Introduction to Safe Working in Science and Engineering

1. Introduction to Safe Working in Science and Engineering Research Workers and Post Graduate Students • John Sutherland • University Safety Officer Complete the attendance sheets that will circulate PRINT NAME SIGN SCHOOL & DIVISION Safety Office - New Researchers

2. Programme Safety - Why bother ? General Precautions Specific Hazards Safety Office - New Researchers

3. Safety – why bother? • Legal Duty • Moral Duty • ££££££££ • Reputation

4. Legal Duties upon the University 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 • So far as is reasonably practicable Safety Office - New Researchers

5. A lot of Legislation • General • First aid • Fire • Noise • Lead • Asbestos • Highly flammable liq • Ionising Radiations • COSHH • Genetic modification • Electricity • Pressure systems • Work equipment • PPE • Manual Handling • Computer Safety

6. 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 Safety Office - New Researchers

7. Responsibilities (Section 7 & 8) INDIVIDUALS - THAT MEANS YOU - Work safely - Follow instructions & rules - Don’t endanger others - Don’t misuse safety equipment - Report problems /unsafe situations Your training and competence should be recorded - Internal/external courses - Lab procedures/equipment DO NOT FOOL AROUND - IT’S DANGEROUS! Safety Office - New Researchers

8. ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG! Safety Office - New Researchers

9. Safety Office - New Researchers

10. Safety Office - New Researchers

11. Safety Office - New Researchers Incompatible Chemicals in Waste Solvent

12. Postgraduates at Risk • 30 - 40 accidents per year • 50% handling sharps • Others • chemical exposure • slips and knocks • hot/cold contact • animals • manual handling Safety Office - New Researchers

13. 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

14. General Lab Safety Risk Assessment Training Needs/Records (Personal Dev Folder) Fire Accidents & First Aid Glassware Safety Housekeeping Late Working Unattended Experiments Safety Office - New Researchers

15. Risk Assessment Legal Requirement Carried out before work starts Identify hazards Look at controls in place Evaluate the risk What improvements are needed? Incorporate precautions in SOPs See School Procedures Safety Office - New Researchers

16. Hazardous Substances Chemicals Biological Agents Dusts Gases COSHH – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Safety Office - New Researchers

17. COSHH Regulations • Look at the nature of hazard - harm that can be caused • Properties [toxicity, flammability] • Quantity to be used • Form (solid, liquid, gas) • Duration and frequency of use • Think about: • How can harm be caused? • How can I be exposed to the substance? Safety Office - New Researchers

18. Routes of exposure • Exposure Routes • Inhalation • Ingestion • Skin Contact/penetration- • Absorption, • Sharps • Defective skin barrier Safety Office - New Researchers

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20. Changes to hazardsymbols New Pictograms Signs Changing Safety Office - New Researchers

21. New Harmonised Statements • Replace Safety and Risk Phrases • Hazard warning statements (Risk Phrases) • H240 Heating may cause an explosion (Physical 200s) • H320 Causes Eye irritation (Health 300s) • H401 Toxic to aquatic life (Environmental 400s) New Phrase Previous Equivalent • H300: Fatal if swallowed R28 Very toxic if swallowed • H301: Toxic if swallowed R25 Toxic if swallowed • H302: Harmful if swallowed R22 Harmful if swallowed • H303: May be harmful if swallowed • Precautionary statements (Safety Phrases) • P102 Keep out of reach of children • P271 Use only outdoors in well ventilated area • P410 Protect from sunlight Safety Office - New Researchers

22. Workplace Exposure Limits • Approved maximum limits, set for some hazardous substances, that must not be exceeded in the workplace. • Limits given in ppm and mg/m3 • Time averaged concentration in air • Long term (8 hours) • Short term (15 minutes) - STEL Safety Office - New Researchers

23. EXAMPLES OF SUBSTANCES WITH WEL [mg/m3] [mg/m3] 8hr 15mins Formaldehyde 2.5 2.5 Acrylamide 0.3 - Benzene 1.0 - Acetone 1210 3620 Bromine 0.66 2 Methanol 266 333 Toluene 191 574 Xylene 220 441 HW dust 5 - Grain dust 10 - If substance does not have WEL it does not mean it is safe - check MSDS/seek advice Safety Office - New Researchers

24. 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 Transport Disposal Emergencies - spills, first aid Safety Office - New Researchers

25. Fume Cupboards • A means of containing or extracting hazardous fumes/vapours/aerosols away from the operator, to be safely discharged to the atmosphere. • SAFE WORKING • Check it is working • Position Equipment • Safe working area • Control Movement /external forces • Avoid heat sources • Minimise sash opening • Unattended experiments – leave information • Clean after use! • Animated demonstration (3 minutes): • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4AHxLnByts Safety Office - New Researchers

26. THE GOOD Safety Office - New Researchers

27. THE BAD Safety Office - New Researchers

28. THE UGLY Safety Office - New Researchers

29. Is this good practice? Safety Office - New Researchers

30. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Last resort not first line of defense 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 the 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 Safety Office - New Researchers

31. Chemical Storage • Labelling - Name and Hazard Categories • corrosive, flammable, oxidising, toxic etc • Compatibility? • Acids v alkalis; flammables v oxidising • Minimise quantities • Flammables <50 litres/lab stored per lab (e.g. Winchesters) • Bench stocks – 500 ml. • Stock Control • Some solvents (e.g. diethyl ether) form peroxides over time – risk of violent reaction/explosion. • Label date of receipt and of opening, • Test for peroxides • Beware • Don’t store under sinks – leaks? • Stock in designated cupboards, use spill trays • Heavy, breakable containers (particularly liquids) - store below shoulder height Safety Office - New Researchers

32. NanoparticlesOne or more external dimensions in the order of 100 nm or lessie: < 0.1 micrometre / micron. Safety Office - New Researchers

33. Nanoparticles Safety Office - New Researchers

34. Nanoparticles • Toxicological Risks • Elevated toxicological properties may arise due to: • small size, • increased surface area, • availability of bio-reactive sites, • ability to generate oxygen radicals, • quantum effects • increased ability to penetrate natural human defences. • Exposure Routes • As for conventional chemicals i.e. • inhalation, ingestion and ‘injection’. • Also, potential for being absorbed directly into the body by migrating between or even into mucosal or skin cells due to their very small, almost atomic size. • Standard PPE (gloves) might be more porous. Safety Office - New Researchers

35. Risk Control – Nanoparticles • Risk Assessment: • Specific for the task and the substance used. Standard MSDS may not apply • Precautionary approach - toxicological properties not fully known. • Known, carcinogenic allergenic, mutagenic or toxic substances represent a very significant hazard as nanoparticles and MUST be strictly controlled. • Control Measures: • Use good laboratory practice. • Use externally vented HEPA/ULPA filtered LEV wherever reasonably practicable. • Wear suitable Respiratory Protective Equipment as a supplement to fume cupboard containment where risks not adequately controlled • Lab coats, eye protection and appropriate gloves [ tested for viral penetration]. • Vacuum cleaners must have HEPA filters. • Thoroughly CLEAN the work area and all equipment after use ie: wet-wipe cleaning. • Do NOT use compressed air for cleaning! • Consider all who might be exposed; colleagues, waste handlers; cleaning and maintenance staff, etc. Safety Office - New Researchers

36. 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 Safety Office - New Researchers

37. Flammable Liquids Flash Point – temp to form a flammable atmosphere 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 Safety Office - New Researchers

38. Hazardous Substances - Biological Agents • Infectious agents [pathogens – bacteria, fungi, virus] • HSE Approved List - schedule to COSHH • Hazard grouping 1 - 4 (low to high) • Containment facilities/lab standards (1 - 4) • Health Surveillance (3 & 4) • Special requirements for waste inactivation & disposal. Safety Office - New Researchers

39. Biological Hazards & GMOs ACDP Categories of Biological Agents Safety Office - New Researchers

40. Latex Allergy • Latex can cause skin/respiratory sensitation. • 1% of population may react. • Likely to affect those with 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 Safety Office - New Researchers

41. 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.

42. 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 - NOT BY ROAD - very hazardous • Use cardice Safety Office - New Researchers

43. Other Hazards Pressure Systems Lasers Ionising Radiation Electricity Ultra-violet Magnetic Fields Off-site working Safety Office - New Researchers

44. Pressure Systems compressed gases, autoclaves • 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 • Annual inspection against written scheme – Check sticker • Notify Insurance Officer Safety Office - New Researchers

45. Noise • Daily Noise Dose • exposure = intensity x duration <80 dB(A) - negligible risk • 3 dB = twice intensity thus half duration • Lower exposure action level • 80 dB(A) TWA - Hearing protection is provided. • Upper exposure action level • 85 dB(A) TWA - Reduce noise levels at source • Hearing protection must be worn - HP Zone • Exposure Limit level • 87 dB(A) or 140dB(C) instantaneous – max cumulative daily dose

46. VibrationHand-arm Vibration Syndrome • powered hand-held or hand-guided tools • e.g. Grinding or percussive metal/wood tools • hands regularly exposed to high vibration may suffer • impaired blood circulation • damage to the nerves and muscles. • tingling or numbness in • the fingers • finger blanching • More information at: • http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg175.pdf • http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/safety/vibration.htm Safety Office - New Researchers

47. Lasers & Ionising Radiation Separate Introductions Local rules for safe use Prior approval needed. Safety Office - New Researchers

48. 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 ] Safety Office - New Researchers

49. Laboratory U.V. Sources [280- 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 Safety Office - New Researchers

50. Magnetic Fields Hazards Superconducting magnets - e.g. NMR Violent movement of metal objects Risk to pacemakers, metallic implants ferrous objects, and credit cards! Cryogenic liquids: Quenching - rapid gas discharge. Controls Restricted access to room with warning signs Mark high risk area around the magnet (5 gauss line) No ferromagnetic tools/objects/Dewars Good ventilation and/or low oxygen alarms Safety Office - New Researchers