4 students hurt, 1 seriously, in Denver lab fire

[Shemp Howard]

9. College safety courses should be required!

I took many chemistry classes in college. And most of them had an associated lab class. Yet I did not take a single class in chemistry lab safety. None was even offered.

Yes, most lab manuals mentioned safety points. And often the lab teaching assistant would go over a few things as well. But I never took a rigorous class focusing on lab safety.

In my professional career, I've had reason to handle some dangerous chemicals. Everything safety-wise I know about them came from my own research. My college classes taught me about chemical bonding, but not about lab dangers.

So when I read about accidents in high school and college chemistry labs, I am saddened but not surprised.