Appendix C: Environment Room risk assessment
Appendix C: Environment Room risk
assessment
ENVIRONMENT CENTRE
SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED
EXPERIMENT
Section: School of the Environment (Aerosol Laboratory)
Location: Physics Barn
Personnel involved: (inc. Status)
Prof. Michael Smith
Dr. Andrea Jackson
Dr. Justin Lingard
Title of Experiment/procedure: Operation of Environmental Chamber/Room
(WIR 19-60HS) and zero air generator to simulate a range of temperature
and/or humidity conditions.
Chemical substances
Hazard
Water
Non-hazardous
Information Sources: Oxford MSDS.
Safety
Precautions
Non-required
Are less hazardous substances available? No
If so, why not use them? N/A
Disposal procedures during and at end of experiment:
Water is allowed to drain into the mains drainage.
Special emergency/spillage/first aid procedures:
Do not keep electrical connections on the ground. Turn off water supply,
mop-up water and dispose of to mains.
Compressed Gases
Compressed air
Hazard
Non-toxic, non-flammable
compressed gas.
Supports combustion.
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Safety Precautions
Wear safety glasses
when accessing
compression
equipment. Do not
locate readily
combustible material in
close proximity to the
generator.
Appendix C: Environment Room risk assessment
Information sources: Aldrich catalogue. Air products special gases division
safety recommendations.
Are less hazardous substances available? No
If so, why not use them? N/A
Control measures/Checks/Monitoring required:
Regular inspection of compressing equipment.
Disposal procedures during and at end of experiment:
Gas may be vented to the atmosphere.
Special emergency/spillage/first aid procedures:
Turn-off compressor.
Other hazards:
ELECTRICAL: Live voltages exposed when chamber panels removed.
PRESSURE: High pressures contained with compressing equipment.
HEAT: Compressing equipment generates heat during operation. The
ambient temperature within the experimental part of the chamber can be
varied from –60 to +50ºC, both during and post-operation.
FANS: Active fans accessible inside the chamber and the compressing
equipment.
NOISE: High noise levels can be experienced during venting of the
compression equipment.
CLIMBING: Work on top of the chamber is 2.5 metres above floor level.
DROWNING: High humidity conditions within the tank present a drowning
hazard.
Other hazards include:
UNEXPECTED RESTART OF SYSTEM AFTER SHUTDOWN
TRAPPING OF USERS IN ROOM
POWER FAILURE
FIRE IN PLANT ROOM
Safety precautions:
OPERATION OF THE CHAMBER: ENTRY TO THE CHAMBER IS
RESTRICTED TO TRAINED PERSONNEL ONLY.
A ‘BUDDY’ SYSTEM MUST BE OPERATED IF OPERATING THE
CHAMBER AT EXTREME TEMPERATURES (HOT OR COLD). THUS, AN
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Appendix C: Environment Room risk assessment
ADDITIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE PRESENT ON SITE AND SITUATED
OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER, TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE/SUPPORT IN THE
EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
ELECTRICAL: Instrument to be operated by trained personnel only.
Operators must have knowledge of the location of exposed electrical
connections.
PRESSURE: Instrument to be operated by trained personnel only.
HEAT: Due to the extremes in temperature, all personnel must hear
appropriate protection when working at extreme temperatures. Pumps must
be allowed to cool before touching. Never attempt to touch pumps during
operation.
FANS: Hands, or other objects, must be kept away from fans whilst they are
operating.
NOISE: Wear ear protection when the pumps are running.
CLIMBING: The roof of the chamber to be accessed by trained personnel
only. Under normal circumstances this will limited to routine, periodic
maintenance. A hard hat must be worn. Secure climbing equipment such as
harnesses must be used at heights >2 metres. Second person must be
present on site in the case of an accident.
DROWNING: Access to chamber to chamber limited to trained personnel
only. Second person must be present on site in the case of an accident.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN RUNNING FOR SUSTAINED
PERIODS AT HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS.
UNEXPECTED RESTART OF SYSTEM AFTER SHUTDOWN: The system
is prohibited from automatic restart after shutdown.
TRAPPING OF USERS IN ROOM: The personnel door is provided with an
internal release mechanism, allowing door to be opened from the inside. A
chain-pull mechanism in main body of chamber provides the main means by
which to draw attention to the plight of personnel within the chamber. Pulling
the chain-pull mechanism activates the alarm system, causing activation of
two sets of emergency alarm systems. Firstly, within the room, both audible
and visible alarms will sound. The audible alarm will sound both inside and
outside the room. A flashing, red beacon will be activated, providing a highly
visible alarm.
On activation of the emergency alarm system, a second, subsequent alarm
system will be activated in the office of the University security service. This
consists of an audible alarm, alerting security to the emergency.
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Appendix C: Environment Room risk assessment
In addition the emergency stop can be activated as detailed below.
EMERGENCY STOP – In addition to the chain-pull mechanism in main body
of chamber, there are two emergency stop buttons: (1) located on the RHS,
inside the main personnel door; and, (2) located on the outside of the
chamber located near the control panel.
POWER FAILURE: Luminescent signs over personnel door. Emergency exit
sign and light plant emergency exit.
FIRE IN PLANT ROOM: Emergency kick-out panel provided in addition to
emergency exit door.
Emergency/first aid procedures:
ELECTRICAL: Turn-off electricity supply and isolate the power. Remove
casualty with the electrical source using a non-conductive material(s). DO
NOT TOUCH casualty with your hands, unless you are CERTAIN there is no
further risk. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. Contact security
on ext. 32222.
PRESSURE: Turn off electrical supply, in the event of an accident, seek
medical attention as injury warrants.
HEAT: In the case of a burn apply large amounts of clean water to the area
of the burn.
DO NOT COVER.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION
IMMEDIATELY. In the event of an accident with the chamber, remove
casualty from the chamber, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.
FANS: In the event of an accident, seek medical attention as required.
NOISE: Turn-off the equipment, move casualty to a quiet area.
CLIMBING/FALL: In the event of a fall SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION
IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT move casualty. Await competent medical
assistance.
DROWNING: In the event of an accident, turn off chamber by hitting the
EMERGENCY STOP BUTTON. Remove casualty from the chamber. Leave
door open to allow humid air to vent and to permit a rapid escape.
Resuscitation may be necessary.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION
IMMEDIATELY.
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