Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Secondary School Science Laboratories in Kaduna State

This study investigated the management of hazardous chemical substances in science laboratories of secondary schools in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Improper storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous chemicals in school environments pose significant health and safety risks to students, teachers, and laboratory staff, yet compliance with chemical management standards in Nigerian secondary schools is rarely evaluated. A descriptive survey design was employed. The sample comprised 120 laboratory technicians and 80 Chemistry teachers from public secondary schools in Kaduna North, Zaria, and Kafanchan Local Government Areas. A Chemical Safety Management Audit Tool and a questionnaire on knowledge and practices were used, validated by occupational health experts and chemistry education specialists with a combined reliability of 0.81. Frequency analysis and chi-square test were employed in analysis. Findings showed low compliance with safety data sheet usage, improper labelling of reagent bottles, and inappropriate storage of incompatible chemicals in the majority of schools. Less than 20 percent of laboratory staff reported receiving formal chemical safety training. The study recommended mandatory chemical safety training for all laboratory staff, provision of proper chemical storage cabinets and labelling materials, and establishment of a state-level school chemical safety monitoring unit. Keywords: chemical management, hazardous substances, laboratory safety, Kaduna State, secondary schools.