Safety in practical lessons that use ELECTROSTATICS EQUIPMENT

The Van der Gaaff Generator

Very high charges can be built up on this but it is safe (and fun!) for the vast majority of children to use. However, you must ensure that none of the participants in a session has a pacemaker fitted or has heart problems. Display a warning sign for this and always convey the warning to the class before the session.
Do not charge a child up without giving them a means of safely discharging - a large pin in the lapel to hold in the air.
if children give each other little shocks, they should do this through fingers NOT touch the nose or any part of the face.

Extracted from WGHS Physiscs Department hHandbook written by L.O. Jones 2005