Chemistry teacher-trainees' interpretations of safety rules and symbols- A case study in Ghana

The purpose of this paper was to sensitise laboratory instructors and teachers on the need to take seriously the teaching of laboratory rules and safety symbols to students. It reports on the understanding that 34 chemistry undergraduate teacher trainees have about laboratory safety rules and symbols in a study. The research was a mini survey which employed the exploratory design. A questionnaire was used to gather data toassess the situation. Analysis of the data revealed that 23 (67.65%) of the participants had a fair understanding of safety rules while 24 (70%) could interpret safety symbols. The wrong interpretations wee however very bizarre. It is recommended that teacher and lab instructors make the teaching of laboratory procedures a prerequisite topic before the commencement of experimental work in the laboratory.