We at Texas A&M at Qatar take the safety of all students, teachers and spectators very seriously. As such, we have crafted our demonstrations to follow the guidelines set forth by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Chemical Education for public science demonstrations. The guidelines were created based on current best practices and provide a checklist of key issues for demonstrators to assure that science demonstrations are conducted safely and without incident. A summary of these guidelines can be found here.
Per the guidelines, project safety analyses (PSAs) for each demonstration were created, reviewed, and approved by Texas A&M at Qatar’s environmental, health, and safety coordinators. These documents include a risk assessment of all demonstrations along with steps taken to mitigate and ameliorate any undue risk. A PDF these PSAs can be provided via email. Please note that not all demonstrations listed in the PSAs will be performed at any one show.
The use of any toxic, flammable, or hazardous substances have been kept to a bare minimum, and will always be under the control of the presenters; including any waste products. Texas A&M at Qatar will provide the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for all chemicals used during the demonstrations. SDS’s provide summaries of chemical properties, hazards, safe handling, and emergency control procedures. This can be a large document, so a PDF can be emailed.
No open flames will be used during these demonstrations. Some demonstrations will involve the assistance of members of the audience, but any materials handled will be non-toxic, under strict supervision, and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided at all times. A plastic tarp or sheeting will also be used in case of spills. Spill kits and fire extinguishers will be provided and kept on-hand by the Road Show presenters. The presenters will always wear cotton pants, cotton shirts, closed-toed shoes, laboratory coats, and eye protection when needed during the demonstrations.
