Playing it Safe: Approaching Science Safety Awareness through Computer Game-Based Training

Safety is a critical component of any workplace. Within the Science area it is especially important to train students in appropriate safe work practices, as they might be exposed to toxic chemicals, hazardous biological material, and potentially dangerous instrumentation. However, it is often difficult to develop the essential safety awareness, knowledge, and skills in students. This article reports on an innovative approach to lab safety training: the development of an interactive computer game to serve as a lab safety tutorial for science students. The article presents the rationale for the development of the game, outlines its features, and discusses the potential application of the game across the educational sector