Department of Mechanical Engineering
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Arrangements for Managing
Health and Safety
2014-2015
(Last updated August 2014)
EMERGENCIES
In case of ACCIDENT or FIRE
DIAL 222
AT ANY TIME, ON ANY UCL PHONE
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. STATEMENT OF SAFETY POLICY
3. DEPARTMENTAL ORGANISATION
4. INDEX OF ARRANGMENTS FOR SAFE WORKING
5. SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS
6. APPENDICES
I
Mechanical Engineering Workshops Code of Practice
II
Safety on Lasers
III
Fuel Systems Test Facility Safety Precautions/Code of Practice
(Last updated August 2014)
1.
INTRODUCTION
This policy presents Departmental Safety Arrangements which have been prepared in
accordance with UCL Safety Policy. Members of staff must read this document and
bring its contents to the attention of all research assistants, research students and other
staff supervised by them. Under the Safety Arrangements set out in this document, it is
the responsibility of all supervisors to ensure that staff under their direction are made
aware of these Safety Arrangements and that a risk assessment is carried out prior to
any laboratory or other work commencing.
Staff and students must comply with the arrangements detailed in this policy.
If in doubt ask, and if you see anything that you believe to pose a risk, report it to your
supervisor.
(Last updated August 2014)
2.
STATEMENT OF SAFETY POLICY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
SUMMARY
This document sets out the commitment of the UCL Department of Mechanical
Engineering to ensure that its activities are carried out in a safe manner in accordance
with the corporate Statement of Safety Policy of University College London and the
requirements placed upon the Department by the UCL Approved Code of Practice
entitled 'The Management of Health and Safety in Departments'.
In addition to the statement of policy, the document describes the organisational
structure for health and safety management within the Department.
The statement contains an overview, in the form of a table, of the Department's
arrangements to control the health and safety risks that arise from its work activities. The
Department should also provide a summary of its priorities for action in the present year
(Safety Plan for 2013-2014).
This Policy document should be read in conjunction with the Department's written
Arrangements for Safe Working which should be appended to this document.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is a Department of UCL and is responsible
to the Provost and President for the implementation of the arrangements in the UCL
Statement of Safety Policy.
Professor Y Ventikos, Head of Department
Signature………………………………………. Date …………………………………….
Page 2
POLICY COMMITMENT
General Policy
1
The policy of the Department is to promote, through active management of its
hazards and activities, the safety, health and welfare of all its staff, students, visitors,
contractors and members of the public on the Department's premises and to protect
them elsewhere from any adverse effect on their health and safety arising from the
activities of the Department.
2
The Department seeks continual improvement of its occupational health and
safety systems through processes of measurement and review in order to achieve or
maintain best practice standards.
Commitment and leadership by the Head of Department and senior Departmental
management.
3
The Department recognises the importance of establishing clear lines of
management accountability for controlling the risks of its work activities and these are set
out in the Organising for Safety section.
4
The Department recognises that commitment and involvement by senior
managers plays a significant part in promoting health and safety in the Department.
5
The Department will allocate sufficient resources in terms of people, money and
facilities to plan, implement, monitor and review its safety systems.
6
The Department will ensure that staff and students are kept informed of matters
which may affect their health and safety including the dissemination of this Policy
statement.
7
Senior Departmental management will take the lead in consulting with staff, safety
representatives and students on matters of health and safety and will seek their
involvement in the development and improvement of safety in the Department.
8
The Department will ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated
into the planning of Departmental work activities.
The Department will consider its overall health and safety policy in parallel with other
corporate policy that is designed to promote the well-being of staff and students such as
policies on equal opportunity, harassment and bullying, disability, age and racial
discrimination.
The duty to establish, maintain and develop systems for the management of health
and safety
10
The Department is committed to planning and setting objectives for the
management of safety commensurate with the nature and level of the risk created by its
work activities and fully implementing those measures deemed necessary by the
Department as indicated in the Index of Arrangements for Safe Working section.
11
The Department undertakes to monitor the operation of its systems and
procedures for safety management and review them in the light of experience and in
accordance with UCL corporate direction.
12
The Department is committed to ensuring that risk assessments are carried out as
required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and other
regulations applicable to its work activities. These assessments will be made by the staff
Page 3
responsible for supervision of the work, set out in writing and signed by the person with
responsibility for supervision of the relevant work.
No work is permitted to start unless it is covered by a suitable and sufficient
assessment of the risks involved in the work, without which the Department cannot be
considered to have taken reasonably practicable steps to manage the risks of its work
activities to staff, students, visitors and others who might be affected by its work (1).
13
The Department is committed to ensuring that all work activities are carried out by
persons competent to perform those activities (2). To this end, the Department will
ensure that all members of the Department receive such training and instruction as
required for them to discharge their tasks and duties in a competent manner.
14
The Department arranges for work activities to be supervised by competent
people.
15
The Department recognises that a person can only be fully competent to
discharge a duty if they accept that duty, understand the nature of that duty and are
allocated sufficient time to discharge that duty.
16
To give effect to this Policy, the organisation and procedures as described or
cross-referenced to in this document have been approved and authorised by the Head of
Department who is responsible to the Provost and President and Council for setting and
maintaining the standards of safety in the Department.
17
The Department recognises its responsibilities with respect to fire safety and is
committed to ensuring its systems and procedures comply with UCL policies.
The duties of staff, students and visitors
18
It is a legal duty (3) for ALL staff, students and visitors to co-operate with the
policy for safety set out in this document and all other Departmental systems and
procedures designed to promote and ensure their health and safety.
19
Members of the Department shall not interfere with or misuse anything provided to
ensure their safety.
(1) See also Section 3.3 of the UCL-Approved Code of Practice: "The Management of Health and Safety in
Departments".
(2) i.e. people who have the skills, knowledge and experience required to discharge safely a particular duty, who know
the limits of their competence and seek advice when reaching those limits.
(3) Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Sections 7 and 8.
Page 4
3.
DEPARTMENTAL ORGANISATION
Management Structure: Senior departmental staff and unit managers/supervisors have
responsibility for Health and Safety management in the Department.
Departmental Safety Officers have responsibility for monitoring the implementation of
Health and Safety Policy and reporting their findings to the Head of Department.
The following staff have responsibility for Health and Safety arrangements in the
Department:
Title
Name
Tel
Head of Department:
Specialist Officers
Professor Y Ventikos
37068
Dr R Balachandran
33862
Departmental
Safety Officer
Laser
y.ventikos@ucl.ac.uk
r_balachndran@ucl.ac.uk
Departmental Safety
p_kelly@ucl.ac.uk
Mr P Kelly
32943
Officer
For the purposes of Health and Safety the Department is organised into 10 groups.
Below are the details of these groups.
Activity
Location
Person Responsible
Telephone
Roberts Building, 4th Floor
Mr M Iline
45704
Departmental
Administrator
Roberts Building, 4th Floor
Miss S Hutt
33678
Marine
Engineering
Research Group
Roberts Building, 5th Floor
Dr A R Greig
33895
Bio-Medical Engineering
Research Group
Roberts Building, 4th Floor
Prof N Saffari
37180
Thermofluids
Group
Roberts Building, 5th Floor
Prof N Ladommatos
54112
UG Tutor
Roberts Building, 4th Floor
Dr A Blackie
33871
Graduate Tutor
Roberts Building, 5th Floor
Dr K Suen
33926
Finance
Roberts Building, 4th Floor
Mr A Nazari
33875
Procurement
Roberts Building, 4th Floor
Ms A Grimova
33909
Departmental
Superintendent
(incl.
Workshop and Labs)
Roberts Building
Mr P Kelly
32943
Administration
Systems
and
IT
Research
UCL Area Safety Adviser (ASA)
The following UCL Safety Services Representative is the primary Area Safety Adviser
assigned to the Department:
Mr Brian Kavanagh
b.kavanagh@ucl.ac.uk
Page 5
4.
INDEX OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR SAFE WORKING
Department Mechanical Engineering
Mandatory arrangements
The Department must have written procedures for items marked in bold which are
mandatory.
Arrangements necessary to ensure safe working in the Department
In the column headed ‘Potential for harm’ you should consider the potential for harm that
the activity or hazard creates for people BEFORE any specific risk control measures
have been applied. To do this, you should ask: “What harm might result to staff
members or students from the hazard/activity who have not received specific information
instruction or training related to the process concerned?” This judgement establishes the
level of intrinsic risk ands assists the setting of priority for action including the review of
existing arrangements.
TOPIC
Y/N or N/A
Accidents and incidents
Allergens
Battery Care and Safety
Biological Safety
Building maintenance
Carcinogens
Chemicals
Compressed gases
Consultation
Contractors
Control of access
Co-operation between organisations
Cryogenic substances
Dangerous goods transportation
Disabilities
Display screen equipment
Electricity
Emergencies
Events and Exhibitions
Fieldwork
Fire
First aid
Gas Bottles, Monitors and Detectors
Genetically modified organisms
Integrating incoming groups
mandatory
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
mandatory
mandatory
mandatory
Yes
Yes
mandatory
mandatory
Yes
N/A
N/A
Document
Reference
Potential
Date last
for
harm
reviewed
H/M/L
5.1
5.11
5.12
5.13
5.14
5.15
5.16
5.17
5.18
5.19
5.2
5.21
5.22
5.23
5.24
5.25
5.26
5.27
5.28
5.29
5.3
5.31
5.32
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Medium
Medium
medium
Low
Medium
High
Medium
High
Low
Low
Low
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Medium
Medium
Page 6
Inspections
mandatory
Inspection, testing and maintenance
Yes
of engineered safety equipment
Ionising radiations
Laboratory work
Lasers
Lone working
Manual handling
Noise
N/A
Yes
Yes
mandatory
Yes
Yes
Non-ionising radiations, e.g. UV and
Yes
microwave emitters
Novel materials
Office work
Out of hours working
Permits to work
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Placements
Pregnant workers
Purchasing arrangements
Record keeping
Review of safety management
arrangements
Risk assessment
Safety Committee
Safety Policy distribution & display
Safety training
Sensitisers
Shared Workplaces
Signage
Slips, trips and falls
Soldering and welding
Spill procedures
Storage
Substances
Supervision
Unattended or overnight processes
Vacating UCL premises
Vehicles
Violence
5.33
5.35
Appendix II
5.36
5.37
5.38
5.39
5.4
5.5
5.51
5.52
5.53
5.54
5.55
5.56
mandatory
5.57
mandatory
5.58
5.59
5.6
5.61
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
High
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N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
mandatory
20.08.14
5.62
5.63
5.64
Appendix I
5.65
5.66
5.67
5.68
5.69
5.7
5.71
High
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High
High
Medium
Low
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High
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
High
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High
High
High
Low
High
Medium
Medium
Medium
High
High
High
High
High
High
High
Medium
Page 7
Visitors and members of the public
Waste management
Working at Heights
Working in the open air
Workshops
Young Persons
Yes
mandatory
Yes
N/A
Yes
Yes
5.72
20.08.14
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5.73
5.74
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High
High
Appendix I
5.8
20.08.14
High
3) Include any additional arrangements for safe working
Document
Reference
TOPIC
Fuel Systems Test Facility
Precautions/Code of Practice
Safety
Appendix III
Date last
reviewed
20.08.14
Potential
for harm
H/M/L
High
Safety Plan for 2014 – 2015
Improve usage of floor plan for Mechanical Engineering regarding staff, teaching and
research
Restructuring of 4th floor Roberts – move admin area and create 2 larger rooms for
staff student communial areas.
Heating programme in Roberts building continuing
Improve conditions for new population of 132 Hampstead Road.
Roberts 5th floor heating and cooling works to begin.
* Data Protection Act
University College London is registered under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 to enable it to hold and
process personal data for the purposes of ensuring and monitoring health and safety at the University. The data
contained in this Statement will be kept secure and accurate and will only be disclosed to people who have a need to
know in accordance with the University College London’s registration under the Act.
Page 8
5.
Arrangements for Safe Working
5.1.
Accident & Incidents
Accident Reporting Procedure
Any accident or near miss, ‘incident’, involving any persons on any Departmental activity,
whether or not there are apparent injuries, must be reported to the supervisor who must
ensure that an UCL Accident form is completed and passed to the Dept Safety Officer.
Accident Report forms are available from the UCL Safety Services website
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/accidents/index.htm
. There are also guidance notes on how to fill them out. The Accident Report form must
be completed as soon as possible (note: anyone can report an accident, not just the
injured party). Serious accidents must be reported immediately (verbally) to the Dept
Safety Officer.
All report forms and information relevant to the accident/incident are passed by the Dept
Safety Officer, (where serious faxed or telephoned), to the UCL Safety Services who will,
as required by law, report serious accidents/incidents to the HSE by the quickest means
after the accident and by form within ten days of the accident/incident.
Accident Treatment
Persons with minor injuries (cuts, abrasions, sprains) must immediately be referred to a
qualified first-aider to ensure that there is proper assessment and treatment. Major
injuries will be dealt with by the Accident and Emergency Department of University
College London Hospital at all times.
Eye injuries should always be considered as serious. Those caused by chemical splash
should be treated immediately by rinsing for 10 to 20 minutes; it is important this
treatment is commenced as soon as possible. The casualty must then be sent for a
medical examination preferably to Moorfields Hospital.
A sharps or needle stick injury that is contaminated or there is any suggestion that it was
contaminated should be treated with particular care; the injury should be encouraged to
bleed and be thoroughly washed. The Nurse must be informed and the sharp or needle
kept in case it is needed for tests.
Accident Investigation
For all reported accidents the Dept Safety Officer will arrange for a full investigation to be
carried out in conjunction with the supervisor and other personnel as appropriate. All
findings will be reported to the Dept Safety Officer. The Head of Unit will institute any
follow-up action required, they will also keep the UCL Safety Services informed of any
action taken and ensure that appropriate measures are employed to prevent similar
accidents in the future.
In the event of a serious accident as little as possible should be handled or moved. Any
equipment or product (including disposable items) involved in an accident or incident
must be retained and where possible left in situ, pending investigation.
5.11 Allergens
Any individuals who feel that they may be allergic to a substance that they are working
with can discuss it with confidence with their Personal Tutor, Supervisor, Departmental
Superintendent or Safety Services.
Page 9
The allergy should also be mentioned in the project Risk Assessment.
Allergen screening is a service provided by the Occupational Health Service. All staff
that might be exposed to allergens e.g. chemicals, solvents, colophony etc should be
screened by the Occupational Health Service. Contact via the DSO.
The Occupational Health Service is located at 3 Gower Place. Duty hours are 9.00 5.00 and the telephone number is Extension 32802.
For more advice go to http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/occ_health/
5.12 Battery Care and Safety
Battery acid is poisonous, corrosive and can damage fabrics. Keep acid away from skin
and eyes.
In the event of an accident wash the affected area with clean cold water, and in cases of
eye injury call for medical attention.
Batteries emit hydrogen particularly during charging, and this means that there is a
potential explosion hazard. Always switch off electric circuit before making or breaking
electric connections. DISCONNECT earth terminal first and CONNECT it last.
5.13 Biological Safety
Working with human blood
Ethics approval is required prior to working with human tissue. Researchers who need to
handle human blood should be offered immunisation against Hepatitis B (can be
arranged via Occupational Health– see
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/substances/index.htm) and should have
attended college approved courses prior to starting work. General Lab Safety Courses
should also be attended and initial mentoring by an experienced researcher should be
provided.
Blood can be taken on the lab premises only by qualified phlebotomists as specified in
relevant ethics approval. Labs should be under negative air pressure, floors should be
sealed and benches should have plastic tops. All blood products to be kept locked in
locked fridges or disposed immediately after experimentation using the protocols to
cleaning and dealing with spillages below.
Biowaste and sharps containers should be available in the labs. These will be collected
by college approved contractors on a regular basis. Disposable gloves and lab coats
must be worn when working.
In summary, the following infection control measures should be in place for the work at
UCL
1. Handling: disposable (surgical) gloves are used when taking blood; these are
changed between donors and disposed of by appropriate clinical waste routes.
Appropriate hygiene measures are also in place such as wearing gloves when
handling blood in the lab and washing hands when leaving the laboratory. For
UCL policy on use of gloves, see
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/occ_health/policies/latex_policy.php.
2. Sharps: sharps are involved during phlebotomy procedures with trained
phlebotomists; these are disposed of by placing directly into sharps bins that are
sent within 1 month for incineration.
Page 10
3. Waste disposal: a disinfectant such as Trigene or Virkon is added to the waste
blood for an appropriate time before pouring it to drain; all equipment is thoroughly
with a disinfectant and/or 70% alcohol (usually IMS or methanol).
Spillage procedures: depending on the volume the disinfectant solution in point 4 above
will be used to neutralise small spills of blood. In the vent of larger volume spills
(probably >25ml) a biohazard spill kit with Haz granules will be used. Advice on
arrangements needed to deal with any exposure to human blood can be found in:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/occ_health/policies/accidental_exposure.php)
5.14 Building Maintenance
Any safety problems created by or requiring building maintenance should be reported to
Peter Kelly who will notify the Estates & Facilities Division. For laboratory and workshop
areas “Permits to Work” must be completed by the relevant supervisor before work can
commence.
Mr Peter Kelly (Extension 32943) is the designated contact for all building works, within
the Department.
5.15 Carcinogens
Research workers should if at all possible, avoid the use of known or suspected
carcinogens, and try to use an alternative. If no alternative is available and the known or
suspected carcinogen must be used, their supervisor must be consulted and conduct a
risk assessment before work is started.
Such substances must always be handled in fume cupboards or in closed containers.
Vessels containing them must be clearly labelled “cancer-inducing” and after use must
be thoroughly washed and kept separate from other equipment. Persons using such
compounds must prevent exposure and wear appropriate protective clothing, ensuring
that all clothing is properly disposed of or cleaned if it becomes contaminated. Novel
compounds, for which no safety data are available, must be treated with the same strict
caution.
To find the UCL Policy on Substances go to the Safety Services website.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/substances/index.htm
The Department reserves the right not to allow use of certain compounds on safety
grounds, subject to risk assessment.
5.16 Chemicals
If a person or group is going to use chemicals a risk assessment must be completed
BEFORE purchasing and a copy given to the Departmental Safety Officer.
All storage and use of chemicals, solvents etc, in the Department are subject to
assessment under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
Regulations. It is the responsibility of the Head of Unit to ensure that this is done for all
existing and any new substances.
Heads of Units will ensure that
manufacturer/suppliers data sheets are available within the Unit and that any necessary
information, training, first aid, spillage data, personal protective equipment etc., is
provided and available prior to use of such agents and that there is adequate
supervision. Hazardous materials must not be used in the Department if the risks cannot
be adequately controlled.
Page 11
Chemicals should only be stored and used in approved areas. Inter-active chemicals
(e.g. oxidising agents/flammables, acids/bases etc) must not be stored together. Highly
flammable liquids must only be stored in areas meeting the requirements for a petroleum
spirit licence.
Substances must be controlled in accordance to the following guidance
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/substances/index.htm
Disposal of Chemicals
Please see link at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/efd/cleaningandwaste/waste/
Labelling of Chemicals
It is vital that ALL containers of materials are clearly and unambiguously labelled. Loose
or defaced labels must be replaced, and where materials are to be taken or sent outside
the Department the labelling must conform to EC regulations (The Classification,
Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations, 2002 [S1209]). Within
the Department the following information must be stated on the label:
1.
Name of contents.
2.
Name of person responsible.
3.
Date materials were bottled, made or received.
4.
Note of any known hazards or special properties.
The main Stores have a supply of conventional hazard signs and chemically-resistant
adhesive transparent tape.
The Department keeps an up-to-date register of all chemicals (e.g. solvents, acids,
alkalis, flammables etc) presently held in the Departmental Supervisor’s Office.
All laboratories that use or store chemicals should have a designated person
responsible for their storage and for keeping COSHH sheets on all of the chemicals in
use.
Current responsible people are:

Thermodynamics Laboratory

Structures and Materials Laboratory

Biomechanical Engineering Laboratory (S Mahalingam)
(Mr R Balachandran)
(Mr J Howe)
The folders detail the nature of the hazards, fire fighting information, first aid treatments,
recommended protective measures, actions in the event of spillages, storage
recommendations and finally any additional information on safe usage. This information
would be read by users prior to use.
The data contained within the folders may be in tabular form or copies of suppliers’
“Product Data Sheets”.
It is important that, the Departmental Safety Officer be kept informed of:
(a)
any new chemicals introduced to site, to enable folders to be kept up-to-date.
(b)
any chemicals no longer required so that they may be correctly disposed of.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (COSHH)
How to carry out a COSHH risk assessment
Page 12
(a)
Consider the proposed work in relation to the handling of chemical substances
and any aspects of those processes which might provide opportunities for contamination
or ingestion, e.g. aerosols, skin absorption, high concentrations of vapour in the
atmosphere etc.
(b)
Describe what procedures are adequate to ensure that there is no exposure to the
hazardous substances. The supplier’s Safety Data Sheet and risk (R) and Safety (S)
numbers detailed on the label should be consulted. Consideration must also be given to
the disposal of hazardous waste and to reasonably foreseeable accidents, e.g. spillage.
Current Codes of Practice may be cited as a ‘Control Measure’.
(c)
If there are some processes for which there are no containment procedures
available, then an appropriate code or set of working procedures should be prepared.
Where it is not possible to create procedures which will ensure that there is no exposure,
then it is necessary to state what measures will be taken to control the level of exposure,
what monitoring will be carried out to ensure that this level of exposure is not exceeded
and what health checks will be made on those persons who are exposed to ensure that
they are not adversely affected.
(d)
A signed and dated record of this assessment should be made and kept.
Finally, the implications must be considered of adopting various codes, etc, as a basis for
claiming that there is not exposure. Where codes offer protection by means of fume
cupboards biological safety cabinets, etc, to claim that these codes will be followed
implies that these facilities are available whenever required and that their performance
will be monitored. It would be unwise legally to cite the standards of a particular code if
these are neither monitored nor current.
5.17 Compressed Gases
UCL Policy on the control of gas monitors and detectors can be found at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/gases/monitors_detectors.pdf
All users of gas cylinders within the department must complete the safety services
training courses on using gas cylinders safely and connecting regulators and safe
cylinder set up. They must also include the gases and storage in the laboratory and
project risk assessments.
Lack of care or improper use can turn a gas cylinder into a serious hazard. e.g.

They are heavy and can cause serious injuries if the cylinder falls.

The contents at high pressure constitute a large amount of stored energy.
fracture at the neck can convert the cylinder into a missile.

The build-up of pressure due to excessive heat can convert the cylinder into a
bomb.

Ignition of a leak of flammable gas can convert the cylinder into a flame thrower.

Leakage of a toxic gas can convert the laboratory into a gas chamber. Therefore:
A
Cylinders MUST at all times be secured adequately against falling and only transported
on the correct type of cylinder trolley. Trolleys may be obtained from the Stores and
must be returned directly after use.
Always use the correct type of cylinder regulator, spanner and spindle key, and open the
valve slowly. DO NOT USE OIL, GREASE OR EXCESSIVE FORCE.
Page 13
The number of cylinders in a work place must at all times be kept to a minimum, located
preferably against an outside wall and always away from sources of heat and corrosion.
Equipment connected to a cylindered gas supply should always be tested for leaks by
applying a dilute aqueous solution of washing-up liquid to the connections.
Where gas is delivered from a cylinder by a dip tube into a liquid, the regulator and
cylinder must be protected against possible suck-back by a trap or non-return valve.
All cylinders containing liquefied gas must be stored, used in an upright position and
secured to prevent the bottle from falling over.
Flash-back arresters must be used on cylinders containing combustible gases.
Lecture bottles while in use must be clamped to a suitable stand; otherwise they should
be stored in a rack away from any source of heat. Those containing toxic or corrosive
material are best kept in a fume cupboard.
The following points should be noted:
•
All cylinder valve spindles have a right-hand thread
•
Non-combustible gas cylinder heads have right-hand thread
•
Combustible gas heads (with the exception of lecture bottles) have left-hand
threads (usually indicated by a shallow groove cut around the circumference of the nut).
ALWAYS read and comply with the suppliers’ instructions.
Consult BOC on site, ext 25063 for further information.
5.18 Consultation
Staff groups will be consulted prior to change or implementation of new safety
procedures. This will be effected through minutes of the Safety Committee or Staff
Committee meetings.
5.19 Contractors
Contractors for building work and/or maintenance should be arranged via the Estates
and Facilities Department, who will provide the on site liaison with the contractors and/or
the Project Officer.
The name of the Project Officer in the Estates and Facilities Division should always be
obtained from the Contractor on arrival.
Departmental liaison is provided by Mr Peter Kelly. ucempke@ucl.ac.uk
Workers in/from Other Departments/Organisations
Departmental workers in other organisations must be instructed in the Arrangements for
safe working of that organisation. It is the responsibility of the Departmental Supervisor
to ensure the outside organisation has procedures for safe working.
Workers from other organisations must be instructed in the Arrangements for safe
working of the Department. It is the responsibility of the Department Supervisor to
ensure that these workers have read and understood these Arrangements.
Whilst on another organisation’s premises the visiting worker is the responsibility of their
host Supervisor who is responsible for instruction on emergency procedures and other
arrangements necessary for the work.
Page 14
5.2 Control of Access
Entry into Potentially Hazardous areas, e.g. laboratories, and workshops etc. by
untrained staff can only be permitted once permission is obtained from the direct
Supervisor for that area and any stipulated PPE must be worn before entry is
undertaken.
5.21 Co-operation between organisations
The department will liaise with neighbouring departments regarding processes and
procedures which could affect them. The Safety Officer should be informed in advance
of such issues and will inform his/her counterparts in other departments.
5.22 Cryogenic Substances
Oxygen Depletion
Liquid nitrogen and dry ice/solid CO2 etc should not be stored or used in an unventilated
space such as a cold room and must not be transported in the passenger lifts. People
must avoid travelling with cryogenic substances in any lift due to the risk of suffocation in
the event of a lift failure.
Where large volumes of liquid nitrogen are stored in a pressurised vessel, it is necessary
to ensure adequate ventilation to allow for vessel failure or evaporation. In addition,
either of the following must be implemented:
(i)
there must be an oxygen monitor with audible alarm sited in the immediate area
or
(ii)
an emergency exhaust system attached to the burst valve of the vessel.
Procedure for Handling Cryogenic Liquids
Liquid nitrogen (77K) and solid carbon dioxide (185K) can cause severe burns if they
come into contact with the skin.
When decanting suitable gloves and face protection must be worn.
The faceshield will protect all the face against splashes and not just the eyes.
Wear thermally insulated gloves, e.g. chrome leather, asbestos or asbestos substituted
material. Never wear thin rubber or rubber substitute gloves or those made of absorbent
material since the liquefied gas could soak into the latter and seriously burn the hands.
Protect feet from spillages by wearing suitable shoes (e.g. not open-toed sandals). A
laboratory coat should be worn, and for women trousers would protect the legs better
than a skirt.
Check that the container being used is suitable for this temperature and will withstand
the thermal shock. Do not pour the cryogenic liquid into:

a warm Dewar flask (violent boiling would result)

a wet Dewar (water droplets would freeze and in expanding, may fracture the
Dewar).

an unprotected Dewar, (it must be kept in an outer protective box)

an un-taped Dewar, (in the event of the flask shattering, insulating tape would
contain the glass fragments).

a domestic thermos, (it would very likely shatter)
Page 15
Do not pour or decant the liquid gas in an unventilated area, there is a risk of
asphyxiation.
Do not keep apparatus immersed in the liquid when open to the atmosphere. Oxygen
from the air, having a higher condensation temperature, will form as a liquid in the
container. This creates a potential fire/explosion hazard.
Never carry liquid gases in passenger lifts; evaporation in a confined space seriously
depletes oxygen in the air.
Cold burns are very similar to a hot burn and should be treated in a like manner. Put
under running water for ten minutes, seek advice from a First Aider or University College
London Hospital.
5.23 Dangerous Goods Transportation
Any items to be transported must be appropriately packaged and labelled and done so in
accordance with a risk assessment and best practice. Consult the UCL Adviser, ext
53030
5.24 Disabilities
Full UCL Policy about disability can be found at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/disability/index.html
Staff and students who have any disability, albeit temporary, will need a personal access
and evacuation plan. See http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/maintenance/fire/documents/Disability Information. This should be arranged by the Supervisor.
5.25 Display Screen Equipment
Each new member of staff is required to undertake a personal assessment form which is
available from the D.S.O.
The Department has a Display Screen Assessors in place Mr David Bevan ext. 45744
The UCL Policy can be found at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/dse/index.htm
5.26 Electricity
Electrical Equipment
Regulations require all portable electrical appliances to be inspected and maintained
regularly by a competent person. Each piece of equipment must have an identifying
number and the results must be documented. See
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/electricity/index.htm
If equipment fails it must not be used, but taken out of service and reported to the
Departmental Safety Officer (Tel: 32943).
The wrong procedure with electrical equipment will not only damage the equipment but
will increase the risk of fire and electric shock. Do not tamper with wiring or equipment:
any frayed or loose wires must be reported. The correctly-rated fuse must always be
used on any equipment. All equipment must be properly earthed and connections
should be made permanent where possible. Any temporary connection should be safe.
Extension leads are not recommended for anything but temporary use.
Page 16
Electric Shock
Do not touch the casualty until he/she has been separated from the electricity source.
If breathing has stopped get a first-aider to start mouth to mouth resuscitation and
immediately call the emergency telephone number 222.
5.27 Emergencies
Explosion, major spillage, gas leak, power failure.
(a)
Evacuate the area, summon the DSO or call ext 222.
(b)
Summon first aider or ambulance for any injured person or send them
accompanied to the UCLH Accident and Emergency Department.
(c)
If a mains gas leak is suspected immediately contact the DSO or Maintenance
Department Operations Centre by dialling ext. 30000. Extinguish all naked flames.
(d)
If fire occurs which is beyond the capability of hand extinguishers to control or if
danger threatens the surrounding area, sound the fire alarms and leave the building.
5.28 Events and Exhibitions
Exhibitions
To find information on the safe assembly, display and dismantling of exhibitions go to
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/exhibitions/index.htm
Social Events
UCL guidance is available at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/social_events/index.htm
Eating and drinking are only permitted in Offices and Coffee Rooms and must never take
place in the laboratory or any other area where chemicals are used, including offices
which are part of laboratory areas.
Use of laboratory equipment for the storage, refrigeration, freezing, heating, cooking or
processing of food for human consumption is strictly forbidden. In addition smoking,
eating, drinking, or application of cosmetics are prohibited in all laboratory areas.
Smoking is not allowed on UCL premises, except for designated areas.
A senior member of staff who is familiar with emergency procedures must always be
present.
5.29 Fieldwork
Where it is proposed to organise field work or work / study off campus by any members
of staff or students either in the UK or abroad, the supervisor is responsible for
performing a risk assessment prior to any work being undertaken. See
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/fieldwork/index.htm
5.3 Fire
Fire Marshalls
Roberts building
Sub Basement/Basement
Mr P Jeavons ext 30471, Mr P Kelly 32943, Mr J
Howe 30473 Mr B Duboc 30012 and Mr M Talibi
30012
Roberts Ground floor west
wing
Mr Suntha Mahalingham and Mr Poonam Kaushik
32193
Page 17
Roberts Bldg 4th floor
Ms C Reisch, Senior Fire Marshal, ext 33907
Dr G Burriesci ext 33922
Roberts Bldg 5th floor
Dr A R Greig, Prof R Bucknall & Mr C Wormald ext
33895, 33777 & 37066
132 Hampstead Rd 4th floor
All staff have a duty to be familiar with the requirements for fire prevention, fire
precautions, and evacuation procedures for any place in which they work. All information
concerning the UCL Policy can be found at
www.ucl.ac.uk/efd/maintenance/fire/
New recruits and all staff annually are to be familiarised with UCL Fire Technical notes
number 086 and 086a.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/maintenance/fire/documents/
This is the responsibility of the Fire Marshall for that floor. Records will be collated by the
DSO.
The stairs, corridors and landings on all floors to form part of the Means of Escape from
the premises by occupants and visitors. These areas must not be obstructed by staff,
students or visitors and the stair enclosures, landings and corridors on each floor to
remain free of storage and combustible materials at all times.
All doors to be marked with a blue ‘Mandatory’ sign as ‘fire door keep shut’ or similar
must be kept shut at all times if they are to be effective in preventing smoke and fire
spreading to other areas, including escape routes, within the building.
Training of pupils/students
See Section 3.3 http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/maintenance/fire/documents/
It is good practice to provide pupils and students with some form of fire safety training so
that they are aware of the actions to be taken in the event of a fire. This should be given
at the start of the lecture/class and include instruction on the following:

details of the Fire Action Notices; this provides important information such as
assembly point

importance of fire doors and other basic fire-prevention measures; i.e that fire
doors should not be wedged open and not to tamper with fire extinguishers e.g.
whilst waiting to go into lectures

importance of reporting to the assembly area

not to use lifts when the alarm is sounding

the available exit routes and the operation of exit devices
Lecturers are responsible for evacuating the classes they are holding.
Fire Incidents - It is essential that all fires within UCL properties are reported regardless
of their size and for the UCL Fire Officer to investigate fire occurrences to help establish
any failures in communications or equipment, systems and the possible cause.
Page 18
Unwanted Fire Alarms - it is equally important that we monitor unwanted alarms to
identify issues with fire alarm systems, look at trends & causes and to provide
information to senior management and the fire brigade.
Report Form - The Senior Fire Evacuation Marshalls, Department Administrators,
Managers or Student Residence Managers must fill in one of these reports every time
the fire alarm activates (with the exception of weekly testing &/or maintenance where
there is a short activation of sounders - mainly during the early mornings). The report
form is web based and can be found at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/efd/maintenance/fire/report
Information - A range of fire safety information and advice under general headings is
available from the UCL Fire Safety Web Site at
www.uhttp://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/maintenance/fire/documents/cl.ac.uk/fire
5.31 First Aid
First Aiders
Floor
Room
Extension
Security Officers
Roberts reception area
37974
Dr A R Greig
5th Floor Roberts Building
511
33895
Prof R Bucknall
5th
Floor Roberts Building
505A
33777
Dr Ryo Torii
5th Floor Roberts Building
510A
32801
Miss C Reisch
4th Floor Roberts Building
412d
33907
Mr S Mahalingam
Roberts ground floor west wing
XG18
32193
Mr
Poonam
Kaushik
Roberts ground floor west wing
XG18
32193
Mr P Kelly
Sub
basement
Workshop
Mech
Eng
B.15B
32943
Mr J Howe
Sub
basement
Workshop
Mech
Eng
B.15B
30473
Mr P Jeavons
Sub
basement
Workshop
Mech
Eng
B.15B
30471
Mr Midhat Talibi
I.C. Engines area MPEB
B.02
30012
Wei Wu, Georgia
Preston
Maher,
Firas Iskandarani,
Elina
Koivisto,
John Calleya
4th floor 132 Hampstead Rd
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations, 1981 require adequate first aid provisions
for staff. The Department discharges these requirements by encouraging members of
staff to become first-aiders, and ensuring that there are adequate numbers of first-aiders
to cover all parts of the Department.
For guidance on the provision of first aid go to
Page 19
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/firstaid/index.htm
5.32 Gas Monitors and Detectors
Areas which are vulnerable to oxygen depletion or the build up of CO 2 require a monitor
to detect this. See item 5.12.
Should your work area require a monitor discuss the issue with the DSO.
5.33 Inspections
Within the Department varying levels of Health and Safety inspections are undertaken by
staff.
All Staff, as part of their daily business, should report any concern or breach of Safety
Policy and procedures to the Departmental Safety Officer immediately.
Supervisors: should make informal but frequent safety inspections of their area of
responsibility plus a formal and recorded inspection once per term accompanied by the
Departmental Safety Officer. Findings are to be submitted to the Departmental Safety
Officer.
The aims of all inspections are:
To identify hazardous situations and the need for risk control
To investigate concerns raised by other staff
For details and forms about workplace inspections go to the Safety Services website
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/inspection/index.htm
UCL Safety Services
Safety Audits will be undertaken by UCL Safety Services to monitor the implementation
of Safety Arrangements/Procedures, Department Safety Rules and record keeping.
The findings will be reported to the Head of Department and Departmental Safety
Officer; these will be discussed at the Departmental Safety Committee.
5.34 Inspection Testing and Maintenance of Engineered Safety Equipment
Annual testing of these devices are organised with Estates and Facilities and insurance
documents are kept by them and the DSO.
5.35 Laboratory Work
Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics, taking of medicines using inhalers etc in
laboratories is strictly prohibited. The use of laboratory equipment for the storage,
refrigeration, freezing, cooking or processing of food for human consumption is
forbidden. Large personal items, e.g. bicycles, must not be brought into the laboratory.
Laboratory coats or gowns must always be worn when working in the laboratory. When
appropriate, additional protective equipment (safety glasses, gloves, face masks,
goggles, plastic or absorbent aprons etc) must be worn. Laboratory coats should be
changed and laundered once a week or as specified by a risk assessment. For more
guidance see
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/laboratory/index.htm
Lasers
Please read Appendix II at the base of this document.
Page 20
Also more information can be found at the Safety
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/lasers/index.htm
Services
website
5.36 Lone Working
Please check the UCL rules on Lone working here
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/lone_working/index.htm
Lone working is defined as alone or out of earshot of others. This includes normal
working hours.
It is very undesirable; avoid it if at all possible. Written permission is required for lone
experimental working. The research supervisor must agree (or in his absence another
member of Department of Mechanical Engineering academic staff) and a form stating
place(s) and times of work, signed by the Head of Department or the supervisor should
be obtained from Mrs C Reisch or Mr P Kelly.
Note: For weekend working requests must be made no later than 12 noon on
Friday. NO PERMISSION WILL BE GIVEN AFTER THIS TIME. Requests for
weekday evenings should be made before 4.30pm. If you are not sure whether or not
you will need to work, please request a note anyway. It can always be destroyed if not
needed. Mr P Kelly must be notified if a note is not to be used.
In order to protect lone workers, the times of work must be subject to a prior risk
assessment, be narrowly defined and an arrangement must be made for the worker to
telephone a responsible person (their supervisor) within the times agreed, upon the
worker leaving College. Please note that no permissions exceeding two hours will be
allowed without an intermediate ‘phone out’.
Note for students and inexperienced members of staff, permission is required for any
lone working including desk work and work at computers. “Computers” do not include
computerised equipment which controls test rigs although the computer part of such
equipment may be used if it can stand alone.
5.37 Manual Handling
The Department policy on manual handling is designed to prevent any foreseeable injury
to a member of staff which is the result of manual handling of any load. All manual
handling accidents must be reported to the Departmental Safety Officer and an
investigation made and report drawn up.
It is mandatory to assess all manual handling tasks for risks and severe or manual
handling tasks with additional risks e.g. compressed gases, need to be formally
recorded.
The risk assessment should address the route, material, weight and person carrying out
the manual handling task.
Continuous handling of objects in a fixed position should be avoided. Mechanical aids
(trolleys) are provided where required and appropriate training, maintenance, etc, is
provided; the working environment is maintained to facilitate manual handling where
necessary; any manual handling task that requires special strength or fitness will be so
designated and only appropriate trained staff will carry out such handling.
During the UCL Session 08-09 several persons will be trained in Manual Handling and
the risk assessment of Manual Handling. During this time you should contact the DSO
for details of persons trained in Manual Handling.
Page 21
Heavy Equipment – Receipt & Movement
When ordering heavy equipment it is important to stipulate that delivery should be to the
room where the equipment is to be installed; if this is not possible appropriate
arrangements for its safe handling must be made in advance. Movement of heavy
equipment must be carried out in such a way as to avoid the risk of injury to anyone.
Notice must be given to the Departmental Safety Officer so that the route, maximum
weight in a lift, etc can be quantified.
Loading/Unloading
Where Department personnel are required to assist in the loading/unloading of
equipment, they may only do so subject to a full risk assessment being completed prior
to the task being carried out.
Any person that requires training in Manual Handling can request it from
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/manual_handling/index.htm
5.38 Noise
Initially any concerns should be referred to the Head of Unit, who will arrange, via the
DSO, for any areas of the Department where noise is considered to be a problem to be
monitored by UCL Safety Services.
The level at which the supervisor must assess the risk to workers' health and provide
them with information and training is 80 decibels.
The level at which employers must provided hearing protection and hearing protection
zones is 85 decibels (daily or weekly average exposure).. There is also an exposure limit
value of 87 decibels, taking account of any reduction in exposure provided by hearing
protection, above which workers must not be exposed.
Workshop equipment will have the noise level indicated in the manual.
Ear defenders should be used routinely when operating power hand drills, hand grinders
etc.
5.39 Non - ionising radiations
Microwave radiation may be harmful. Metal containers must not be used in microwave
areas, nor empty containers. Caps or covers should be loose fitting to prevent build-up
of pressure.
Any equipment containing a microwave device should be reported to Peter Kelly (Ext
32943).
5.4 Office Work
The department has a qualified office safety and risk assessment officer Miss C Reisch
ext. 33907.
Other
information
concerning
office
safety
can
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/offices/index.htm
be
found
at
5.5 Out of Hours Working
Out of hours is defined as
Monday to Friday 7pm-8.00am//Saturday and Sunday all day/Bank Holidays and
College closures all day.
Page 22
Out of hours work must have written permission from the research supervisor and is
subject to strict risk assessment. During the above times experimental work for paired
workers is permitted. Pairing consists of two or more people, not undergraduates,
working together at the same time in the same centre (the main building). Pairing must
be positive, i.e. each person should be concerned about the other’s safety, it must be
prearranged and neither person must leave the building for any reason without the other
person. For work over long periods, regular checking on the other person is essential.
In order to protect workers the times of work should be narrowly defined and an
arrangement must be made for the worker to telephone their supervisor within the times
agreed, upon the worker(s) leaving UCL.
The Risk Assessment for a particular project MUST address out of hours working.
Outside normal hours of work the following procedures MUST be followed.
If research students or research staff wish to conduct experimental work out of hours this
is subject to the research supervisor’s permission. At least one other person should be
present in the same laboratory. In cases where this is not possible, the research
supervisor shall approve the working procedures in writing. Such procedures should be
agreed in consultation with the Head of Department and the Departmental Safety Officer.
Members of staff and students should be aware of personal safety risks, e.g. the
possibility of assault. Where lone working is essential, the person involved should
discuss personal safety with the research supervisor, who shall put the procedures in
writing.
If any emergency occurs in during working hours (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6.00pm)
your first duty is to ensure the safety of all persons and report to the specified person.
Any abnormal functioning of equipment or other facilities should be reported to your
supervisor immediately.
Outside normal working hours, workers should make arrangements to telephone a
responsible person to ensure that they have not had an accident/incident in the period
for which permission was given. A reserved staff member should be called or the Front
Lodge should be contacted on Ext 32108 if a problem occurs.
Personal Security
Although UCL premises are relatively safe, there is always the possibility of assault,
including rape. Workers in the department out of hours should be especially aware of
this possibility and take whatever precautions are practical. For example it might be
advisable to work behind locked doors. Concerns about security should be discussed
with research supervisors. In the event of attack, potential attack or emergency, raise
help and call 222.
5.51 Permits to Work
Special permission is required for UCL Maintenance, cleaning work or contractors in
certain restricted areas e.g. laboratories, workshops and also when working with
particularly hazardous tools e.g. brazing torches. A ‘permit to work’ must be signed by
the designated individual responsible for that area, before any work can begin.
5.52 Personal Protective Equipment
The necessary personal protective equipment for the work activity must be identified by
the risk assessment process. In any laboratory, laboratory coats, protective glasses and
gloves must always be worn when either carrying out work with chemicals or when in the
vicinity of somebody else who is working with them. Other protective equipment may be
Page 23
identified as necessary by the risk assessment e.g. a full face shield, or cryo-gloves for
use when decanting liquid nitrogen.
Anybody who does not already have safety spectacles or needs a new lab-coat should
contact the Departmental Safety Officer.
Further guidance can be found at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/ppe/index.htm
5.53 Placements
Please refer to
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/placements/index.htm
5.54 Pregnant Workers
Pregnant workers Full UCL Policy on pregnant workers can be found at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/pregnant_workers/index.htm
5.55 Purchasing Arrangements
Equipment
Items should only be purchased from reputable suppliers.
When equipment is purchased the person authorising the order is responsible for:
(a)
ensuring the equipment meets requisite standards;
and
(b)
advising the Departmental Safety Officer that new equipment is being purchased
and the possible need for adequate access, floor loading, power and water supplies,
alterations, maintenance etc. It should be specified on the order that heavy equipment is
to be delivered to its place of use and properly installed.
Items for equipment not belonging to or leased by the Departmental may only be brought
onto the premises with the prior approval of the Head of Department who has a duty to
ensure that it conforms with current safety legislation.
Chemical Agents
Persons authorised to order chemical agents must ensure there are facilities adequate
for both storage, use and spillage.
5.56 Record Keeping
The Departmental Safety Officer will keep records of The Departmental Safety Officer
will keep records of:
accidents and investigations
risk assessments
information issued to staff and students
safety training
minutes of Safety Committee meetings
inspections and audits
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/management/records.pdf
Supervisors will collate copies or records of risk assessments.
Page 24
5.57 Review of Safety Management arrangements
These Arrangements for Safe Working are reviewed annually by the Head of Department
and the Departmental Safety Officer. These Arrangements will be reviewed sooner
should an accident or change in legislation occur or if prompted by UCL Safety Services.
5.58 Risk Assessment
UCL policy requires the Head of Department to be responsible for ensuring that suitable
and sufficient assessments of the risks created by the work conducted by the
Department are carried out before the work is started.
The Department has a duty of care to all categories of people, employees, students,
visitors and to members of the public who could be affected by the Department’s
activities. To discharge that duty of care the Head of Department requires the level of
supervision of Departmental activities that is sufficiently high to ensure that no-one is
exposed to risks to their health or safety.
In accordance with UCL policy Unit Managers, Research Group Leaders and other
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring:
Risk assessment of any work under their control is undertaken, that their assessments
are “suitable and sufficient”, implement the necessary control measures, ensure that the
work is carried out in accordance with the procedure envisaged in those assessments,
and that the requirements of the risk assessment are brought to the attention of those
involved in the work.
For the risk assessment to be suitable and sufficient the research group leader must
ensure that existing departmental codes of practice are appropriate for the work involved
in the project and ensure that the risk will be controlled adequately. If this is not the case
additional Codes of Practice will have to be written, and the assistance of the
Departmental Safety Officer should be sought.
Factors which must be taken into account include the degree hazard of the process
and/or the materials used, how adequate the facilities are, how well established (routine)
the procedures are and how experienced the particular individual is in relation to that
particular kind of work (distinction in some other field of activity is no assurance of
competence in an unfamiliar activity).
Unit Managers, Group Leaders or Supervisors therefore must not conduct work that has
not been assessed and must ensure that those involved in the work are given guidance
and training in how to comply with the measures identified in assessment. The
completed risk assessment form must be signed by the research group leader or other
supervisor, dated and given a date for review, which must be within one year of the initial
assessment.
A copy should be given to the Departmental Safety Officer; the DSO is responsible for
collating risk assessments produced within the Department and advising the Head of
Department on the state of compliance with UCL Policy in the Department. It is not the
responsibility of the Departmental Safety Officer to produce risk assessments for other
members of staff although they should provide or arrange whatever advice may be
needed.
For a list of UCL Risk Assessment forms go to
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/risk_assessment/index.htm
UCL Passwords are necessary
UCL Safety Services will give advice on:
Page 25
•
Carrying out a Risk Assessment
•
Recommended format for a Risk Assessment form
•
Completing a Risk Assessment form
Risk Assessment of Undergraduate experiments
For this form please see Departmental Safety Officer or collect a form from the
Departmental Office.
Joint projects with other Departments or organisations can only take place after risk
assessments have been carried out.
5.59 Safety Committee
The Departmental Safety, Security & Laboratory Committee shall consist of appointed
members of staff. See
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/management/index.htm
The Chairperson and all members of the Committee shall be formally appointed by the
Head of Department.
Others may be invited to attend the Committee meeting at the discretion of the
Chairperson.
Current members of the committee are:
Professor N Ladommatos
Mr P Kelly
Dr R Balachandran
Professor M Edirisinghe
Dr R Bucknall
Chairperson
Departmental Safety Officer
Laser Safety Officer
BioMechanical Engineering
Electronics Laboratory
Fluids Laboratory
Dr P Fromme
Ultrasonic’s Laboratory
Miss S Hutt
Departmental Administrator
Mr M Iline
Systems Network Manager
Mr Brian Kavanagh
Representative of UCL Safety Services
The Committee shall consider and discuss relevant Health, Safety and Welfare issues
brought to its attention by:
The Head of Department
Heads of Units
Individual Committee members
The Departmental Safety Officer
UCL Safety Services
Employee/Trade Union Safety Representatives (if applicable)
Supervisors
Individual members of staff (only after discussion with Supervisor and/or Departmental
Safety Officer)
Accident/Incident Reports
Page 26
The Committee Chairperson has the authority to take appropriate management action
with regard to Committee recommendations.
Committee members shall:
Consider and make recommendations about items.
Consider and make recommendations about reports of accidents and incidents
Give advice only within their field of expertise/competence
Consider and make recommendations about changes and improvements to the
Departmental Safety Arrangements
Assist in the implementation of UCL Safety Policy
Review Safety Procedures
5.6 Safety Policy Distribution and Display
The Departmental Safety Policy is displayed on notice boards locally within each Unit.
Staff will be sent a copy of the Safety Arrangements by the Departmental Safety Officer
after each major revision. New staff will be given a copy by the Departmental Safety
Officer on taking up employment.
Local Safety Arrangements and Procedures are located in laboratories and offices, as
appropriate.
5.61 Safety Training
All new UCL staff, graduate research students, including contractors and visitors (the
Inductee), undertaking work at UCL for more than ten days must receive local safety
induction and, it is the responsibility of the line manager or supervisor of the
Inductee to ensure the completion of the safety induction process.
As part of UCL Policy for Induction and Probation, local information including instructions
regarding emergency evacuation arrangements for the building(s) in which the inductee
is based, fire safety, first aid and reporting accidents and hazards must be covered on
the FIRST DAY of starting at UCL
Safety Induction will comprise of two elements:
1.
Local safety induction carried out by the line manager/supervisor and/or local staff,
starting with the Fire Safety and Local Familiarisation.
2.
Safety Services’ one-hour induction dealing with safety matter that apply to and
affect all staff, such as roles and responsibilities and the management of safety risk and
risk reduction
New starters must complete their local safety induction prior to attending the Safety
Induction provided by Safety Services, after which, a formal record of completion of the
UCL Safety Induction training will be held in the UCL training record system and, the
individual can view their own training record at the UCL Learning Event Recording
System (LERS) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/induction/index.htm
Page 27
In order to ensure consistent approach to local safety induction across the
university a new UCL Local Safety Induction Standard Checklist and Guidance
document must be completed for each new starter. The Checklist can be
downloaded
from
the
Safety
Services
web
page
at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/induction/index.htm
The Departmental safety Officer should be informed of all safety training within the
Department to keep on record.
5.62 Shared Workplaces
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 require that where two
or more employers share a workplace (either on a permanent or temporary basis), all
involved have to co-operate and co-ordinate their activities to ensure that all their health
and safety obligations are met.
Arrangements detailing the agreed procedures for managing health and safety in the
shared workplace should be documented. The guidance and forms to record safe
practices in shared projects can be found at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/management/index.htm
These forms must be completed by the Supervisor and returned to the Departmental
Safety Officer.
5.63 Signage
The Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989 require employers to
display a poster telling employees what they need to know about health and safety. The
poster must be displayed in a prominent position in each workplace and include details
of trade union or other safety reps and departmental safety personnel.
There are Health and Safety at Law posters in the Roberts Building on the fourth floor
outside the Administration office, in the Mechanical Engineering workshop on the sub
basement.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/efd/safety_services_www/guidance/management/poster.pdf
Additionally entry doors to laboratory and workshop areas must display appropriate
hazard warning signs.
5.64 Slips, Trips and Falls
All staff in the department are asked to keep all areas free from obstacles and clutter.
Other areas or projects in the department which might cause concern about this should
have risk assessments prepared and stored with the DSO.
Any staff that are concerned about obstacles can report them to the Departmental
Superintendent ext. 32943.
Soldering and Welding
See Appendix I
5.65 Spill Procedures
As identified by risk assessment, chemicals, liquids and gases must be stored and
handled in small quantities that can easily be contained in the event of a spill. The
supplier’s data sheet must be consulted as part of the risk assessment and be available
to users.
Page 28
The Department classifies hazardous spills of chemical material into three categories
depending of the magnitude of the hazard posed by the spill:
Unit Response: A spill of a magnitude and nature that might reasonably be expected as
a result of typical laboratory work of the unit. Such procedures should be addressed by
the Project risk assessment of the work undertaken. It is expected that the department
will clean up such a spill so long as the material does not pose sufficient respiratory
hazard to require the use of respiratory protective equipment or personal risk.
In the event of a spill, the spillage, where possible, should be contained immediately and
any waste resulting from the spillage be properly disposed of by authorised persons.
The situation should be assessed and any hazards recognised before further action is
taken. It is important that the appropriate personal protective equipment is worn during
this operation.
UCL Hazardous Waste Services (Extension 37001): A spill involving either a larger
quantity of material than the department is able to cope with or one which poses a
significant respiratory hazard.
Response by the Fire Brigade or an Outside Agency: Any spill that poses an
immediate threat to any individuals or that is of a magnitude or hazard such that the
Departmental Safety Officer and UCL Safety Office consider it beyond the Department’s
means to safely or adequately control.
If the situation is regarded as hazardous, and especially if toxic or hazardous fumes are
being given off, the area should be evacuated and emergency procedures instigated.
If advice is required on a chemical spillage, it can be obtained from the Technical Control
Department at Cleanaway, Telephone No: 01277 234567. The company will send a
chemist to clear a spill if the situation requires it.
5.66 Storage
All storage areas must be appropriate for their designated purpose, e.g. radiation, gas,
flammables. All items within these stores, especially waste not in its original container,
must be clearly labelled to show contents and ownership.
Large personal items e.g. bicycles, must not be brought into laboratories, any communal
office corridors or areas which form part of a means of escape.
Heavy items must not be stored at height, but preferably at waist level. Ladders/steps
etc must be available to access items stored at height.
5.67 Substances
Refer to Chemicals and Carcinogens etc, see Safety Services website at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/substances/index.htm
5.68 Supervision
(i)
Supervision and training of postgraduate students (and junior or relatively
inexperienced staff).
Although qualifications may give an indication of the level of competence which may be
expected they are also, notoriously misleading in this respect: Only direct observation of
an individual’s work will give any reasonable reliable guide to competence. Therefore
close supervision at the initial stages of an individual’s work is essential. This initial
period of assessment should be the basis of determining the subsequent level of
supervision. It is essential at this point to establish some formal arrangements for
Page 29
supervision in the event of absence of the primary supervisor. If the level of competence
of a worker is found to be inadequate he/she must be trained to the required level.
(ii)
Supervision of work carried out by staff and experienced research workers
Supervision in this context means essentially management control of the potential risks,
because even with experienced workers, the Department still has a responsibility to
ensure that the question of risk is seriously addressed by the people concerned. The
framework for this is provided by these Arrangements for Safe Working and Risk
Assessment of each individual project.
Students are the responsibility of their Project Supervisor or Laboratory Demonstrator
who must ensure that the student is instructed in what to do in the event of fire, or other
emergency, and given the necessary training they need in order to carry out the
work/project required of them. In the case of disabled students (or members of staff)
their needs and any special arrangements must be assessed on an individual basis, by
their supervisor and the DRO.
It is UCL Policy that all Supervisors are required to adequately supervise the work of
staff, student and visitors under them or in their care/control. This will include, but is not
limited to, discussion of the work to be done, the materials and methods to be used,
health, safety and emergency procedures, waste disposal etc. Supervisors are
responsible for risk assessment of all work activities under their control.
It is the duty of the Head of Department to appoint competent supervisors in order to
ensure that Department work is always undertaken with a level of supervision
appropriate to the work.
The requirements for supervision extend to all work (academic, technical and
clerical/administrative) carried out inside or outside the Department by staff, students and
visitors.
Supervisors exercise authority on behalf of the Head of Department to ensure that work
under their supervision is carried out in accordance with any Department or local Codes
of Practice, in order to control risk identified in their risk assessments.
The competence of those appointed as Supervisors is derived from their possession of
sufficient skills, knowledge and experience of the work which they are required to
supervise and the personal skills necessary to promote active co-operation within the
group.
Supervisors must ensure that the working practices of those under supervision do not fall
below the standard required by the Department by regularly monitoring their work and
providing such information, instruction and training as is required to perform tasks safely
and to promote the competence of those under supervision. This may be achieved
largely by on-the-job coaching in addition to sending people on formal training courses.
The level of supervision required must be commensurate with and take into account the
circumstances of the work and the competence of those under supervision. In deciding
this, the following factors must be taken into account:
age and experience
people working alone or out of normal hours
risk (based on the risk assessment)
those engaged on tasks where failure has critical implications for health and safety
introduction of new materials, equipment or methodologies
Page 30
preparing and packaging materials for transport outside the Department
5.69 Unattended or Overnight Processes
Unattended/overnight experiments must only be carried out with the express permission
of the Supervisor, and after a full Risk Assessment has been carried out.
Any experiment that is to run unattended for an extended period must first be discussed
with the supervisor, and the appropriate senior members of the technical staff informed:
the supervisor or academic staff user is responsible for checking that it is safe to leave
the apparatus unattended.
Apparatus left running unattended for long periods, especially overnight, should
incorporate “fail-safe” features, so that a failure in one of the controls e.g. of the cooling
water supply, the gas pressure, the electric power or the thermostat control, will not result
in the development of a hazardous condition.
When it is essential for apparatus to run unattended, a standard printed notice
“APPARATUS WORKING - LEAVE ON” must be mounted on the access door to the
room in which the apparatus is located, and a contact name and telephone number
displayed near/on the apparatus.
5.70 Vacating UCL Premises
All staff and students should be aware of the UCL Policy regarding leaving UCL, this can
be found on the Safety Services website at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/vacating_areas/index.htm
5.71 Violence
All incidents involving violence or potential violence must be reported verbally or via an
incident/accident report form to your Supervisor who will inform the Head of Department.
For immediate assistance call Extension 222.
5.72 Visitors and Members of the Public
All visitors and members of the public must be instructed to report to the reception desk,
Roberts Building. Whilst on the premises they are the responsibility of their host who will
instruct them on emergency procedures and other arrangements appropriate to the
nature and duration of their visit.
5.73 Waste Management
Head of Departments are responsible for ensuring compliance with the UCL policy for
waste disposal. See www.ucl.ac.uk/efd/cleaningandwaste/
•
records must be kept by the Departmental Safety Officer to provide an audit trail
for hazardous waste.
•
hazardous waste must not be accumulated in storage areas
•
no hazardous waste must be discharged to the sewerage system
•
solvent waste must be stored in an appropriate manner
All workplaces must be kept clean and tidy.
Page 31
All waste will be disposed of as recyclable or domestic waste.
All ‘Sharps’ must be placed in specially designed containers for disposal. Glass should
be packed in a cardboard box and securely sealed before disposal. The Departmental
Superintendent has a key for disposal of Sharps and other clinical waste and will
accompany individuals in the safe disposal of these items. Please separate regular
waste from clinical waste.
The disposal of chemicals, large or heavy items or waste solvents should be organised
through the Departmental Safety Officer, Peter Kelly, in conjunction with UCL Hazardous
Waste Operator, Sue Denyer MITIE Waste and Environmental 07552 210387
5.74 Working at Heights
Only good condition ladders or step stools should be used for routine access to high
areas within the building. More information and training with this can be found at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/heights/index.htm
Workshops
See Appendix I
5.8
Young Persons
See http://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/safetynet/guidance/young_people/index.htm
Page 32
6.
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I
Mechanical Engineering Workshops Code of Practice
General
No Students are allowed to use the machinery in the workshop. They must be
supervised at all times and are allowed to use basic hand tools. All undergraduate
students working in adjoining workshops must not work alone and must register in and
out of the registration book in the DSO’s office.
Entry to a workshop and use of the facilities without the permission of the person in
charge or his deputy is strictly forbidden. The person in charge of a workshop is
responsible for ensuring that all the required safety equipment is available and that all
persons granted permission to use the facilities are adequately conversant with safe
operation of the equipment and machinery. The user must also be warned of any
special hazards and must be instructed in the requirement for and correct use of the
machine guards and other safety equipment. He/she must be warned not to use
machinery and equipment without the safety apparatus.
All workshop users must keep the workshop in a clean and tidy condition replacing tools
and equipment immediately after use, and removing swarf and filings as soon as
possible - only the material and the required tools should be to hand. Tools are not
permitted in machine beds while the machine is running. Nothing should be stored on
the floor where a tripping hazard may be created and any spillages must be cleaned up
immediately. Metal waste bins are provided. All situations that might cause an accident
must be reported, e.g. breakages in tools and machinery, faulty wiring, worn or defective
equipment, and unsatisfactory storage arrangements.
Each member of the permanent workshop staff must be issued with a personal pair of
safety spectacles or goggles which they should keep with them at all times. Safety
spectacles or goggles must be worn when using machinery or in hazardous situations,
where the eyes might be endangered by flying chips, swarf, turnings, coolant splashes,
etc. Most workshops are best designated as "eye protection" areas and eye protection
should be made available to (and be worn by) visitors to the area. If eye injuries do
occur, qualified medical assistance (i.e. hospital, doctors etc) should be sought.
Barrier and cleansing creams are available in all workshops and workshop personnel are
recommended to use barrier creams on their hands before starting work. Solvents
should not be used to remove oil from the hands as this can cause dermatitis. Long hair
and loose articles of clothing that could be caught in moving machinery must be secured.
Every workshop has a first aid box for dealing with minor injuries and its use should be
duly recorded using Accident/Incident forms available from the Intranet.
Proper racking facilities are provided for the storage of sheet materials, rods, bars, etc.
Vertical racking can be dangerous unless a safety chain or bar is used. In horizontal
racking, accidental contact with the protruding ends of rods and the sharp corners of
sheet materials should be prevented.
Hand tools can cause injuries unless they are kept in good shape, used properly and
stored safely and tidily. The correct tool should always be used for the job. Tool handles
and shafts must be kept in good condition. A file must never be used without a handle.
Hammer heads should firmly attached to their shafts and the heads of cold chisels and
punches must either be ground down or replaced, beaten-down mushroom shaped
heads are very dangerous.
Page 33
The edges of cutting tools should be kept sharp and protected when not in use. Sharp
edged tools should not be carried in pockets. Tools should always be stored in a safe
place and in a tidy manner. Worn or damaged tools should be replaced immediately.
All workshop machinery has its own safety devices and these must not be removed
except under the direct supervision of the person in charge of the workshop. Guards and
similar devices may be swung out of the way only to make adjustments or
measurements. Running a machine with its guards out of position is seldom justifiable
and is often highly dangerous, even under the control of a skilled technician. Stock
guards should always be used for parts of material projecting behind lathes. When
changing tools, cuttings, etc the machine must always be isolated electrically.
Every machine shop has a fair amount of electrical equipment and this must always be
kept in good condition. Defects in the equipment must be reported and repairs
carried out by qualified staff. Loose cables should be kept off the floor as far as
possible and certainly out of the circulation areas. Appliances should be disconnected
when not in use. Machinery should be switched off when not in use.
There is a requirement to provide local and specialised extraction facilities on some
types of workshop machinery. Such ventilation must be satisfactorily maintained to
ensure that an unacceptable concentration of contaminant cannot build up in the
workshop atmosphere.
Under the WOODWORKING REGULATIONS minimum standards for the fencing and
guarding of woodworking machines in all premises, places of work etc are laid down.
Woodworking machines are defined in the Regulations and the statutory requirements
for the provision and construction of guards is given. Where woodworking machinery is
in use, part of the Woodworking Regulations must be displayed, with respect to the
mandatory use of guards and that only trained personnel may operate the machinery.
Special rules govern young persons under the age of eighteen.
A summary of the ABRASIVE WHEELS REGULATIONS are displayed in every work
room in which grinding or cutting by means of an Abrasive Wheel is carried out. The
notice must be displayed in a prominent position (preferably adjacent to the abrasive
wheel) so that it may easily be read by people operating any such abrasive wheel.
Only suitably qualified personnel are allowed to set up and dress an Abrasive Wheel.
The following are amongst the requirements which must be followed. The adjustable
guard must be as close as possible to the face of the wheel, and the wheel must be
evenly dressed. The side of a straight sided wheel should never be used for grinding.
The wheel should be checked to ensure that it is the correct type for the work being
done. Goggles should be used and the eye shields fitted to the machine must be clean
and properly adjusted. Under no circumstances must the maximum operating speed of
wheels be exceeded. The machine should be stopped when it is not being used. If any
defect or uneven running is detected, the machine should be switched off and the
Workshop Superintendent notified.
EYE PROTECTION SIGNS must be displayed, eye injuries are a foreseeable hazard in
the workshop and such signs reinforce the legal requirements for the provision and use
of eye protection.
Abrasive Wheels
The supervisors of all areas where abrasive wheels are located must give permission to
persons wishing to use the abrasive wheels before use. (This includes the use of
Page 34
portable hand grinders). The Supervisor is also responsible for ensuring that the wheel
is set up correctly before use.
Mounting Periphery Wheels
Only qualified personnel are authorised to mount grinding wheels. (The Abrasive Wheel
Regulations 1970). Personnel must have attended an Abrasive Wheel Course and
obtained a Certificate of Competence before being allowed to set up an Abrasive Wheel.
It must be borne in mind that the wheel must be provided with adequate guards. A fixed
guard covering the major part of the wheel, with additional adjustable guarding to leave
exposed only the portion of wheel in use. The guards should be able to withstand the
impact of pieces of a broken wheel.
Lathes
One of the main hazards in the use of lathes, is the risk of entanglement of hair and
clothing (or jewellery) in the rotating parts of the machine another being the entrapment
of hands in a similar manner. In normal operation there should be a guard over the
cutting area. Chuck keys must be removed before operating the machinery. Always use
a rake to remove swarf from a stationary machine. Swarf must not be allowed to come
into contact with the skin. Never use polishing sticks. The stock bar must be adequately
guarded for the whole length, including the section nearest the machine. The chuck or
faceplate must be put on with the machine stationary (switched off) similarly the clamping
of the work, toolholder and tailstock is made before the machine is switched on.
Changing gears should only be done with the lathe switched off. A wrench should not be
used on moving machinery and the tool or wrench removed from the chuck before
switching on.
Machining
It is the responsibility of the person about to use the machinery not to commence unless
the safety equipment is in position. They must not interfere with it and, if the equipment
fails to function correctly or loses its effectiveness, operations should cease and the
matter be drawn immediately to the attention of the person in charge. Every part of the
transmission machinery shall be securely fenced unless it is in such a position or of such
construction as to be safe to every person employed or working on the premises as it
would be if securely fenced.
Every dangerous part of any machinery other than prime movers and transmission
machinery shall be securely fenced unless it is in such a position or of such construction
etc (see 4 above).
In so far as the safety of a dangerous part of any machinery cannot, by reason of the
nature of the operation be secured by means of fixed guard, you must use a device
which automatically prevents the operator from coming into contact with that part.
Any part of a stock-bar which projects beyond the head-stock of a lathe shall be securely
fenced unless it is in such a position as to be safe to every person employed or working
on the premises as it should if securely fenced.
All operating switches, levers etc., must be within easy reach of the operating position. A
foot operated STOP switch should be available if appropriate. Isolator switches on the
wall to cut power off to the whole shop should also be provided. Machines should not be
left running unattended, when not in use. To prevent unauthorised personnel from
switching on and using machinery, a system of being able to lock the operational
switches (in the off position) is recommended.
Page 35
All plant and workshop equipment is regarded as dangerous and must only be used by
authorised persons subject to Permit to Work where necessary.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring all personnel under their supervision are
instructed and competent to use any equipment or restricting the use of equipment to
those who are competent.
Milling Machines
The arbor mating surfaces must be kept clean and free from grit. The arbor collars and
the locating faces of the milling cutter too should be kept clean to avoid metal particles
becoming embedded in them, when set up in the arbor. The arbor drive keys should be
well fitting and be replaced when they show signs of wear, otherwise distortion of the key
ways can result and this may result in a backlash during a cutting operation and this in
turn would lead to some of the cutter teeth breaking or possible disintegration of the
cutter.
When engaging automatic feeds a check must be made to ensure that the table
traversing handle has been disengaged. Modern milling machines generally have a
feature so that a positive action has to be made to engage the machine table so as to
traverse it by hand.
In older machines, the handle can be engaged when the automatic feed is switched on,
so that the handle will start to revolve and this could be a possible hazard to the
operator. It must be ensured that the soluble oil feed spout is directed downwards to the
work place.
Both the vertical and horizontal machines must not be used without an efficient cutter
guard and it is important always to use safety limit stops. It should be ascertained that
the cutters are running in the right direction. Stop the cutter spindle whenever it is not
actually cutting. The machine should be isolated when changing the arbor or cutter. The
arbor must not be loosened while the machine is running; the motor must be switched off
first. The chips or metal swarf should always be removed using a brush.
One should never reach close to the rotating cutter, and as is common with any revolving
machinery, loose or flapping clothing should not be worn and long hair tied back behind
the shoulders, or held in place with suitable head gear, sleeves should be tight fitting at
the wrist and gloves should not be worn. The work piece must be fixed in a balanced
position on the table, and if a robust vice is used it should be securely attached to the
machine table.
On the occasions when using a gear driven dividing head it is important that the cover is
replaced after setting the train of gears. Knee braces must always be used when
necessary.
Grinding Machines
It is of utmost important that all mating parts of the driving spindles are clean and free
from grit. Since the grinding wheels have a high peripheral speed to ensure great
accuracy, the wheels must be balanced correctly before placing on the machine spindle,
and inspected for flaws to ensure that they are not cracked. If a cracked wheel is found
it must be broken up immediately to prevent it from being put back into stock. Wheels
must not be run out of balance on a grinding machine. Grinding wheels may have
gouges which should be dressed down. Holding the work piece is very similar to using a
milling machine. Magnetic tables are in common usage and should be large enough to
make sure that there is no work overhanging. Obviously non ferrous work cannot be
carried out on a magnetic table.
Page 36
When using magnetic blocks to hold components it is essential to ensure that the
magnets are switched on and that the work cannot be moved by hand. Operators must
not have their hands on the machine when the table is auto-traversing; there is the
danger of injury from the reversing dogs. A hinged cover should be fitted over the
reversing dogs.
Drilling Machines
Injuries have resulted from:

Hair entanglement by revolving spindles, chucks and drills

Entanglement of loose clothing, (gloves, sleeves etc), bandages, jewellery around
the point of the drill.

Inadequate clamping of the work piece, causing violent spinning and ejection of
the sample.

Trapping in inadequately guarded pulleys, belts i.e. V-belts

Flying parts of a broken drill.

Ejection of the chuck-key which has been inadvertently left in the chuck.
There are drill guards available to cover almost any situation
The most important requirements for guarding machinery is that the guards should be
capable of being put in the proper position and quickly adjusted, and that do not impede
the view the operator has of the work-piece. The operator must be properly instructed in
the setting up of the guards, and it is mandatory that guards be used.
Drilling machines should not be used unless there is an effective guard over the chuck
and spindle. Self-adjusting guards are preferable. No part of the chuck, spindle or drive
which can be seen revolving should be left unguarded. It is said that guarding the drill
itself is not practicable since it would obscure the view of the piece being drilled, slow
down the process of changing the drill, or slow down the work in progress. However,
many accidents occur when the drill is at its top-most position, and the operator is either
removing the completed work-piece of securing the next one.
Telescopic transparent guards are available that extend below the drill point and track
down towards the work-piece, telescoping on the base-board as the drill descends. The
chuck-key should be removed from the chuck before starting the machine. The taper
drive of the machine spindle must be kept clean and free from score marks. The correct
taper shank must be used and it too must be clean and free from burrs. The tang of the
taper shanks should not be permitted to burr over. If the machine has no column rack, a
safety collar stop must be provided to prevent the table from crashing down, when the
table is loosened to adjust its position. It must be ensured that the gear and feed
mechanism are properly enclosed. Spindles and chucks must not be stopped by hand
after the machine has been switched off.
It is highly dangerous to reach around any drill while it is revolving. It is most important
that no loose of flapping clothing be worn while working on machinery: long hair should
be tied back (or headgear worn), neckties tucked in or removed, sleeves should be close
fitting at the wrists, gloves should not be worn (or bandages) and finger rings and other
jewellery be taken off. Only properly sharpened drills must be used and they should be
seen to be running true. To prevent drill breakage do not force feed or feed too fast.
If the drill should stop in the work, the machine must be stopped and the drill freed by
hand. If swarf forms, the machine must be switched off and the swarf removed by hand,
wearing protective gloves for this operation. The work piece must be securely clamped
Page 37
every time so as to prevent injury from a violently revolving sample with the likelihood of
it being ejected with force. A foot operated cut-out switch is recommended for stopping
the machine.
Polishing Heads
Combined polisher-grinders are not to be recommended and a grinding wheel should not
be located on the same spindle end as a polishing mop. Polishing and buffing use
basically the same machine, and a small off-hand grinder could be easily converted,
using a left and right-hand spiral threaded spindle sleeve onto which felt or linen mops
can be threaded. Large wide-faced mops will produce a considerable grip on the work
piece and should be avoided. A double headed machine should not be used by two
operators at the same time.
Mops outside the range recommended by the manufacturer should not be used. Wirebrush diameters should be a minimum. Any exposed part of the spindle and spindleends must be guarded. Spindle-end covers and sleeve type guards are recommended.
A face shield or safety glasses must be worn during buffing operations. Tight fitting
overalls, and long hair tied back or otherwise protected, must be insisted on, the danger
of entanglement with a fast rotating mop is considerable.
Woodworking Machinery
Woodworking machines are some of the most dangerous machines in workshops. This
is because of the high cutting speeds required and also because it is not possible to
enclose the cutting tools at the point of operation, while the work is in progress. They are
subject to stringent Safety Regulations which must be strictly observed.
Narrow Band Sawing Machines
The narrow band sawing machine should be so guarded that only the cutting blade is
unguarded. All moving parts other than the cutting portion must be enclosed.
Samples to be cut must be put in using a push-stick, so that fingers are kept away from
the cutting blade. The machine must be kept in good condition and the anti-friction disc
or roller must be seen to be free. Guards must be strong enough to contain broken
blades.
Planing/Thicknessing Machines
A hand fed surface planing machine has a circular cutter block which must be protected
by a “bridge” guard set centrally over the axis of the cutter block. The guard should be
adjusted either vertically or horizontally, to leave the necessary working clearance, (i.e.
not more than 10mm with the wood). Accidents are few and slight when the bridge
guards are correctly set; with machines having a cutter block over 225mm (9”)
sectionalised guards should be used.
Moulding Machines
High speed routers, vertical spindle. The cutting tool is fitted to vertical spindle projecting
through a hole in the machine table. The use of guards and secure handling of the wood
is essential. The cutter must be enclosed as far as is possible. The wood must be held
in a holder or jig whenever possible.
Telescopic guards which project below the cutter when the head is raised, provide
effective means of guarding. The telescopic guard moves up as the head moves down.
One-off jobs and machining small components may make guarding impracticable; one
must then consider using a push-stick or any other device to keep the operator’s hand
away from the cutting edge. Never sweep away waste from the table by hand, a long
handled brush is advised.
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Circular Saws
The top guard has to cover most of the periphery of the saw blade above the bench
table. To it must be attached an adjustable front flange, which must be kept adjusted to
the size of work in hand. The flange must be easily and quickly adjustable to
accommodate the differing thicknesses of work being cut. The more of the saw blade
that is exposed, the greater the risk of coming into contact with it.
A riving knife at the rear of the saw will prevent the timber being cut from closing up over
the rear of the saw and being thrown forward with the saw’s momentum. It must be
firmly fixed in position, following the curve of the blade as closely as possible, not more
than half an inch from the teeth of the saw at bench level.
NOTE
Deposits of gum or resin near the teeth may cause the saw to stall, or the timber to stick.
The machine must be stopped and the deposit removed with a proper scraper. NEVER
TRY TO CLEAN A RUNNING BLADE.
Dull or badly sharpened blades should be sent away for sharpening.
Never use hands to sweep away sawdust near the saw, use a push-stick to remove cut
pieces from between the saw and fence.
All safety precautions must be observed, all guards must be in position, even for one-off
sawing. Use a push-stick whenever the end of the work piece is near the saw blade.
Circular saws must be kept clean, with all slides, pivots and bearings well lubricated.
Automatic guards and extension pieces must be kept properly adjusted and operational.
The guards are only effective if kept properly adjusted.
Woodworking Machine Regulations lay down the minimum standards for the fencing and
guarding of woodworking machines and no person may be set to work on any
woodworking machine unless he/she has received suitable and sufficient training and
instruction both in the correct use of the machine itself and also the method of using
guards etc as laid down by the Regulations.
Dust/chip extraction equipment is recommended for woodworking machinery.
Lifting Equipment
Care must be taken in the operation of the overhead cranes and slings. They should be
operated only by personnel experienced in their use and maximum loadings should
never be exceeded. Safety helmets should be worn at all times.
The right kind of a sling must be used for the job. The safe working load marked on the
sling must not be exceeded: if it is not marked, the person in charge should be
consulted. The sling, including splices, rings and thimbles, must be maintained in good
condition. There must be no broken ends in wires, no chafe on fibre ropes. The sling
should be adjusted properly on the load. Proper signals need to be employed. The sling
should be returned to store after use.
No one should stand beneath a load.
Overhead cranes and slings etc are inspected by our insurance company annually, but
users should constantly visually inspect for wear, damage or malfunction and report any
defects to Peter Kelly who holds the Inspection records.
Soldering and Welding
Persons undertaking soldering should be aware of the associated risks, e.g. lead,
colophony etc.
Page 39
Welding (Gas & Arc)
Welding and brazing by any process must be undertaken only by persons competent in
the necessary operational techniques and safety requirements.
The working areas must be kept tidy and free from flammable materials. When cutting,
care should be exercised to ensure that the detached portion cannot fall and cause
personal injury. The welding area must be adequately ventilated during cutting and
welding operations and ventilation equipment must always be fully maintained.
Appropriate protective clothing must be worn. Goggles and lenses of an approved tint, a
helmet to protect the head from ultra-violet radiation, leather gloves or gauntlets, and a
long leather apron should be worn at all times. Additionally, spats should be available for
cutting-off operations.
Defective regulators must not be used. Adequate screening should be employed to
protect other people from the welding hazards.
When gas welding, hoses should not be allowed to rest on sharp edges, become trapped
or get in a position where the flow gas can be obstructed. (N B Acetylene and
combustible gases require the use of red hose, and oxygen, blue hoses). Hoses should
be kept away from heat sources. A notice giving the supplier's procedure for lighting up
and operation, together with the action to be adopted in the event of a blowback or other
incident that could result in the cylinder becoming overheated, could usefully be
displayed on the equipment or in the area.
In the case of electric welding equipment, the leads and earth connections should be
regularly examined. An insulated electrode holder must always be used and care must
be exercised to ensure that there is no overheating.
Tanks, vessels or drums that have contained flammable or toxic
materials must never be welded without prior consultation with the
Departmental Safety Officer - special precautions are essential.
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APPENDIX II
Safe use of Lasers
The Departmental Laser Safety Officer is Dr R Balachandran.
1.
All lasers are potentially dangerous. Laser radiation can be harmful to the body
and can cause permanent eye damage. The output energy of a laser is concentrated
into a beam of very small cross-section.
2.
Strict regulations exist governing the operation of lasers within the College.
3.
The experimenter is primarily responsible for safety and must consult Dr R
Balachandran the Laser Safety Adviser (Tel: 37668), before planning any experiment
involving a laser.
4.
The UCL Laser Safety Adviser (Tel: 53030) should be contacted in an emergency,
or for advice.
5.
No laser work must be undertaken without the written permission of the Laser
Safety Officer.
6.
Only authorised personnel are allowed to operate laser equipment or enter the
area in which equipment is in use.
7.
All experimenters must read and understand the College Policy Statement on the
Use of Lasers. They must adhere strictly to the operating instructions relating to the use
of lasers.
8.
Protective goggles must be worn as specified in the operating instructions.
9.
Hazardous operations may be carried out only when there is at least one other
person available to give assistance in the case of accident.
10.
Any accident involving exposure of personnel to laser light must be reported
immediately to the Laser Safety Officer.
11.
High-power lasers are a substantial fire risk. Operators must:
(a)
Know the procedure to be adopted in the case of fire.
(b)
Not introduce unnecessary flammable materials and solvents into the immediate
vicinity of a laser.
B.
SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE USE OF LASERS
1.
Supervisors of projects that require use of lasers (all classes) must notify the
Head of the Department and the Departmental Laser Safety Officer, or in their absence
to Departmental Safety Officer.
2.
Supervisors of projects that involve the use of all classes of lasers must provide
information and instructions to their staff and research workers, or must arrange for
suitable instruction and information to be given. Comprehensive information may be
obtained from the UCL Safety Services site:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/efd/safety_services_www/guidance/lasers/index.htm
In particular, the document “Arrangements for the Safe use of Laser Devices in UCL”
should be read and in the case of conflicting information should contact Local Laser
Safety Officer for clarification.
Page 41
3.
Supervisors of projects that involve the use of lasers must ensure that, where
reasonably practicable, all laser experiments are engineered such that users cannot be
exposed to greater than Class 2 laser radiation.
4.
In cases, where the excess risks are not controlled by 3, they should be controlled
by administrative procedures (access control, key control, training etc.) and/or correct
use of suitable personal protective equipment (eyewear/clothing).
5.
Departmental Laser Safety Officer will produce “Protocol for the Safe use of
lasers” and distribute to appropriate supervisors.
6.
Supervisors must carry out a risk assessment for the use of all classes of lasers
and stipulate the safety control measures required.
7.
Where lasers of classes more than 2 are used, individuals handling the laser
device should carry out a risk assessment separately and undergo appropriate safety
training.
8.
Where lasers use high voltage and/or hazardous chemicals, appropriate risk
assessment must be carried out by individual users.
8.
Supervisors must arrange for the application of the safety control measures and
monitor their implementation by their staff and research workers.
9.
Supervisors must arrange for appropriate laser hazard warning signs to be
displayed on the doors of rooms containing the equipment.
10.
Supervisors with responsibility for users of lasers must carry out regular visual
inspections of lasers, protective eyewear/clothing, and Laser Hazard warning signs.
These inspections are to be recorded.
11.
It is the responsibility of the individual laser users (includes, staff and research
workers) to report to their supervisor or the DSO, any faults with the laser equipment, the
protective eyewear, protective clothing, laser hazard warning signs and/or breach of any
other local laser safety procedures.
C.
PROTOCOL FOR THE SAFE USE OF LASERS
1.
Do Not Use the Laser Equipment Until You Have Received Instruction
•
No one must use laser equipment until they have received instruction and
information from their supervisor

All associated risk assessment procedures must be completed

Supervisors must register all the laser equipments

In the case, where a particular device was not used for long period, should employ
the professionals to test and notify the safety officer
2.
Do Not Let the Laser Beam Hit Your Eye

Do not look directly into a laser beam or view directly the laser beam with optical
instruments

Wear appropriate protection eyewear

Keep the laser beam path below the eye level

Never bend down below laser beam height

Never sit with your head at laser beam height
Page 42

Avoid eye or skin exposure to direct or scattered radiation

Locate and eliminate stray beams

Clamp down all components as appropriate

Keep laser beams horizontal as appropriate

After installation, beam path should be covered, as appropriate
3.
Other Preventive Measures

No one must work alone

Wear suitable and adequate personal protection equipment

Never leave operating laser equipment unattended

Switch off laser equipment at the mains when not in use

Do not clutter laser area with flammable materials and solvents

Laser equipment must be inspected regularly by the supplier, as appropriate.

Do not use faulty equipment until it is repaired and declared safe to use by the
supplier.

Ensure the area for laser work is well ventilated
4.
Routine Operation

Daily/routine operating procedure and the emergency shutdown procedure must
be available to the individual users.

In the case of ‘out of hour’ operations, the emergency shutdown procedure, if
different from the above case, must be provided.

The individual users are advised to develop a regular habit of inspecting their
equipments on a regular basis, and report their supervisors if there are
malfunctions

Supervisors in charge of laser equipments that are shared between the
departments must ensure that the movements are recorded and an inspection is
carried out before using the equipment again.

The log book for the maintenance should be available at the work place, for
inspection
5.
Report Problems

Staff/research workers must report problems arising from the use of laser to their
supervisor and/or Departmental Safety Officer.
REFERENCE:
Various sources from UCL Websites, including that of the Department of Medicine.
Page 43
APPENDIX III
FUEL SYSTEMS TEST FACILITY
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS/CODE OF PRACTICE
THERMODYNAMICS LABORATORY
A.
Fuel Store
(i)
The store has been designed and built specifically for the bulk storage of
petroleum based products, incorporating features such as special ventilation, a water
sprinkler system, intrinsically safe electrical equipment special racking etc.
It is licensed to store up to a maximum of 6600 litres (1440 imperial gallons) of petroleum
based products.
(ii)
A “spill kit” has been provided for large spills, and absorbent granules for more
minor spills.
(If either of the above equipment is used the contaminated material should be ‘bagged’,
and disposed of as hazardous waste via the DSO).
(iii)
When decanting fuel in the store, visors and gloves must be worn. The
transporting of fuel from the store to individual cells should be carried out using ONLY
the special containers provided.
(iv)
No additional electrical equipment should be used in the store. Mobile phones
should be switched off before entry.
(v)
No unauthorised persons should be admitted to the store, without the express
permission of the DSO.
(vi)
All containers must be clearly marked with their contents.
B.
Test Cells and FSTFs
(i)
Absorbent granules have been provided in each cell and FSTF for spillages. If
contaminated granules require disposal, they should be ‘bagged’, and the DSO informed.
(ii)
Only sufficient fuel should be stored in any cell to cover immediate usage. (Say
up to a maximum of 5 L gasoline and 25 L diesel).
(iii)
When decanting fuel, visors and gloves must be worn.
(iv)
Safety glasses and safety shoes should be worn, at all times, when in the
Thermodynamics Laboratory.
(v)
Ear plugs have been provided, and should be used when running noisy
equipment.
(vi)
As lone working occurs in this laboratory personal alarms have been issued.
General Comments
(i)
Keep working areas tidy, and clearly mark all major obstacles.
(ii)
All hot and/or rotating surfaces should be protected by a guard.
Page 44
(iii)
High pressure fuel lines and fuel injection systems should be completely shut
down and a settling time of at least 5 mins should be allowed, before any work is carried
out on them.
(iv)
Care must be exercised when dealing with electrical supplies, compressed air,
ethylene glycol (contained in cooling water) and high pressure oil lines. (Procedure as
per fuel lines above).
(v)
Prior to commencement of work the relative COSHH data for the substances
involved should be consulted.
Compressed Gases
Lack of care or improper use can turn a gas cylinder into a serious hazard. e.g.

They are heavy and can cause serious injuries if the cylinder falls.

The contents at high pressure constitute a large amount of stored energy. A
fracture at the neck can convert the cylinder into a missile.

The build-up of pressure due to excessive heat can convert the cylinder into a
bomb.

Ignition of a leak of flammable gas can convert the cylinder into a flame thrower.

Leakage of a gas can deplete the oxygen in the laboratory.
Therefore:
Cylinder MUST at all times be secured adequately against falling and only transported on
the correct type of cylinder trolley. Trolleys may be obtained from the workshop and
must be returned directly after use.
Always use the correct type of cylinder regulator, spanner and spindle key, and open the
valve slowly. DO NOT USE OIL, GREASE OR EXCESSIVE FORCE.
The number of cylinders in a work place must at all times be kept to a minimum, located
preferably against an outside wall and always away from sources of heat and corrosion.
Equipment connected to a cylindered gas supply should always be tested for leaks by
applying a dilute aqueous solution of washing-up liquid to the connections.
Where gas is delivered from a cylinder by a dip tube into a liquid, the regulator and
cylinder must be protected against possible suck-back by a trap or non-return valve.
All cylinders containing liquefied gas must be stored, used in an upright position and
secured to prevent the bottle from falling over.
Flash-back arresters must be used on cylinders containing combustible gases.
Lecture bottles while in use must be clamped to a suitable stand; otherwise they should
be stored in a rack away from any source of heat. Those containing toxic or corrosive
material are best kept in a fume cupboard.
The following points should be noted:
•
All cylinder valve spindles have a right-hand thread
•
Non-combustible gas cylinder heads have right-hand thread
•
Combustible gas heads (with the exception of lecture bottles) have left-hand
threads (usually indicated by a shallow groove cut around the circumference of the nut).
Above all, ALWAYS read and comply with the suppliers’ instructions.
Page 45