Chemistry and Materials Research www.iiste.org ISSN 2224- 3224 (Print) ISSN 2225- 0956 (Online) Vol.8 No.11, 2016 23 Investigation of Laboratory and Chemical Safety in Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia Mathewos Anza 1* Mesfin Bibiso 1 Berhanu Kuma 2 Kedir Osuman 3 1.College of Natural and Computational Science, Department of Chemistry, Wolaita Sodo University, P. O. Box 138, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia 2.Office of Vice President for Research and Community service, Wolaita Sodo University, P. O. Box 138, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia 3.College of Natural and Computational science, Department of physics, Wolaita Sodo University, P. O. Box 138, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia The authors confirm that the project has not funding or grants. Abstract The present work aims at investigating laboratory and chemical safety in the case of Wolaita Sodo University. It provides the information to policy makers’ insights to establish laboratory and chemical safety in the developing countries, similarly in Ethiopia. The sample for the study comprised 39 respondents; 30 instructors and 9 laboratory technical assistances from chemistry and biology departments of Wolaita Sodo University. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and observation checklist. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results revealed that the need for corrective action to establish functional and safe chemical laboratories in the institution; and the majority of respondents agree with the statements, share the skills that students and other workers need if they are to handle chemicals safely, and hazard warning labels are properly used (94.9% ); care you and environments from hazard chemical misuses(92.3%); follow all of the safety protocols for the protection of themselves as well as others and reporting to the concerning bodies happened accidents immediately (89.7%); make clean and hygiene workplaces(82.1%); properly use personal protective equipment, appropriately sort chemicals in their compatibility, and take care waste management’s (76.9%) are their responsibility and accountability. Furthermore, the major factors that influence establishment of safe and functional chemical laboratory is Unplanned / low quality order and purchase of chemicals and instruments; lack of trained personnel; the cost or limited availability of safety equipment; lack of companies to discard dangerous wastes from laboratories; limitation of budgets; lack of proper drainage system in the buildings where the lab rooms are situated; absence of continuous water flow in the labs; less attention of top managements to laboratory and chemical safety; large size of students in practical classes in the labs; and inappropriate infrastructure to laboratory rooms. From this result it was concluded that a successful chemical safety program requires a daily commitment from everyone in the institution; and finally recommendations were forwarded based on the major finding in order to improve functional and safe chemical laboratory in the institutions. Keywords: Laboratory and Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Chemical Labeling 1. Introduction The laboratory has been given a central and distinctive role in science education, and science educators have suggested that rich benefits in learning accrue from using laboratory activities (Hofstein & Lunetta, 2004). Laboratories are described as secure environments with adequate experimental material where open-ended activities can be carried out; the rules to be followed are clearly defined; designed properly for both individual and cooperative studies of students (Quek et al., 2002; Lang et al., 2005). Laboratory settings provide chances to observe scientific events, promoting conceptual understanding and conceptual change (Costu, Ayas& Niaz, 2010), develop scientific research skills, promoting a perception of science and generate various learning environment (Can, 2013). The culture of laboratory safety depends ultimately on the working habits of individuals and their sense of teamwork for the protection of themselves, their neighbors, and the wider community and environment. Safety in the laboratory also depends on well-developed administrative structures and supports that extend beyond the laboratory’s walls within the institution (National Research Council, 2005). However, achieving the goal of balancing economic and social benefits of chemicals with their health and environmental risks is a highly complex problem since managing the risks of chemicals is interconnected with many other issues, including wastes and pollution, global warming, resource depletion, agriculture, biotechnology, loss of biodiversity, poverty, etc (UNEP, 2004). Safety is an integral part of all laboratory operations but it requires that laboratory worker considers this every time they start work (American Chemical Society, 2012). Safety is, therefore, of prime importance in laboratory practices. Individuals must be informed about the risks of a laboratory environment and the necessary precautions must be taken (Pratt, 2002; Banda and Sichilongo, 2006; Karapantsios et al., 2008; Richards-Babb et al., 2010). The chemical laboratory has become the center for acquiring knowledge and developing new materials for future use, as well as for monitoring and controlling those chemicals currently used routinely in thousands of