In science classes and labs, it is the teacher’s professional responsibility to ensure student safety by seeking out safety information that is independent of what is found in the lab manual and making informed judgments. Therefore, teachers must use their best professional judgment, given that they may be responsible—morally and legally—for the consequences of their actions should a safety failure occur. The risk of litigation comes with the territory, and the expectations are such that science teachers must meet these challenges (Ryan 2001).