ANNEX 10
QUBtest
DKB LG049A
Contents of Annex 10
Section
Annex page no.
Quick Reference Guide
2
General Labatory Operations
4
General Safety Advice
4
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
5
Materials Safety Precautions
5
QUBtest laboratory: equipment information
6
QUBtest laboratory: equipment safety assessment
7
Fieldwork
9
Attachment 1 : Advice for fieldwork at river or coastal locations
10
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 1
Quick Reference Guide
Student access into the laboratory is prohibited unless cleared with
a member of QUBtest staff
Key Personnel
QUBtest Manager
Dr. B Rankin
Acting Laboratory Manager
Safety Co-ordinators
First Aiders
Mr. E Moulds
Mr. E Moulds & Dr S Nanukuttan (Tel 4218)
Mr. E Moulds (LG049A Tel 4356)
Emergency Services Dial: 2222 or 9999
First Aid Station: Mr. E. Moulds office in LG 049A
Smoke detectors: LG043, 044, 049A and corridors (as attached plan)
Fire alarm: LG049C
Fire Blanket: none
Fire Extinguishers: Corridor leading to Concrete Lab.
Fire Hose: None
Eye Wash Stations: Water & bottles at sink in LG 049A
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 2
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 3
General Laboratory Operations
The risk assessments performed on each of the items of equipment relating to QUBtest are
displayed on the following pages. In addition to the perceived risk from each of these items of
equipment the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is also listed.
As a general policy, no machine in the QUBtest laboratory may be used unless all appropriate
guards are in place. All specimens must be stored and disposed of in such a way as to not be
hazardous. Overalls and safety shoes should be worn and protective gloves and safety glasses
used when necessary. Specialist testing should not be undertaken until a safety procedure has
been agreed by the Safety Co-ordinator.
Certain toxic and hazardous materials, such as asbestos specimens, should not be brought to the
laboratory. If in doubt, consult the Safety Co-ordinator.
Any reference made to another section of this document refers to the body of the SPACE Safety
Manual, unless specifically annotated.
General Safety Advice
If any help and advice is required regarding matters of safety within the QUBtest Laboratory
contact should be made with the Local Safety Advisors – Mr E Moulds, room no. LG049A,
telephone extension 4356, email e.moulds@qub.ac.uk and Dr Sree Nanukuttan, room no.
OG.023, telephone extension 4218 and email s.nanukuttan@qub.ac.uk. A summary of this safety
information can be found on the notice board in the laboratory.
A risk assessment should be carried out for each piece of work to be carried in the laboratory;
Section 5 of the School Safety Manual gives guidance in this procedure. If there are any specific
aspects of health that may be affected due to work to be undertaken or if any disabilities, e.g.
hearing or sight impediments, may result in safety being compromised in the work place, the
safety Co-ordinator/Laboratory Manager should be informed immediately. Any accidents or
near misses should be reported using the procedure outlined in Section 3.9 of the School Safety
Manual.
Lone working is not permitted in the QUBtest Laboratory between 5.00pm and 8:30am. This
applies to all personnel. Should the need arise to conduct laboratory work during these hours,
permission should be obtained from the Safety Co-ordinator. Forms may be collected from and
will be retained by the Safety Co-ordinator and should be completed prior to the commencement
of experiments.
In an emergency contact details for Designated First Aiders are posted on green signs at
various locations in the laboratory. A First Aid box is located in room LG049A. Only
designated First Aiders are advised to render first aid (as outlined in Section 3.7 of the School
Safety Manual)
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 4
Personal Protective Equipment (or PPE)
Minimum Requirements for Laboratory Staff
All staff in the laboratory must wear the following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Laboratory coat

Shoes with toe protection
Additional protection as required by COSHH & Risk Assessment

Strong protective footwear should be worn when lifting heavy equipment.

Gloves

Safety glasses

Masks: Dust mask , gas mask
Laboratory equipment
Completed COSHH (Containment of Substances Hazardous to Health) forms and other relevant
safety documents will be kept in the office under the control of the Safety Co-ordinator. In
addition to the risk assessments below, the additional pages of notes should be considered while
using the QUBtest Laboratory.
Materials Safety Precautions
1. No investigation shall be carried out until an operating procedure including safety
considerations has been agreed with the Safety Co-ordinator. All staff shall familiarise
themselves with relevant Risk Assessments and, where none exists, a new Risk
Assessment completed by the Safety Co-ordinator. Risk Assessment forms are with the
Safety Co-ordinator.
2. The appropriate COSHH forms shall be read and signed as necessary eg for use with
Ordinary Portland Cement, Microsilica, GGBS, PFA.
3. Eye protection & gloves must be worn when using potentially dangerous substances or
when heating corrosive chemicals and as directed by warning signs. Heat resistant gloves
are provided for use with ovens.
4. Protective coats should be worn when working in the laboratory.
5. Long hair, jewellery and other loose items should be firmly secured.
6. Bottles and containers shall be appropriate for use and clearly marked (if in doubt please
consult the Safety Co-ordinator).
7. Experiments/tests that run for an extended period should be discussed with the Safety
Co-ordinator.
8. If an accident occurs it must be reported to either the Safety Co-ordinator and/or the
School Safety Officer.
9. If any equipment is faulty or damaged, the Safety Co-ordinator should be informed.
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 5
10. Working surfaces shall be clean and tidy and when leaving the laboratory check your
working area for tidiness and for potential hazards.
Access
The main entrance point for the QUBtest Laboratory is on the lower ground floor level adjacent
to the Ashby car park. Should access be required via the Concrete Laboratory, out of normal
office hours, keys may be obtained in advance from the Safety Co-ordinator.
Access routes through the laboratory should be kept clear at all times. Whenever possible
equipment not in use should be stowed away. Equipment in use, eg. cables, should be kept tidy
to reduce the risk of trips and falls.
QUBtest laboratory: equipment information
Avery-Denison cube testing machine
The setting up of specimens and carrying out tests should be done by trained technical staff. The
safety screen should be in place during testing.
Concrete cubes & moulds
Care should be taken when handling the cube moulds and safety boots worn at all times.
The following equipment requires formal training and this will be provided by the Safety Coordinator who has records of procedures: Avery-Denison cube testing machine.
All concrete mixers.
Core drill and stand.
Cutrock concrete cutting saw- Requires training by an outside body.
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 6
QUBtest laboratory – safety assessment
Equipment
Admixtures
Safety
Catagory
H
Supervisor
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves, overalls.
As required: mask or respirator.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves,
Overalls, mask or respirator.
Ear defenders, safety boots, eye protection,
gloves, overalls, mask as required.
Eye protection, safety boots, screens as required,
gloves for handling material which causes skin
irritation.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves.
Ear defenders, safety boots, eye protection,
gloves, overalls, mask as required.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves.
Eye protection, ear defenders, safety boots, eye
protection, gloves, overalls, mask as required.
E. Moulds
Eye protection, ear defenders, safety boots, eye
protection, gloves, overalls, mask as required.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves as required.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves for handling
material which causes skin irritation, mask as
required.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves for handling
material which causes skin irritation & are heat
resistant.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves for handling
material which causes skin irritation.
E. Moulds
H
B
Eye protection, safety boots, mask or respirator.
Hard hat, safety boots, eye protection, gloves.
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
C
As required: eye protection, hard hat, safety
boots, gloves.
E. Moulds
Aggregate
H
Aggregate impact
tester
Avery-Denison
cube testing
machine
Concrete moulds
Core drills and
stands
Cover meter
Creteangle
concrete mixer20kg capacity
(Ser.no. 13394)
Cutrock concrete
cutting saw
Glass ware
Hobart small
mixer
(Ser.no. 13933)
Hot plate
C
Initial Surface
Absorption Test
equipment
Isopon
Kango compactor/
chisel
Ladders
PPE
A
C
A
C
B
A
H
C
C
C
A: Not to be used or interfered with by any unauthorised personnel
B: Supervised use after receiving training
C: Unsupervised use after receiving training
D: Unsupervised use
H: Handling training required
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 7
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
QUBtest laboratory – safety assessment
Equipment
Safety
Category
PPE
Supervisor
Metal scoops & floats
Microsilica – powder,
Metakaolin, GGBS, PFA
Microsilica – slurry, Lytag
D
H
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
Ordinary Portland Cement
C
Ovens
Release agent
Sample splitter
C
H
C
Sieve shaker (in sound
proof cupboard)
C
Steel & wooden shutters
C
Storage racks
Use of tools eg. spanners,
screwdriver, etc.
Vibrating table
H
D
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves,
Overalls, mask or respirator.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves,
overalls, mask or respirator.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves,
overalls, mask or respirator.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves
Eye protection, gloves and safety
boots, mask as required.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves
for handling material which causes
skin irritation, mask as required.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves
as required
Eye protection, safety boots.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves
E. Moulds
Water heater
Work benches & vices
C
C
Ear defenders, safety boots, eye
protection, gloves, overalls, mask as
required.
Eye protection, safety boots, gloves
Eye protection, safety boots
H
C
A: Not to be used or interfered with by any unauthorised personnel
B: Supervised use after receiving training
C: Unsupervised use after receiving training
D: Unsupervised use
H: Handling training required
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 8
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
E. Moulds
Fieldwork
‘Field work’ means all work outside of the laboratory and yard area. In addition to the guidance
offered in Section 8 of the School Safety Manual, the following points highlight additional health
& safety issues with regard to Construction Division related fieldwork. All fieldwork is to be
approved in advance by the Safety Co-ordinator. This includes informing the Co-ordinator of the
planned dates and times of field work.
All fieldwork must undergo a Risk Assessment (see Section 5 of the manual). The general risk
assessment forms may be found in Appendices D and E of the School Safety Manual. Fieldwork
should be avoided at times of increased risk eg. loss of daylight on a construction site with no
artificial lighting.
It is advisable for another competent adult to be present at all times when carrying out fieldwork.
Land based activities with no significant associated risk may be carried out without the
continuous presence of a second person. However, this must be agreed in advance with the safety
Co-ordinator. Arrangements must be made for communication - a mobile phone should be
carried at all times during fieldwork. If the person does not own a mobile phone, the QUBtest
manager will make one available. If a project requires work in a remote location, a basic first aid
kit will also be supplied.
When working on a construction site, the correct PPE must be worn ie. hard hat, safety boots, a
reflective vest or jacket and if required eye protection, mask and gloves. When working on
public roads, a reflective vest or jacket must be worn. At night, dawn or dusk, lights must also
be used and road signage should conform to Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, if any
disruption is to be caused to pedestrians or road users.
Fieldwork may involve the use of pressurised gases. The School Safety Manual provides
guidance in Section 4.8 & 4.9 on how these should handled during transportation and use.
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 9
Attachment 1: Advice for fieldwork at river or coastal locations
Fieldwork should be avoided at times of increased risk eg. during storms or floods. If, due to
the nature of the work, it must be carried out at such times, specific safety measures must be
agreed in advance with the Safety Co-ordinator/Laboratory Supervisor. Work on river banks,
bridges, beaches and coastal areas should be carried out only after confirming that the area
provides safe access. For example, on river banks or in estuarine areas, care should be taken to
avoid sampling in slippery areas, where there may be a danger of falling. Another competent
adult must be present at all times when carrying out work on river banks or anywhere there is a
risk of falling into the water.
If it is not possible to carry out work from the shore, and wading is necessary to enter the water
appropriate protective clothing and safety equipment must be used. This includes a life jacket,
boots or waders and a safety rope. Before entering the water, a graduated pole should be used to
check the depth of water and to check the stability of the river bed/sea bed when moving from
one location to another. Another competent adult must be present at all times when carrying out
work which involves wading. All work from boats must be authorised in advance by the project
Safety Co-ordinator/Laboratory Supervisor. A member of staff who is competent in boat
handling must be on board at all times throughout the work. Life jackets and communication
equipment must be carried for all personnel on board.
The laboratory has a policy which requires all staff and students to wear a life jacket in any
circumstances where there is danger of drowning e.g. working from a boat. Lightweight
lifejackets which allow unrestricted movement are available and must be worn, even if staff from
other establishments do not wear theirs. The automatically inflating jacket is designed to inflate
on contact with the water. The manual jacket has a toggle which must be pulled to inflate the
jacket. Personnel should be familiar with the operation of the equipment prior to use.
When wading, a safety rope must be attached to the harness of the life jacket, and the rope must
be firmly tied or attached to something on the shore (eg. a tree or railings) to minimise any risk
of being swept from the shore.
Precautions must be taken to minimise any health risks if a project involves contact with
contaminated water (eg. river water). The contaminant may be sewage or other pollutants and
zoonotic infections should be guarded against. During sampling, any cuts, grazes or broken skin
etc. should be covered with waterproof bandages and rubber gloves should be worn. At the end
of each session, any bandages, disposable rubber gloves etc should be removed and disposed of
in a sealed bag. Avoid hands coming into contact with mouth, nose or eyes during work, and
ensure that the hands and face are washed with soap and water before contact with food, drink,
cigarettes etc.
Attention should be paid to any change in health. If any symptoms that could be related to
infection from contaminated water (for example, vomiting or flu-like symptoms or jaundice) are
experienced or any symptoms that cannot readily be explained, medical advice should be sought
immediately, explaining the nature of the work. In these circumstances, avoid any situations in
which the infection could be passed to others (e.g. preparation of food etc).
For work which is likely to involve contact with polluted water, heavy duty rubber gloves and
disposable latex gloves are available from the Survey Store, contact Mr. Ken McKnight, ext.
4024.
Version: October 2012
Annex10 pg 10