Why has The Science Teacher initiated a new safety column? Walk into a typical science classroom today and you are likely to see the teacher conducting a demonstration or students doing hands-on laboratory work. This key instructional strategy has been re-embraced since the advent of the National Science Education Standards, state science curriculum reforms, and No Child Left Behind legislation. In the mix of these initiatives is a major retirement surge. Safety in the science laboratory and field work is all the more important as a result of these events and changes. The mission of this column is to address the “in-the-trenches” safety issues and help teachers successfully maneuver through these revolutionary and evolutionary times in science education.