UHS&E Level 3 Policy Laboratory Safety INTRODUCTION Laboratory work demands particular attention because of the large number of hazards which can be brought together. Each of these hazards must be correctly managed before a safe place of work can be established. This policy applies to traditional wet laboratory areas and also to workshops where hazardous agents (chemical, biological, radiochemical and physical) are stored, used and disposed. LEGISLATION There are several sets of specific legislation covering the use of hazardous agents including: The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended) In summary these Regulations; require employers to protect workers from exposure to harmful agents in the workplace as far as is reasonably practicable. Embodying the principles of risk assessment and proportional risk controls they require employers to make a valid decision about the measures necessary to prevent or adequately control the exposure of their employees to these hazards. require employers to use a risk reduction hierarchy (see later section) to minimise harm to people and the environment. rely on employers having good information (and informing employees) about the hazardous properties of materials, the effectiveness of control measures and convenient and accessible ways to monitor exposure. UNIVERSITY POLICY The University of Bath is committed to the maintenance of a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students and visitors at the University. It also seeks to ensure that, as far as is reasonably practicable, its work does not adversely affect the health or safety of the general public and the environment. This policy intends to provide clear direction toward relevant guidance and procedures relating to safe laboratory work. Other policies exist for some specific laboratory hazards. Laboratory safety policy 1
HIERARCHY OF LABORATORY RISK CONTROL MEASURES Where a risk assessment has identified hazards that require control, there are some considerations which can be addressed before going on to setting priorities for controlling them. A hierarchy of control measures can be applied to all hazards as follows: 1. Eliminate the hazard. It s worth asking the question Do we need to use this hazard? If the hazard is removed, all the other management controls, such as assessment, record keeping, training, auditing are no longer needed, with subsequent savings of time and cost. Is it possible to redesign the job so that the hazard is removed or eliminated? 2. Substitute it, if it cannot be removed. Replace it with an agent assigned a lower hazard. (For example, use of a water-based adhesive rather than organic solvent-based.) Care should be taken to ensure the alternative is safer than the original. 3. Use engineering controls (work equipment) such as local exhaust ventilation (e.g. fume cupboards) to control risks from gases, dusts or fumes. Separate the hazard from operators by methods such as enclosing or guarding dangerous items of machinery/equipment. Give priority to measures which protect collectively over individual measures. 4. Design and implement administrative controls. These are all about identifying and implementing the procedures you need to work safely. For example: reducing the time workers are exposed to hazards (e.g. by job rotation), prohibiting use of mobile phones in hazardous areas, increasing safety signage, and performing risk assessments. 5. Personal Protective Equipment (other than laboratory coats and safety spectacles) should be used only as a last resort, after all other control measures have been considered, as a short term contingency during maintenance/ repair or as an additional protective measure. Only after all the previous measures have been tried and found ineffective in controlling risks to a reasonably practicable level, must personal protective equipment (PPE) be used. For example, using respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to minimise inhalation of cytotoxic particles or animal dander. If chosen, PPE should be selected and fitted by the person who uses it. Face-fitting RPE must be fit-tested. Workers must be trained in the function and limitation of each item of PPE. Additional measures for laboratory situations; a. Provide information, instruction and training in the use, storage and disposal of hazardous agents for all laboratory workers. b. Supervise inexperienced workers, undergraduate project students in particular. c. Restrict access to areas. Laboratories contain many things that are hazardous to untrained or inexperienced persons. To minimise risk it is necessary to control access to these areas, such as procedural measures for undergraduate project students. Permits to work may be required for some maintenance operations in labs and workshops. d. Restrict access to dual-use, controlled, agents. These include drugs (and precursor chemicals), explosive chemicals, poisons, some toxins and pathogens, and radioactive substances. Many of these require a licence or permit to keep, use and dispose of. Contact uhse@lists.bath.ac.uk for information on which agents require such controlled use. Laboratory safety policy 2
e. Adapt the work to the individual, where possible, taking account of the individual s mental and physical capabilities and their maturity. f. Maintain good housekeeping standards. g. Reduce the amount of the hazardous agent. Use in small quantities (microscale chemical reactions) and infrequently, use a lower energy, or low voltage DC electrical appliances. h. Take advantage of technical progress. Keep up to date with current methods. i. Planned maintenance and inspection of plant and equipment is essential to ensure that they work effectively and that safety controls and warnings are working. j. Emergency arrangements must be drafted (as part of the risk assessment) covering reasonably foreseeable events such as spillages, cuts/burns and fires. RESPONSIBILITIES Employees Will read relevant risk assessments and comply with the required control measures, such as conducting work in ducted or recirculation fume cupboards, glove boxes or microbiological safety cabinets, waste disposal, emergency arrangements and wearing specific personal protective equipment. Will report any incident, accident or defect in equipment used with hazardous agents, or in their control measures. Will cooperate with their supervisors, the University s specialist advisers or any other person appointed to monitor hazardous agents or other health and safety matters. Line Managers Will consult with the appropriate safety specialist (via uhse@lists.bath.ac.uk) if they intend to work (or supervise work) with high risk hazardous agents in laboratories or workshops at the University of Bath. Will assess the safety and environmental risks of such agents before the commencement of any work, considering in particular; o the composition and nature of the hazardous agent, and o the likelihood of exposure and consequent effect. Will ensure that all workers are competent to work with the agents, by ensuring they are adequately informed, instructed, trained and supervised. Will ensure that University policy, procedures and safe systems of work are strictly adhered to in order to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation relating to the use of hazardous agents. Will provide workers with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when stipulated in the risk assessment, and ensure that it is worn when necessary. Will notify uhse@lists.bath.ac.uk in the case of accidental (or suspected) exposure to hazardous agents. Laboratory safety policy 3
Will ensure that any malfunctioning piece of equipment which presents a potential hazard is removed from service immediately, and provide for its repair, replacement or disposal as soon as possible. Heads of Department Will ensure that all work with hazardous agents in the department is identified. Will ensure that all staff are aware of, and adhere to, University policy, procedures and safe systems of work in order to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation relating to the use of hazardous agents they may encounter as part of their operational work. Will ensure sufficient resources are provided to adequately maintain equipment and control measures. The University s Scientific Safety Sub-Committee Will provide advice on all relevant occupational aspects of work with hazardous agents. Will provide advice to the Head of UHSE as necessary or as required. Will liaise with the Head of the University Health, Safety & Environment Service about any potential breach of health and safety legislation and will work where necessary with the enforcing authorities. Will advise on relevant training of personnel needing competence in performing work with hazardous agents. Will provide oversight of audit findings to check that control measures are adequately maintained and tested by departments. University Health, Safety & Environment Service Will produce and review this policy biennially or after any significant change whichever is the soonest. Will ensure that appointments are made, in writing, of specialist advisers for fire, chemicals, microbiological agents, lasers and ionising radiation. Will inform the specialist advisers and Departmental Safety Coordinators in relevant departments of any changes to legislation covering hazardous agents. Will arrange health surveillance and medical examinations where required. Will ensure guidance is available to assist in generating risk assessments for hazardous agents. Laboratory safety policy 4
FURTHER INFORMATION Further information is available on the Staying Safe and Well website. HSE guidance; Chemical risk management Hazardous area classification and Laboratory operations (electrical safety) Storage of flammable liquids Working in microbiological laboratories Radiation (both ionising and non-ionising, including lasers) Laboratory safety policy 5