Introduction to Safe Working for

Scientific Research Workers and

Post Graduate Students at

Sutton Bonington

SARAH WATSON

Assistant Safety Officer

University Safety Office, ext 13301

Programme Safety Why bother -

Legislation

Organisation

Costs General Precautions Specific Hazards Biological agents - Working to the Code

SAFETY - WHY BOTHER?

•LEGAL DUTY

•MORAL DUTY

•££££££££

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

Section 2 & 3 - Duties towards employees & others Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, health, safety and welfare at work

Duties towards employees & people affected by undertaking [visitors/students]

– provide and maintain equipment and procedures

– use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances

– information, instruction, training and supervision

– safe place of work and access/egress– welfare facilities - toilets, washing facilities

Legislation

General First aid Fire Noise Lead Asbestos Highly flammable liq Ionising Radiations

Coshh Genetic modification Electricity Pressure systems Work equipment PPE Manual Handling Display Screen Equip

Responsibilities Academic Supervisors

Identify hazards & risks

Written procedures

Ensure effective supervision & training to full competency

Demonstrators [employees]– Understand the practical – Know the hazards/precautions– Be ready to intervene– Action in case of accidents

RESPONSIBILITIES [S. 7 & 8 HSAWA]

INDIVIDUALS - THAT MEANS YOU

- Work safely

- Follow instructions & rules

- Don’t endanger others

- Don’t misuse safety equipment

- Report problems /unsafe situations

NO HORSEPLAY - IT’S DANGEROUS!

University Organisation

School/Section Safety Officers

Section Leaders

Chief Financ- ial Officer

Vice Chancellor

Council

Head Of School/Admin

Section

Head of Division

University Safety Officer

Individuals

Responsibility

Advice

Information

£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG!

Incompatible Chemicals in Waste Solvent

COST OF ACCIDENTS & WORK RELATED Ill HEALTH IN EDUCATION SECTOR

ILL HEALTH £110 - 170 M ]

INJURY £50M ] total £220 - 480M

Non Injury Accidents £70-260 M ]

Postgraduates at Risk

30 - 40 accidents per year 50% handling sharps Others

– chemical exposure – slips and knocks– hot/cold contact – animals– manual handling

Typical Hazards substances

– toxic/ carcinogens– flammable– Biological material– Allergens

noise vibration radiation[ ion/non-ion] electricity machinery

pressure systems display screen equip manual handling mech. handling transport falls, falling objects slips, trips

General Lab Safety

Risk Assessment Training Needs/Records (Personal Dev Folder) Fire Accidents & First Aid Glassware Safety Housekeeping Late Working Unattended Experiments

Risk Assessment

Legal Requirement Before work starts Identify hazards Look at controls in place What improvements are needed? Incorporate precautions in protocols

See School Procedures

Training Records

Training log/Personal Dev Folder [RCOP]

Personal to you Courses, procedures, equipment Records who has trained you in these Confirms attainment of competence to

work unsupervised

Video

Practicing Safe Science

COSHH Risk assessment

Nature of hazard - harm that can be caused

• Properties [toxicity, flammability]• quantity to be used• form• duration and frequency of use

Hazardous property Example

Irritant, Harmful, Ammonia,

Sensitising Glutaraldehyde, isocyanates, animal allergens, latex

Toxic/carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Teratogenic

Acrylamide, MNU, EthBr, cytotoxic drugs

Corrosive String acids & bases

Infectious Bacteria, virus

Flammable Alcohol, acetone

Explosive Hexane, hydrogen

Oxidising Potassium permanganate, Hydrogen peroxide

Ecotoxic Mercury

Exposure Routes

Exposure Routes – how can harm be caused?

– Inhalation– Ingestion– Skin Contact/penetration- absorption, cuts

Decide on control measures– Eliminate or substitute, justify use.– Engineering - contain, extract [ FCs/MSCs]– Handling controls - e.g.avoiding aerosols– Personal protection– Information Training, supervision– Health surveillance/screening/vaccination

Other considerations Storage

TransportDisposalEmergencies - spills, first aid

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT [PPE]

Last resort not first line of defence

Lab Coats - must be worn in lab, fastened, remove before entering offices/clean areas

Type - side fastening with cuffs - biological work

Gloves - correct type for work

- latex vs nitrile,

- powder free

- worker vs product protection

Eye/ face - mandatory in certain areas, or subject to RA

protection - personal - if not cleaning regime

- suitable for purpose

RPE - half masks, full masks, powered hoods

- fit critical to protection

Footware - no open toe/canvas shoes in labs/risk areas

Workplace Exposure Limits Where there is exposure to a substance hazardous to health, control of thatexposure shall only be treated as adequate if• the principles of good practice for the control of exposure to substances hazardous to health are applied;• any workplace exposure limit approved for that substance is not exceeded

Given in ppm and mg/m3

Time averaged concentration in airLong term (8 hours)Short term (15 minutes) - STEL

EXAMPLES OF SUBSTANCE WITH WEL [mg/m3] [mg/m3] 8hr 15mins

Formaldehyde 2.5 2.5Acrylamide 0.3 -Benzene 1.0 -Acetone 1210 3620

Bromine 0.66 2Methanol 266 333Toluene 191 574Xylene 220 441HW dust 5 -Grain dust 10 -

If substance does not have WEL it does not mean it is safe - check MSDS/seek advice

Regulated Chemicals/substances Schedule One Poisons

– Very Toxic/carcinogens– Locked cabinet and restricted access

Chemical/Biological Warfare Materials – sarin, soman, tabun, VX– Sulphur & Nitrogen Mustards– Lewisites– Saxitoxin, Ricin,– Schedule 5 pathogens [ e.g Vibrio Cholera]– Toxins e.g. Botox, Tetrodotoxin, Verotoxin,

Staphlococcal toxins, Conotoxin

Flammable Liquids

Flashpoint - temp. to form a flammable atmosphere– Flammable FP < 55C– Highly Flammable FP < 32 C– Extremely Flammable FP < 21 C

Flammability range - 1 to 15 % in air

Flammable Liquids Precautions

– avoid vapour release

– store in solvent bin [ 50l max per room]

– never store with acids/oxidising agent

– stoppered labelled containers

– minimum quantities on bench < 500ml

– enclosed carriers for Winchesters

– spark-proof fridges

– beware of - static build up on large scale decanting

- Flammable atmospheres /heavy vapours

– know spillage procedure - clear up immediately

Latex Allergy

latex can cause skin/respiratory sensitation. 1% of population may react. history of asthma, dermatitis, eczema, hayfever Immediate

– local or generalised spots and swelling (5-30 mins)

Delayed (peaks 24-48 hours then subsides)– red rash on back of hands / between the fingers

– skin may become leathery and develop blisters

Seek advice from Occ Health if skin/resp symptoms Latex alternatives & powder free gloves

Explosion in a Microwave Oven

Heating 300 ml media in 1 litre Duran bottle.

Cap swelled and sealed bottle which then exploded.

Debris hurled 3m across lab - unoccupied!!!

Use foam or Kim Wipe neck inserts.

Noise [Noise at Work Regs 1989]

Daily Noise Dose– exposure = intensity x duration– 3 dB = twice intensity thus half duration

Control Levels– <85 dB(A) - negligible risk– 85 - 90 dB(A) - small risk

• inform of risk & HP available on request– >90 dB(A) - high risk - control at source

compulsory HP audiometry

[OHD via SSO]

Pressure Systems

Stored energy– Steam– Gas or vapours > 0.5 bar

• Boilers, autoclaves, air receivers, reactors• 250 bar/litre for system

Requirements– Design/construction– safe operating limits– Written scheme for examinations– Written operating instructions

Notify Estate Office

Lasers/Ionising Radiation

Separate Introductions Local rules for safe use Health/medical checks

LABORATORY U.V SOURCES [280nm - 400nm]

Examples: Transilluminators, gel docs, hand held lamps

Biocidal lamps, Mercury vapour lamps [uv spec]

Health Effects: Sunburn, cancer, eye damage

Safety precautions

Interlocks/enclosure

UV opaque shielding

UV opaque visor

Cover exposed skin

Restrict access to area

Associated hazards : Ethidium Bromide

Mercury

Electricity 50 V AC can KILL Electricity at Work Regulations

– design, construction, maintenance

– earthing, fusing, isolation, insulation

– live working [special precautions] University Code of Practice Periodic inspection/testing - usually annual - sticker? User visual checks

plugs, cable & socket, evidence of overheating, casing Report all defects All repairs by workshops Avoid - overloading sockets/ [max 3kW/multiboard]

- long extension leads [trips /heating ]

Cryogenic Liquids Asphyxiation

– <18% O2 (spills > 143ml LN/m3 : 1:700)

– confined spaces, DO NOT TRAVEL IN LIFT Cold Burns

– eye protection - goggles/visors/specs– hands - non absorbent insulated gloves eg leather. Sleeves

over ends/securely banded.– Feet - closed shoes, trousers over– tongs/forceps

Ice Plug formation Oxygen enrichment Exploding vials Transport by road- DON’T - very hazardous

– Use cardice

FIRE - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

• Procedure

• Call point location

• Escape route(s)

• Assemply point

• Appliances

• fire warden/monitor

• Token system

First Aid and Accidents

Report all accidents, health issues and near misses

Be aware of how to summon a first aider

Be aware of how to summon the emergency services

Fire Procedure

Raise the alarm Dial 8888 [0115 951 8888] Leave the building by nearest exit

– Close doors and windows behind you– Report to assembly point

Only use extinguisher if:– Small, contained fire– Confident– Clear exit route

Fire Procedures On hearing alarm - leave building by nearest exit - closing doors/widows - go to assembly Fire Tokens

– Small searchable area– Confirm to Evacuation Co-ordinator

Notify if known false alarm - 8888

Fire Extinguishers - New Colours

Water

Dry Powder

Foam

CO2