Safety – Rideau St. Lawrence Science Fair

Safety of Science Fair Projects

Please review the YSF safety guidelines before starting your science fair project. Your Adult Supervisor should also be familiar with these guidelines. A user-friendly version is provided by Youth Science Canada Safety in STEM Projects. For a more detailed overview of YSC policies, please click on this link: YSC Safety Policy.

If you use any of the following in your projects, you are required to have a qualified adult supervisor who is licensed or trained. Make sure you follow WHMIS regulations and have appropriate MSDS information for hazardous chemicals.

toxic, flammable or dangerous chemicals
pesticides
drugs or medications
recombinant DNA or animal viruses
electrical devices you built or modified that use over 40 volts
firearms, ammunition, dangerous goods or explosives
X-rays or high energy sources including lasers

Please note that lasers may NOT be used as pointing devices in a STEM fair.

Are you planning a project using microbes?

Please read the document Biosafety Practices and Recombinant DNA and Biotechnological Safety. You will need a scientific supervisor AND before beginning, you must complete the RSLSF Safety Form 2023.

Download it here:

As a Word File RSLSF-Safety-Form-2023

As a PDF file RSLSF-Safety-Form-2023

Exhibition of science fair projects do not require the actual demonstration of major mechanical, electrical, pyrotechnical, ballistic, chemical, biological, bacterial, sound, light, laser and laser pointing devices. If you have used any of these you may photograph and document all the steps you have followed to complete your project. Deactivated props that you can refer to during your presentation work best.