Assessment of Science Teachers Awareness of the Legal Implications on Safety in Relation to Laboratory Activities

Abstract

The study aimed at assessing science teacher awareness of the legal implication on safety in relation to laboratory activities. Eight research questions formed the basis of the study while three null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. A sample of ninety science teachers was obtained using stratified random sampling techniques dichotomised into rural - urban on the one hand and male-female on the other hand. The sample was also trichotomised into biology, chemistry and physics teachers. A questionnaire made up of twenty items was developed and responded to using a five point likert rating scale. The items were face validated and reliably obtained using Pearson. Research Questions 1- 8 were answered using means and standard deviations while the hypotheses were tested using one-way ANOVA for Ho₁ and Z-score for Ho₂ and Ho₃. Science teachers whether in holistic terms, at the trichotomised level or at the dichotomised level were minimally aware of the legal implications of safety in the context of laboratory activities. At the three levels of operation, no significant differences were obtained. Recommendations based on the major findings were proffered.