting it altogether, according to a newly released report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics.

Atlanta – Multiple cases of melioidosis – a bacterial infection that has potentially fatal consequences – reinforce the need for researchers in laboratories to follow proper safety procedures when working with unknown pathogens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the wake of severe injuries – including a death – involving laboratory researchers at U.S. universities, the Chemical Safety Board and the American Chemical Society are exploring the issues of education and training, near-miss reporting, and safety culture in university labs.

Washington – Three recent incidents that left both children and adults with burn injuries have prompted the Chemical Safety Board to issue a safety bulletin on educational science demonstrations that use flammable chemicals.