Department of Physics

Laboratory SafetyOct 2014

Your Health and Safety Responsibilities

• You are responsible for your own safety, and also for the safety of those around you.

• You must take reasonable care for the health and safety of anydo one who may be affected by what you or fail to do

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General Precautions

• Most health and safety involves applying

COMMON

SENSE• Do not take shortcuts • Plan your task • Make sure you understand

the Hazards and Risks• Know what to do if it all goes

wrong

Common hazards

• Hazardous materials – toxic, corrosive, flammable

• Electricity – especially in contact with water• Heat- hot solutions, plates, elements, mantles• Cuts and Punctures- needles, breakages• Trip and falls - wet floors, objects on floor,

trailing cables

Department of PhysicsBridge Project Safety Seminar

Department of PhysicsPostgraduate Safety Seminar

Risk Assessments

• Required by the University to ensure good, safe working practice and satisfy legal requirements

• These must be carried out by ALL postgraduates and project students

• They should be updated when the work changes

Risk Assessment. What Is It ?

1. Identification of hazards

2. Determining the likelihood that these

hazards will cause harm.

3. Prioritising prevention and control

measures.

Department of Physics Risk Assessment

5 Steps to Risk Assessment

1. Identify and list the hazards

2. Decide who might be harmed and how

3. Evaluate the risks arising from the hazard and develop a plan to control them

Reduce the risks to the lowest

reasonable practicable level

4. Record the findings

5. Review assessment when necessary

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Risk Assessment Form

Department of PhysicsRisk Assessment

Risk Control • Eliminate the hazard• Avoid the hazard• Substitute for a lower risk hazard• Prevent access to the hazard• Use safe working procedures• Provide training, instruction and supervision• Provide personal protective equipment i.e.

Safety glasses, lab coat, gloves

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What level of control is enough

ALARP - As Low As Reasonably Practicable• “reasonably practicable”; this involves weighing

a risk against the trouble, time and money needed to control it.

• The decision is weighted in favour of health and safety

• To spend £1m to prevent five staff suffering bruised knees is obviously grossly disproportionate; but

• To spend £1m to prevent a major explosion capable of killing 150 people is obviously proportionate.

Department of PhysicsRisk Assessment

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C.O.S.H.H.

• If you use any hazardous substances at all in your work you must record this in your risk assessment

• To assist you in this a C.O.S.H.H. risk assessment form will be available via the departmental web-site

• The form helps identify how hazardous the chemical is to you and the environment

• It also identifies the level of precautions you are required to take in its use and what to do in case of an accident

MSDS

• Available for all hazardous substances

( from supplier websites)• Contains all the information you need to

complete a COSHH form • It supplies information on Hazard

categories , emergency procedures, the personal protective equipment required and any restrictions on use

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Dispensing • Wear the Personal protective

equipment identified in your

COSHH assessment • Only use suitable containers • Only dispense the amount you need• Ensure that you have the correct material • Do not under any circumstances return material to

the stock bottle/container as you can potentially contaminate it

• Clear up spillages immediately !

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Label It

• Clearly label ALL vessels which contain chemicals with:

• (i) the name of the chemical• (ii) your name and group• (iii) date• (iv) hazard - explosive, toxic, flammable,

corrosive, oxidising, radioactive or harmful.

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Storage• Chemicals must be stored appropriately at all

times• They should not be stored in the working space

of a fume cupboard • They should be returned to the appropriate

storage after use .• Acids should be stored separately from strong

alkalis and flammable solvents

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Hygiene• Always wash your hands after working in the

laboratory. It is important to wash your hands both before and after going to the toilet after working in a laboratory

• Avoid touching your face when

wearing gloves as you may transfer

contamination• Do not wear gloves outside the laboratory • Remove gloves carefully without

allowing the outer surface to come in

contact with your skinDepartment of Physics

Spillages

• Deal with minor spillages

immediately

Seek technical help if

necessary. • If the spillage presents a significant hazard

Evacuate the area and obtain technical help immediately .

Follow the procedures identified in your COSHH assessment

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Waste

• Waste solvents should be poured into the appropriate bottles provided, not down the sink. Chlorinated solvents must not be mixed with other solvents.

• Waste material, solid or paper and gloves, should be placed in the bags provided.

• For any object which could cause a puncture or cut use the yellow plastic bins

( broken glass, used sample bottle, syringes)Department of Physics

Department of PhysicsPostgraduate Safety Seminar

Safety Signs

Blue signs are Compulsory

Yellow signs are warnings.

Green signs are safety guidance

Good Lab Practice

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• Do not over fill waste bags• When waste bags and bottles are full..• When you run out of stuff….• ‘Borrowing’ gloves, solvents equipment…..• Keep your work place tidy- clean up your mess!• Be a good Citizen- abide by local rules.• When you finish your project, put things back, • return borrowed equipment, • dispose of unwanted samples

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Personal protective equipment

• Safety equipment such as eyewear, gloves, masks etc.

• If it is identified in the risk assessment as required you must use it

Fume cupboards• Check Airflow indicator is

showing sufficient flow

( needle in green zone)• Check Sash height alarms

are working• Working area – kept clean and tidy • Do not leave loose paper as it can be drawn up

into fan• Return solvents and substances to correct storage

after use

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Department of Physics

Dealing with Emergencies

• Dial 9999 This will put you through to the emergency services call centre.

• Give clear details of emergency and location.

• You MUST then dial 43333 to advise University security staff who will liaise with the emergency services

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Fire

• Fire Alarms: Situated throughout the building. Break the glass this sends a message to the Fire Brigade & sounds the alarms.

• If fire alarm activates you must leave the building immediately by nearest exit.

• Fire Notices: In each laboratory and at fire activation points

• Fire Extinguishers: Different types located all over the building.

• Practice Evacuations occur at least once a year

• Fire alarms are tested before 9:00 on Monday morning

Working Out of Hours

• ANYONE working in the Department before 7.00 a.m. and after 7.00 p.m. Monday - Friday, or any time Saturdays or Sundays MUST sign the book kept at either the entrance to the Rochester building or Ogden centre. Further to this requirement ANYONE working in the Department after 10.00 p.m. MUST have the written permission of his/her supervisor.

• Forms for gaining the appropriate authorisation are obtainable from the Departmental Superintendent (Ph 7) or online on the Physics web page in the ‘For current Students and Staff’ section

• Research students should not undertake experimental work outside normal working hours unless authorised by their Supervisor.

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Department of Physics

Safety policy and manual

• An up to date version of the departmental safety policy and safety manual is available on the department web site

http://www.dur.ac.uk/physics/internal/safety/

• An up to date version of the University safety policy and safety manual is available on the Health and Safety Service web site

http://www.dur.ac.uk/healthandsafety/manual/

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In conclusion

• You are ultimately responsible for your own safety

• The University has a duty to comply with Health and Safety law, and provide you with a safe working environment

• Follow a common sense approach to keep yourself and your workplace safe