ECA Guide to Workshop Safety, Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), Noise & Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

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1 ECA Guide to Workshop Safety, Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), Noise & Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Introduction. Our various workshop areas throughout ECA present some of the highest risks of injury, and for that very reason they are our most rigorously managed areas to ensure that those working there are able to do so safely. Workshops are generally open 09:00 17:00 and should only be used by students when technicians are present and following inductions. Due to the higher level of risk present in workshop activities, certain machines have higher risk ratings (marked on them) and require a higher level of instruction & supervision prior to and during their use. These risks also mean that no-one (including technicians) should be lone working with powered tools or high risk equipment or in workshops at any time. Inductions. Generally the workshops where machinery presents the greatest risk for example those with wood and metal working equipment etc. are only open when the technicians are in the area, and use of equipment is limited to those who have received appropriate induction. Inductions are organised via the technicians (often early in the academic year or by request), so you should contact them to make the appropriate arrangements. Risk assessments. All equipment used within ECA should be subject to an appropriate assessment of the risks passed by its use, both to those directly involved in the task and also to others who may be effected by its use (including noise, dust, any ejected materials etc). We must also satisfy ourselves that equipment within ECA is appropriately maintained and in good working order. For this reason, Staff and students should not bring in tools and equipment for use within ECA or in relation with our activities without first discussing it with the appropriate technical and / or academic staff. Any specialist equipment may require a specific assessment to be carried out to identify appropriate training, supervision or maintenance requirements, and any equipment from overseas may not comply with UK electrical safety or guarding standards. In many cases we may have access to equipment (either in-house or within UoE) which may avoid the need to hire or otherwise source equipment so always discuss your plans BEFORE you plan to carry out an activity. DO NOT JUST BRING IN EQUIPMENT FROM HOME FOR USE IN ECA. Hand Tools Students must inform their academic or support staff of any hand tools they propose to use. A hand tool can be used as long as the tutor is satisfied that it is fit for purpose and the student has been adequately instructed and can demonstrate competence in its use. Students must also ensure that

2 any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (such as eye protection etc.) required is used appropriately. Hand tools should not be removed from workshops, and only small model making hand tools such as scalpels and craft knives should be used in studios. Larger hand tools such as saws should be used in the workshops not least because the noise / dust etc is not appropriate to the studio environment (and studio desks are NOT suitable for use as workbenches) Power Tools By Power Tools, we mean tools powered by an electric motor, a compressed air motor, or a combustion engine. No Student is permitted to use power tools unless a member of staff is aware of its use and is either present or is appropriately supervising. Students must inform their academic or support staff of any power tool they propose to use. All equipment and processes employed by a student should be risk assessed so that relevant measures can be taken to ensure the process is safe. Tutors/technicians must be satisfied that the student has been adequately instructed and can demonstrate competence in the use of a particular power tool. Students must also ensure that any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required is used appropriately. Use of Power tools is limited to the appropriate workshops, and should not be used in studios without first discussing it with academic / support staff. The use of power tools is not appropriate for out of hours working (when workshops will be locked anyway) For further info. on this subject, see: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) PPE includes any protective equipment which serves to protect an individual from harm. This might include safety glasses, hard hats, respiratory protection (dust masks), protective aprons, gloves, safety footwear etc. Whilst this is often the first thing people think of when thinking about safety, it is in fact the last line of defence and as an employer, we are required to control risks through measures which protect everyone where we can, rather than relying solely on PPE. For example through the use of guards on machinery to protect people from ejected material, rather than just relying on safety glasses. That said, in many areas and tasks, taking these extra precautions are justified as this last line of defence. Where this is the case, it will be decided as a result of a risk assessment, and appropriate signage or instruction will be in place to inform people of the appropriate PPE to be worn. It is important that the PPE selected is appropriate to the task: where gloves are identified, it s important that the right ones are specified absorbent cotton ones may make things worse by prolonging contact with wet processes where non-absorbent gloves would offer protection. Where PPE is required as a control measure in any process or procedure students are required to wear these and to report any defect found. Staff shall ensure that the PPE is appropriately worn (this may require instruction), stored, regularly inspected for wear/defect and cleaned after use. Any

3 student not wearing the provided PPE at any time will be counselled by the staff member supervising in the first instance. Subsequent failures by a student to wear PPE will be reported to the head of subject area for action. For further information on this subject, see: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) The purpose of LEV is to draw contaminants such as dust and fume away from the breathing zone the nose and mouth -of those who may otherwise inhale these fumes or particles which may be harmful to their health. LEV can take many forms across the various workshops of ECA large fixed installations with permanent ducting attachments to machines in wood and metal workshops; fixed spray booths / rooms; fume cupboards; flexible extractor arms on workbenches where soldering is carried out or portable extractor units for stone or wood carving. Thousands of people in Britain contract occupational lung and other diseases, including cancer, each year. They develop them because they breathe in too much dust, fume or other airborne contaminants at work. Local exhaust ventilation can remove airborne contaminants before people breathe them in. The most important thing about any LEV system is that the activity should be arranged in such a way that the harmful fumes / particles are drawn away from the individuals breathing zone there is no point in LEV which is not adjusted so it either doesn t draw away, or worse, actually draws fume towards the nose / mouth of the individual (such as drawing above the head of the artist as they lean over a process. This may require the LEV to be adjusted throughout the activity as the particles may be ejected in a different direction due to the angle of the tool in use etc. Processes within the College have been assessed for levels of process contaminants. Where appropriate, competent LEV deemed has been installed. This LEV is tested by engineers on an annual basis and maintained by Technicians i.e. filters cleaned etc. Where LEV is fitted, Staff should ensure that students are familiar with its correct use. If you believe the LEV to be defective in any way you must stop the process and inform the relevant technician. Daily checklist for LEV Do any gauge s show that the LEV is working properly? Is it taking away all the harmful dust, mist, fumes and gas? Remember, some of these may be invisible. Is the student close enough to it so it can do its job properly? Are there any signs it is not working properly, like smells or settled dust? Are there any unusual noises or vibration coming from it? Fixed capturing Hood Small Booth The provision of LEV should adequately control the risk of exposure to dust and fume, but there may be certain activities where risk assessment (or personal preference) identify the need for respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Where worn, this RPE is a form of PPE (see above) and as such does not replace the need for LEV were it is available or practicable. Regular users of RPE should be face fit tested to ensure an effective seal between the mask and their face. RPE requires a goof seal to be effective, and this can be impossible to achieve with stubble or facial hair, certain face shapes,

4 significant scars etc. UoE employees who make regular use of RPE should arrange a face fit test via the UoE Occupational Health Service. For further information on UoE arrangements for RPE: For further info on LEV (though this is generally installed & maintained by Estates & Buildings): Noise. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 requires employers to take action to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work. They also define action levels, where specific additional actions are required, and limit values, which must not be exceeded. Within ECA students are afforded the same safe conditions as staff and previously noise assessments measuring sound levels have been undertaken to assess the level of risk associated with noisy tasks, with a view to influencing the controls to be adopted. Where particular sounds levels cannot reasonably be reduced ECA will endeavor to implement control measures to reduce the risk to a level which is as low as reasonably practicable either through reducing the percussive effects at source, or through provision of collective or individual sound deadening measures such as screens or hearing protection. Where you see signs indicating the use of hearing protection, these are mandatory. Failure to wear the appropriate hearing protection may damage your hearing and may be considered a disciplinary event. In April 2008 the existing Regulations protecting workers in the music and entertainment sectors from exposure to excessive noise will be replaced by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (Noise Regulations). This recognized that music is unusual as it is noise deliberately created for enjoyment and therefore practical guidelines are necessary to help workers, employers and freelancers in the music and entertainment sectors protect their hearing and safeguard their careers. Music and entertainment sectors are defined in the Noise Regulations as all workplaces where: A. live music is played, or B. recorded music is played in a restaurant, bar, public house, discotheque or nightclub, or alongside live music or a live dramatic or dance performance. The regulations will therefore have significant implications for the Edinburgh College of Art s subject area of Music, and specific information will be given to those students who may be at risk after all, musicians need to protect their hearing! Noise is measured in decibels (db). The action levels are defined in terms of daily noise exposure (the average over the working day), and peak noise exposure (sudden noises). The lower exposure action values are 80 db for daily exposure and 135 db for peak noise. The upper exposure action values are 85 db for daily exposure and 137 db for peak noise.

5 In simple terms though if you need to raise your voice to hold a conversation with someone 6 feet (2 metres) away from you, the activity(s) creating the noise is likely to require the provision pf noise reducing measures for anyone regularly exposed to it, or for an extended period. For further info. on this subject, see: Props, Workshop and studio equipment If any student finds any faulty equipment they are required to bring to bring it to the attention of the appropriate technician as soon as possible so that it can be repaired. Care should be taken not to overload extension leads (see ECA guide to Electrical safety). Tutors/technicians will lock away all portable still life materials and equipment before they leave at the end of the teaching period. If the equipment forms part of an agreed on-going set up it can be left in situ but must labelled with a sign indicating who is responsible and when it will be cleared away.