Presenting Safety Topics Using a Graphic Novel, Manga, To Effectively Teach Chemical Safety to Students in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand

Manga are graphic novels that are considered to have the potential to effectively convey concepts and engage readers. The efficacy of manga has been validated for chemical safety education to students in three universities in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. Students were asked to examine a photo to identify hazards and hazardous behaviors that can potentially lead to accidents before and after reading a manga that explains the risk of fires and explosions. The identified hazards/hazardous behaviors were classified into seven categories, and the average number of hazards/hazardous behaviors was determined in each category. The differences before and after the lesson were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of manga as an educational tool. In the students' answers, in all three of the universities, some common features were observed: Subjects easily identified certain hazardous conditions in the photo, particularly noting deficient or unsuitable personal protective equipment. The hazards/hazardous behaviors that can potentially result in ignitions, fires, and explosions were more likely to be identified after the lesson. Many students found the manga a helpful tool for learning chemical safety.