Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Forward planning
Any potential hazards associated with laboratory work, including, the hazards posed by
chemicals used, or produced, should be determined well before the commencement of
the project. To do this you will have to consult literature, this could be: Material Safety
Data Sheets (MSDS) supplied by the manufacturer, data bases of generic MSDS,
textbooks, toxicity reviews and the BES Chemical Database. If it is possible to carry out
a project without hazardous chemicals then this must be the approach adopted. If this is
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not possible can the chemical be substituted for one which is less hazardous.
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Ensure that the introduction of control measures does not increase the overall
risk to health and safety
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common rooms, dining rooms, libraries, computer labs, etc
In order to prevent cross contamination chemical resistant gloves must not be
worn outwith the laboratory, or in designated write up areas, where telephones,
door handles, pens, etc. may subsequently be touched by persons not wearing
protective gloves.
Long hair must be secured behind the head when working in a laboratory to
reduce the risk of it dipping in chemicals or catching fire.
Open-toed shoes or sandals should never be worn in a laboratory where
chemicals are used and trousers are to be preferred to shorts or skirts.
Do not indulge in horseplay or practical jokes in the laboratory.
Never run in a laboratory, or hurry through doorways.
Do not allow visitors into laboratories unless authorised by the lab supervisor and
provided with suitable personal protective equipment. This is particularly
important in the case of young persons on school educational visits, etc.
All work in laboratories by contractors/University maintenance personnel is
subject to a Permit to Work Scheme, issued by the lab supervisor or Technical
Manager and must be adhered to.
Make sure equipment is used only for its designated purpose.
Never alter the design, or construction, of any purchased equipment.
Make sure all equipment is serviceable and suitable for the intended use.
If photography, or video filming, is to be undertaken for publicity or teaching
purposes make sure that all of those shown are wearing appropriate personal
protective equipment e.g. laboratory coats, chemical safety spectacles, chemical
resistant gloves, etc.
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should always be made for the rapid removal of any heating source.
Never attempt to carry out experimental work with hazardous materials when alone, or
when tired or unwell.
Safe Systems of Work that have developed from the risk assessment process must be
conveyed in writing to the operatives and a signature obtained to confirm that they have
both read and understood the SSW. Risk assessments should be available in every
laboratory.
Inhalation
Chemicals, or chemical by-products, that are very toxic, or toxic by inhalation,
must be worked with only in a glove box, or fume cupboard, the appropriate
mechanical control having been chosen as a result of thorough and documented
risk assessment.
Chemicals that are classed as harmful, or irritant, by inhalation should be used
whenever possible within a fume cupboard. They should only be worked with on
the bench top when risk assessment concludes that it is safe to do so and with
any required combination of risk control measure (e.g. Local Exhaust Ventilation
(LEV), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)) in place and operating.
Use only fume cupboards that have been tested for adequate face velocity and
containment within the last 14 months and have visible evidence of such testing
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posted on the sash screen.
You should keep hazardous chemicals and any reactions at least 15 cm behind
the plane of the sash.
You should never insert your head inside a fume cupboard to check a procedure,
remember the barrier between clean and contaminated air is the plane of the
sash.
Always work with the sash in the lowest practicable position and always close the
sash when leaving the fume cupboard unattended.
If Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) is being used this must only be done in fume cupboard
fitted with a suitable scrubber unit and Calcium Gluconate antidote must be
available. If the process is to be left unattended, always close the sash window
and ensure that a notice informing that HF is being used is attached to the sash
window.
Do not clutter fume cupboards with unnecessary equipment, or store bottles of
chemicals within them as this may restrict the airflow and affect containment.
Where possible raise equipment that is to remain in the fume cupboard on racks,
etc, so that air can flow freely underneath it.
Always ensure that the space below the fume cupboard sill is kept clear of
obstruction so as to ensure optimum airflow and thus containment.
Never use a fume cupboard that is suspected to be malfunctioning, or override a
warning indicator and always report any malfunction immediately to Property
Management fault line (x2444)
Maintenance of recirculating fume cupboards is the responsibility the Faculty.
Ensure that a maintenance agreement with a competent engineering company is
in place, that includes 14 monthly inspection and test, and that this test includes
a filter integrity test.
If PPE in the form of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE), commonly
referred to as masks, is to be worn as a control measure then care must be taken
that the correct respirator and appropriate filters is chosen. Importantly: in
compliance with the COSHH Regulations wearers of respirators that rely on a
tight fit to the face to protect the worker are required to be individually face-fit
tested to a particular make and size of respirator and a certificate of successful
fit- test obtained.
Dermal Contact
Dermal hazards are varied; excesses of heat or cold, corrosives, toxic chemicals that
can be absorbed through the skin, skin irritants, etc. and the exposure route is not
confined to the hands, but may also include the forearms, face, and any other area of
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exposed skin. Gloves of a type suitable to protect against a particular hazard should be
worn; the following is general good practice that applies to the selection and use of
gloves. More specific and detailed guidance can be found at:
Eye protection
Close fitting chemical resistant safety spectacles, or goggles, should always be
worn when working with chemicals. When working with corrosive chemicals, or
chemicals which toxicity can be absorbed through skin, a chemical resistant full
face shield should be worn.
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Minimizing injection hazards
There may be instances where solutions of chemicals are transferred in syringes and in
some cases these may be fitted with hypodermic needles. In such instances extreme
care is required as the risk of inadvertent injection is significant.
Never walk about with an unsheathed hypodermic syringe in your hand, always
secure in a secondary containment for transfer.
Never re-sheath a hypodermic needle.
Dispose of needles only in properly designed and designated sharps boxes.
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not be stored on the floor.
Access to emergency exits, emergency showering facilities, or emergency
equipment such as fire extinguishers and first aid boxes must never be
obstructed.
Benches should be clean and tidy and free from clutter by chemicals or
apparatus that is not in use.
Floors should be cleaned regularly and spills dealt with immediately, in the
appropriate manner, by persons who are able to take due account of the nature
of the materials spilled. In certain departments there may be a dedicated Spill
Team or Trained Breathing Apparatus Team available to deal with toxic or
highly volatile materials.
All compressed gas cylinders must be securely fastened in an upright position to
proper cylinder cradle which are in turn secured to benches or walls.
Do not write, hang, or secure, non-hazard warning notices to fume cupboard
sash panes as this can restrict proper view of apparatus and experiments and
result in accident.
Correctly label all containers containing chemicals with detail of the content; this
is particularly important in the case of materials that have been decanted from a
larger container, or where solutions have been made from two or more
substances. In the case where the master container displays hazard warning
symbols in compliance with the CLP Regulations identical labels should be
affixed to the new container. (These labels are readily available, in differing sizes
to suit container size, from your laboratory consumables supplier.) In addition
when a chemical is transferred from the container in which it was supplied to
another container, as much as possible of the information given on the label of
the original container should appear on the label of the repackaged material.
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Water connections to experiments left running overnight must be made secure by a
screw clip, or similar device and a water failure cut-out switch should be fitted, where
appropriate. It is recommended that the apparatus and/or experiment should be
operated attended for at least one hour under the conditions it will run unattended
overnight.
Any hot work that has been taking place during normal hours should be completed at
least 30mins before close of the laboratory for the night and all apparatus and materials
checked to ensure that they are cool before being left unattended.
1.9 Mercury
Mercury vapour, and most compounds of mercury, are toxic to the human nervous
system and act as cumulative poisons. The developing brains of foetuses and infants
are especially sensitive to mercurys toxic effects. Because mercury vapours are readily
absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream, they are particularly hazardous.
Exposure to mercury vapours can occur when mercury containing products (such as
thermometers, sphygmomanometers and fluorescent lamps) are broken. Whilst spills
such as that from a broken thermometer do not pose a high risk, the area of the spill
should be cordoned off and the spill cleaned up immediately to prevent spread and
secondary exposures. Mercury vapours are heavier than air and may linger in higher
concentrations at the site of the spill.
Where mercury is used, the following precautions should be observed:
Keep mercury surfaces covered to prevent evaporation.
Ensure good ventilation of the working area.
Carry out manipulations of mercury over a tray which will contain spills. The
surface of the tray should be smooth and impervious.
Clean up spilled mercury, at once.
If a mercury hazard is suspected, arrange with the BES Safety Officer for
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airborne concentrations of mercury vapour to be measured.
Alcohol thermometers must be used in preference to mercury thermometers
wherever practical, especially when a thermometer is to be left in a heating block.
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recommended with the additional protection of a safety screen, which is either fixed or
weighted so that it does not become a missile itself during an explosion. If a safety
screen is used to protect against an explosion risk during work on the open bench,
place the apparatus and the screen so that no-one in the area is at risk from flying
debris.
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be constructed of materials that ensure that the sides, top, bottom, doors and lid
are capable of providing 30 minutes fire resistance. These storage cupboards
must not be sited adjacent to doors or other means of escape from the
laboratory.
When new cabinets are being purchased either as replacements for old cabinets,
or in cases of fitting out a laboratory after refurbishment or new build, all cabinets
or bins used for the storage of flammable liquids must conform in construction to
the more demanding BS EN 14470- 1:2004 Fire safety storage cabinets Part1:
Safety storage cabinets for flammable liquids; Factory Mutual, Underwriters
Laboratories and ANSI/NFPA 30 standards.
Individual workers should not retain chemicals superfluous to current needs and
should return these to the storage cupboard, cabinet, or bin, as soon as possible
after use or, if the materials cannot be used again, make arrangements for their
safe disposal.
Certain chemical compounds, e.g. ethers as peroxide formers, should have the
date of opening, test history and date of discard written on the label
If flammable chemicals are to be stored in refrigerators these must be intrinsically
safe (spark proof), ordinary domestic fridges, as supplied, are not suitable for this
purpose.
Chemicals in liquid form should not be stored above head height.
Great care must be taken to ensure that incompatible chemicals are stored
separately (e.g. mineral acids and organic solvents, oxidisers and flammables) to
prevent violent reaction in case of spillage or leakage.
Regulations governing the storage and labelling of toxic and other hazardous
materials must always be observed. Schedule 1 Poisons (e.g. arsenic
compounds, mercury compounds, sodium and potassium cyanide) Highly or Very
Toxic substances and Cytotoxic substances must always be kept in secure
storage, access to which is available only to nominated key holders. Accurate
records of chemicals issued from a secure store must be kept by a nominated
person. Lists of chemical substances within the above categories can be found
on the BES Chemical Database.
The storage quantities quoted above are intended to be viewed as recommended
maxima representing good industry safe practice, rather than be taken as absolute
limits. There is intended to be some flexibility with these limits, where it is recognised
that the design of modern day buildings and the pattern of work can sometimes make
adherence to these quantities difficult to achieve; for example, in large or open-plan
workrooms / working areas. However, where the employer/dutyholder does identify a
need to store quantities in excess of the recommended maxima, a robust demonstration
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of this requirement would need to be made and in particular the risk assessment, under
DSEAR Regulation 5, must take into account:
The properties of the materials to be stored or handled in the workroom / working
area. For mixed storage the worst case situation should be applied, i.e. all
materials in the storage cupboard or bin should be considered as being the same
material as the one that has the lowest flashpoint.
The size of the workroom / working area and the number of people working in it.
The amount of flammable liquids being handled in the workroom / working area
and the quantities of liquid that may be accidentally released or spilled.
Ignition sources in the workroom / working area and potential fire spread in the
event of an ignition.
Exhaust ventilation provision to the workroom / working area and / or the storage
cupboard or bin.
The fire performance of the storage cupboard or bin.
The arrangements for closing the cupboard or bin doors/lid in the event of a fire.
Means of escape from the workroom / working area.
The particular objective, in the event of an incident, is to ensure that people can safely
escape from the workroom / working area. In this context, the purpose of storing
dangerous substances in cupboards and bins of appropriate construction and design is
to provide a physical barrier to delay the involvement of these materials in a fire, for
sufficient time for peoples safe evacuation and the dutyholders immediate emergency
procedures supporting this to be implemented.
Where quantities in excess of the recommended maxima are to be stored
employers/dutyholders will find cabinets with enhanced fire performance i.e. to BS EN
14470-1:2004 standard a help in making their risk assessment demonstration. In cases
where the recommended maxima are to be stored all cabinets within the area must be
to 60 minute fire resistant standard.
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1.14 Pressurised Gas Cylinders
Where cylinders are presently and unavoidably sited within buildings only the minimum
number of cylinders in actual use should be kept within each laboratory and all the
cylinders must be firmly supported in a vertical manner by restraining chains, bench
clamps or similar devices specifically designed for that purpose.
Storage
Gas cylinders must be stored in a properly constructed well ventilated store,
preferably in the open air, where full and empty cylinders should be separated,
and where the use of naked flames is prohibited. Where it is not reasonably
practicable to store cylinders external to a building they must be stored in an
adequately ventilated part of the building specifically designed for this purpose.
Storage areas must be secure and lockable.
Ensure the external of the entrance to the store is designated by proper and
appropriate hazard warning signage in compliance with both the COSHH and
DSEAR Regulations and any appropriate mandatory signage (e.g. NO NAKED
FLAMES)
Cylinders of oxidising gases must be kept separate from cylinders of flammable
gases, and toxic and/or corrosive gases should always be stored separately, as
should LPG.
All cylinders must be secured upright away from heat sources, flammable or
corrosive materials and oils. Cylinders must not be stored in standing water.
Rotate stock on a first in, first out basis this ensures that cylinders are returned
to the supplier for regular legally required safety checks.
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Similarly the personal capability of the employee expected to carry out the
manual handling of cylinders must be taken into account; factors such as
physical build, gender, health, etc need to be explored.
Specialist training in the moving of cylinders will be required e.g. in the technique
of churning, this can be effectively carried out in-house by experienced
members of staff, but all training must be recorded.
Ensure that the Safety Data Sheets for the gases being handled are available.
Do not drop, roll or drag gas cylinders.
If moving cylinders more than a few feet a properly constructed cylinder trolley
must be used.
Always use appropriate protective equipment. Eyes, hands and feet should be
protected when handling or using cylinders. Many injuries to the foot affect the
metatarsal (instep) bone. Safety footwear must be provided and worn - footwear
with metatarsal protection is recommended.
Never attempt to catch a falling cylinder but rather get out of the way.
Cylinders transported in lifts should not be accompanied by personnel and steps
must be taken to ensure that persons cannot enter the lift at intermediate floor
stops.
General guidelines for gas cylinder storage are published by the British Compressed
Gases Association. This site is also the source of many helpful Guidance Notes,
Technical Information Sheets and Codes of Practice.
Gas company emergency contact numbers:
Air Liquide 01675 462695
Air Products 0500 02 02 02
BOC 0800 111 333
Energas 01482 329 333
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Properties
LN2 is extremely cold (-196oC) at atmospheric pressure. This can cause severe
frostbite.
On vapourising LN2 expands by a factor of 700, therefore one litre of LN2
becomes 700 litres of nitrogen gas.
Nitrogen gas is colourless and odourless, thus there are no sensory warnings of
its presence.
Liquid Nitrogen evaporates very quickly at room temperature thus increasing the
concentration of nitrogen gas in the atmosphere and a decrease in oxygen
concentration which can cause drowsiness, disorientation and potentially
suffocation.
The colder nitrogen gas will tend to collect in higher concentration at low level,
thus if a human collapses, due to oxygen depletion within a room, they are likely
to fall into even higher concentrations of nitrogen gas.
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this can lower the oxygen concentration to such an extent that a person entering
the room can lose consciousness and die.
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Glass vacuum lines
A visual inspection of glassware to check for cracks and scratches and that all
stopcocks are free to open and close should be undertaken before operating vacuum
pumps. Glassware that is regularly subjected to extremes of temperature or which is
liable to experience mechanical stress during use, or in cleaning operations, should be
checked regularly and replaced when required.
Glass Dewar vessels should be contained within metal or plastic secondary
containment vessels.
Glass bulbs with a volume greater than 100 cm3 should be taped or encased in a metal
mesh cover.
Any vessel that has been cooled in liquid nitrogen should not be allowed to warm up
without first being evacuated to a pressure less than 1 mm Hg (133.322 Pascal) in order
to ensure that no liquid air has been condensed.
Pipetting
Pipetting by mouth is strictly prohibited. Electronic pipettes, bulbs, Pi-pumps or
aspirators should be used to pipette chemicals or start a siphon. Fitting pipette pumps
or other pipetting aids incorrectly is the cause of many glass cut injuries, which are often
serious. Pipetting aids should be fitted with great care, utilising suitable lubrication
where necessary, and employing a protective cloth, in case the pipette should fracture.
Laboratory workers should receive suitable instruction in the correct use of teats and
mechanical pipetting devices from their supervisors or PIs.
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Details required are;
Name of Department and Faculty
Contact name/telephone number
Description of equipment (e.g. air receiver)
Manufacturers name
Serial number of item (usually found on a plate affixed to the equipment)
Exact location of equipment
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to or greater than 250 bar litres;
A steam sterilising autoclave and associated pipework and protective devices
A steam boiler and associated pipework and protective devices;
A pressure cooker
A gas loaded hydraulic accumulator
A vapour compression refrigeration system where the installed power exceeds
25 kW
The components of self-contained breathing apparatus (BA) but excluding the
gas cylinder
A fixed LPG storage, system supplying heating for the workplace
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