Safety in Laboratories
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Sydney
Chemical Engineering
Safety is compulsory
NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act
1983
 Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous
Substances) Regulation 1996
 Penalty for breach:
 $550 000 for a corporation
 $ 55 000 for an individual
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Chemical Engineering
Locations
Corridors and stairs
 (Emergency) Exits
 (Emergency) Telephones
 Fire extinguishers
 Fire alarms
 Evacuation assembly point
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Chemical Engineering
Telephone numbers (935#-####)
Security (emergency)
1 3333
 Security (non-emergency)
1 3488
 Fire, police, ambulance
0 000
 Chemical Engineering administration office
1 2455
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Chemical Engineering
In an emergency
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Keep calm
Tell someone about it: the Floor Wardens, fellow
Workers, your Supervisor, others in the area
Call the Security Emergency Centre (1 3333)
and/or Police/Fire Brigade/Ambulance (0 000)
Be ready to describe where you are and what is
wrong (fire, medical or criminal)
Leave the building if the type of emergency
warrants it, or if directed by Wardens/Security
Go to your assembly point
Chemical Engineering
Forms
Occupational injury, illness or incident
report
 Request for disposal of hazardous waste
 Laboratory work permit
 Permit to operate unattended equipment
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Department of Chemical Engineering
Laboratory work permit
Room:
Project:
Sign and date (in order):
1. Researcher:
Signature:
Date:
2. Supervisor:
Signature:
Date:
Signature:
Date:
3. Approval:
Dennis McNevin
This sign must be displayed on the outside of the laboratory door for the duration of the project
Department of Chemical Engineering
Permit to operate unattended equipment
Room:
Equipment:
In an emergency, contact (in order):
1. Operator:
Phone
(business hours):
Phone
(after hours):
2. Supervisor:
Phone
(business hours):
Phone
(after hours):
3. Safety Officer:
Dennis McNevin
Phone
(business hours):
9351 4994
Phone
(after hours):
9564 2498
DO NOT SWITCH OFF
This sign must be displayed on the equipment and on the outside of the laboratory door whenever the
equipment is operating unattended
Chemical Engineering
Laboratory hazards
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Biological, e.g. pathogenic microorganisms, biological tissues, animals
Chemical, e.g. corrosives, flammables,
toxics
Physical, e.g. noise, radiation
Electrical/mechanical, e.g. high voltage
apparatus, machinery with moving parts
Psychological, e.g. emotional stress
Chemical Engineering
Industrial hazards
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extremes of temperature
extremes of pressure
noise
machinery
dangerous materials
slips, trips and falls
over exertion
fire and explosion
electricity
“hostile” environments
systems of work
Laboratory organization
Tidy workplaces
 Moving parts
 Electrical safety
 Physical containment
 Protective equipment
 Separate storage areas for different classes
of dangerous goods
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Chemical Engineering
Dangerous goods classes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Explosives
Compressed gases
Flammable liquids
Flammable solids and reactive substances
Oxidizing agents
Toxic and infectious substances
Radioactive substances
Corrosive substances
Chemical Engineering
Safe handling of chemicals
Order through:
 your supervisor
 Safety Officer
 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 Labeling
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Chemical Engineering
MSDS
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Identification codes
Health hazards
Precautions
Protective equipment
Emergency
First aid
Safe handling
Physical and chemical properties
Chemical Engineering
Chem Alert II
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MSDS may be downloaded from the
University Risk Management Office
website: Chem Alert II
http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/ohs/haz-subs/chemalert.html
Chemical Engineering
Labeling
Staining solution
Methanol
5 % v/v
Acetic acid
7 % v/v
Water
88 % v/v
Your Name
Date/Month/Year
Chemical Engineering
Waste disposal
Wastes should be segregated:
 Non-hazardous waste
 Hazardous waste
 Hazardous waste should be segregated:
 Store in an approved dangerous goods
container available
 Label the container
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Chemical Engineering
Mercury spillage
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Contain the area of the spill
Pick-up droplets using pasteur pipette, eye-dropper,
suction bottle, or strips of adhesive tape, avoiding skin
contact
Sprinkle sulphur powder or proprietry products like
Mercurisorb, HgX on contaminated area, using at least
twice as much powder as volume of spill
Leave for 24 hours
Use sodium thiosulphate (photographic fixer) solution to
further decontaminate area once mercury has been
collected
Place mercury and other agents in a container and deliver
to safety officer
Chemical Engineering
Smoking prohibited
Smoking is completely banned in
University occupied buildings and
University owned vehicles
Chemical Engineering
Department of Chemical
Engineering safety policies
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This may be accessed from the Department
of Chemical Engineering homepage
http://www.chem.eng.usyd.edu.au/ourdept_index.htm
Chemical Engineering
University of Sydney safety
policies
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Guidelines on laboratory safety
http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/ohs/labsafety.html
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Guidelines for working with hazardous substances
http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/ohs/haz-subs/hazsubs1.html
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Clinical and related wastes: Guidelines for management
http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/ohs/clnwaste.html
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Guidelines for hazardous waste disposal
http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/ohs/hazwaste.html
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Decontamination and disposal of biological wastes
http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/ohs/coursenotes/biosafety/decontamination.html
Chemical Engineering
Occupational Health and Safety
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University of Sydney Occupational Health
and Safety Policy
http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/ohs/policy/policy.html
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The Risk Management Office maintains a
manual
http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/ohs/ohsindex.html
Chemical Engineering
Australian Standard 2243: Safety
in laboratories
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AS 2243. 1 - 1997 General
AS 2243. 2 - 1997 Chemical aspects
AS 2243. 3 - 1995 Microbiology
AS 2243. 4 - 1998 Ionizing radiations
AS 2243. 5 - 1993 Non-ionizing radiations
AS 2243. 6 - 1990 Mechanical aspects
AS 2243. 7 - 1991 Electrical aspects
AS 2243. 8 - 1992 Fume cupboards
AS 2243. 9 - 1991 Recirculating fume cabinets
AS 2243.10 - 1993 Storage of chemicals
Chemical Engineering
Security
Front door and back gate remain closed at
all times
 Never leave the building alone after hours
 Ask identification of strangers
 Never leave valuables unattended
 Security bus available after hours
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Chemical Engineering
Security bus route