Health and Safety
at the
Department of Physics
University of Warwick
Content
This presentation is designed to be useful
and informative for new starters or visitors
to the Department.
There are some areas which are aimed
specifically towards experimentalists and
post graduate students, however most of
the content is applicable to everyone.
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Topics
• Fire
• Laboratory work
– Chemicals
– Electricity
– Compressed Gas
– Radiation
– Cryogenics
– Heat
• Office Work
• Supervisors
• Project Review
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FIRE
FIRE is one of the most terrifying and destructive
forces.
We have comprehensive and extensive fire sensors and alarms
throughout our buildings.
FIRE WARDENS are appointed to guide people to the exits
and to assist fire services with information.
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Fire evacuation [and for any other
emergency]
• Leave the building as soon as you can – we
aim to have complete evacuation in less
than 3 minutes for any of our buildings.
• Proceed to the signed assembly points [car
parks]
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University of Southampton
Mountbatten Building
October 31st 2005
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Fire Alarms are tested regularly [On a
MONDAY morning for the Physics
department].
Fire Drills – usually once per term.
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Fire extinguishers
• These are supplied to all buildings and are of
the type most suitable for the area they are in.
• Only use a fire extinguisher if you are trained
to do so – DO NOT put yourself at risk of harm
in attempting to fight a fire.
• Training is provided as required
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Alarms
• There are many other alarms in buildings these
can signify: low water level in tanks, doors ajar,
low oxygen levels, spills, gas, instrument failures,
etc. etc.
• Note – these are not normally connected to the
fire/evacuation alarm system.
• Make yourself aware of alarms in your area of
work and travel.
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Laboratory Work
• Familiarise yourself with your lab and its
environment.
• Find out about safety devices and procedures.
• Ask staff [academic and/or technical] to explain
anything which is unfamiliar or unusual.
• Check if you need to work long, or out of normal
working, hours [rules apply].
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Running experiments out of “normal” hours
• Permission is required:
– Ensure a risk assessment is in place.
– Consider consequences of failures.
• Complete a Permit
– Provide details of the services.
– Nominate a contact [to be successfully
contacted if there are problems].
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Laboratory “out of hours” Permit
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Laboratory Information Notices
These notices are designed to indicate: user(s) of the room, hazards and any
special features. These will be found outside every laboratory.
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Health and Safety Signs
There are a huge number of signs. Most
are meant to be easily understood as
pictures
[pictograms] however some require a
label to clarify.
The next few slides show a set of
examples which are typically found in the
sciences.
This slide shows the four basic themes of
safety notices:
•
•
•
•
Prohibition
Mandatory
Warnings
Safe conditions
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Hazard/Warning
pressure
This radiation warning label is
placed inside equipment – If it
is exposed to view then leave
the area.
corrosive
radiation
flammable
cold
hot
magnetic field
explosive
electricity
entrapment
toxic
toxic to
environment
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Mandatory [must do]
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Prohibition
and
Safe
[no metal-magnetic
objects]
[no loose
clothing]
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Laboratory Work
Chemicals
• Order with approval of your supervisor or
technical support.
• COSHH regulations.
• Disposal of waste chemicals [procedures].
• Risk Assessments [completion of form].
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Typical
chemical
storage
cabinet
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Research lab
Fume cupboard [hood]
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CHEMICAL WORKSTATION
FUME CUPBOARDS
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Laboratory Work
Electricity
1. Electricity at Work Regulations apply.
2. Do not use >25V without checking.
3. Take extra care when exposing
hazardous voltages.
4. All mains powered items are subject to
PAT * procedures.
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5. Do not disassemble any electrical device
or equipment without instruction or
knowledge of procedure and safe
working.
6. Always check that the main supply is off, and
removed if possible.
7. Beware of charged components [e.g.
capacitors] and stored charge [e.g.
batteries]
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* Portable Appliance Testing
PAT is designed to provide electrical safety to
portable equipment [e.g. power drills and
cable drums]. However we apply it to all, or
most, powered equipment which plug into
the mains electricity supply.
Most electrical faults are due to faulty or damaged cables,
plug tops and having the wrong rating of fuse.
Refer to electrical training on the web site.
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Research Lab
P130 - Electronics rack
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Research lab
P125 – Instrument being tested/repaired
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Office trunking
Typical office electrics /data
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Laboratory Work
Compressed Gas
• Use gas cylinders as directed.
• Receive training in moving and handling gas
cylinders.
• Uncontrolled release of compressed gas
can be extremely dangerous – from
physical damage as well as chemical.
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Gas Compound - special gases safely secured at a stillage
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Gas Compound - general lab gases
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Lab gases, high pressure nitrogen gas supply and liquid nitrogen decanting
point
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Physics yard
Yard - Gas cylinder and trolley
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Research lab
P124 – gas cylinder and trolley [temporary use in a lab]
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Laboratory Work
Radiation
Management
Controlled – NRPB.
Radiation protection advisers/officers.
Sources
Sealed [contained within a structure]
Open [on a surface or in liquid form]
X-Ray sets
High voltage electron beam apparatus.
Lasers
Radio Frequency
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Laboratory X-ray generator
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Laboratory X-ray source
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Electric arc for melting [source of intense visible, IR and UV light]
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Laser - Profile Cutting [industrial equipment]
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Bench Lasers - Research
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Laboratory Work
Cryogenics
• Decanting – training required
• Filling – training required
• Extreme hazard – cold burns and boil-off
gas potential asphyxiant in confined space.
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Yard. Liquid nitrogen bulk tank 5300 L
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Yard.
Liquid nitrogen bulk tank
23000 L
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Plant room. Liquid helium production - 1000 Litre store and transfer Dewar
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L Nitrogen decant
Goods-in lobby. Liquid nitrogen decanting point - note safety
devices and PPE.
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L Nitrogen decant
Filling a 25L Dewar with liquid nitrogen
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L Nitrogen decant
Filling a 50L Dewar at the external decant point
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L Nitrogen decant
Detail of the hand valve and safety devices on decanting point.
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Laboratory Work
Heat
Furnaces
Most laboratory furnaces are heavy and therefore not
easy to move. They are normally controlled by
electronic controllers and have safety devices to
prevent overheating. Furnaces are designed to
achieve high temperatures – over 1000 C – so great
care must be used in setting up furnaces and allowing
for the effect of heat on the substances to be treated.
If a furnace requires a long process time then an out
of hours certificate will be required.
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Flames
Open flames are sometimes used for heat treatment,
brazing, hard/soft soldering, welding, and glass
working. Each piece of apparatus must be fit for
purpose and rejected / replaced / repaired if anything
is amiss.
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Welding
Welding equipment can be gas – oxy-acetylene, oxypropane, air-natural gas [brazing and soldering] or
electric arc types - TIG, MIG etc. Care must be taken
in ensuring that hot metals are not in contact with
flammable materials and items are allowed to cool
properly.
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Hot works
In general hot work outside workshops must be
provided with a hot works permit – to ensure that an
operation is being carried out properly and safely.
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Office Work
Office work usually involves long periods
sitting in front of a computer or display
screen.
It is very easy to acquire permanently
debilitating limb disorders if stress is being put
on hands and arms by poorly adjusted chairs,
desks or IT equipment
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Adjust your workplace
Refer to the H&S website for details
• SCREEN - adjust your screen position – height and angle
• CHAIR - adjust your chair to your settings.
• KEYBOARD/MOUSE – check angles – use a wrist rest if
preferred or required.
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Office
A typical shared office space
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Office
Office
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Office
Typical Office Chair - note adjustments available to correct seating positions
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Office
Typical Desk - height adjustable screen – mouse wrist rest
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Post Graduates
Your Supervisor(s)
Your supervisor is the contact for all
information.
You should always keep your supervisor
informed of anything you wish to carry out,
design or work on.
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Post Graduates
Project Progress Review
At the end of the first 6 months your
project will be reviewed.
At this stage you will have to show
any health and safety information,
risk assessments etc, so remember
to keep your information up to date.
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Web site
Health and Safety
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ANY QUESTIONS ?
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