School of Physics Safety Manual

SCHOOL OF PHYSICS SAFETY MANUAL

All staff and employees are to read Chapters 1 to 8 inclusive upon issue of this Manual or upon joining the School thereafter. Other sections should be consulted before starting any of the activities with which they deal. Any amendments made following routine or exceptional reviews will be promulgated upon their incorporation.

Everyone has a duty to ensure that s/he is working in a safe manner and to bring to the attention of their immediate supervisor or their Safety representative any dangerous or unsafe practices or circumstances.

Please take an interest in the regulations, instructions and advice contained within this Manual. Suggestions to improve health, safety and welfare are welcome and will be included in updated issues as appropriate.

Tim NAYLOR

Norman Lockyer Professor of Astrophysics

Head of School 1 Nov 08

1. SCHOOL OF PHYSICS HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT. 7

The School 7

Staff and students. 8

Risk Assessment 9

Contractors and Visitors. 9

School Safety Organisation. 10

School Safety Group. 10

2. PAN UNIVERSITY AND OTHER GENERAL POLICIES, REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE 11

University Health and Safety Policy. 11

Specific University Policy Statements and Guidance. 12

Further Regulations. 13

Further Information. 13

3. RISK ASSESSMENT. 15

4. GENERAL SAFETY.. 16

General 16

Permits to work. 17

Access to roof areas. 17

Observatory safety. 17

Students working in Research Laboratories. 17

Out of Hours Working including Lone Working Out of Hours. 17

Recharging of Low Temperature Apparatus. 18

Unattended Operation of Experimental Apparatus. 18

Equipment Left Running Permanently. 19

Solvents. 19

Use of Flammable Gases. 19

Room ventilation. 20

Lift Breakdown Procedure. 20

5. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. 21

Action in the event of Fire. 21

Bomb Warnings. 22

Major Accidents. 22

Minor Accidents. 22

Accident report forms. 23

First Aid. 23

Student Health Centre. 23

In Case of Emergency Forms. 23

6. ELECTRICAL SAFETY.. 24

General 24

Electrical Hazards and Elementary Precautions. 24

Repair of Equipment 26

Electrical Safety Testing of Equipment (PAT) 26

7. MECHANICAL SAFETY.. 27

Lifting Equipment 27

Mechanical Hazards. 28

High Pressure Systems (Including Autoclaves) 29

Workshop hazards. 29

Welding. 30

8. CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH (COSHH) 31

COSHH procedures. 31

Chemicals. 32

Solvents. 34

Cryogenics. 34

Compressed gases and gas cylinders. 35

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 36

Prevention of Fire and Explosion – general comments. 37

Toxic and Injurious Chemicals – General Comments. 37

Chemical Storage hazards. 38

9. DISPOSAL PROCEDURES. 40

General 41

Chemicals. 41

Solvents. 41

Glass. 42

Sharps. 42

Green Waste. 42

Disposal of Ionising Radiation Waste. 42

Disposal of Biological Waste Material 42

10. IONISING RADIATION REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES. 43

Introduction. 43

Organisation. 44

General Rules for Laboratory Use of Unsealed Sources. 45

Disposal of Ionising Radiation Waste. 46

Permitted dose limits. 47

Permitted holdings and disposal limits for unsealed sources. 47

11. NON-IONISING RADIATION - LASER SAFETY.. 49

Laser Safety Organisation. 49

Classification of Lasers. 49

Purchase and Installation of Lasers. 50

General Rules for the Operation of Lasers. 50

Lasers of classes 3B and 4. 51

Laser Pointers. 52

Radio-Frequency Heaters. 52

Ultra-Violet Radiation. 52

12. BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS. 53

General 53

Good Working Practices. 54

Handwashing Facilities. 55

Health. 56

Autoclaves. 56

Autoclave procedures. 57

Disinfection. 57

Disposal of Biological Waste Material 58

Action in the event of spillage. 58

Containment measures. 59

Microbiological safety cabinets. 62

Animals. 62

Reference material 62

13. TRANSPORT. 64

Use of the School’s Vehicles. 64

Use of Private Vehicles on the School’s Business. 64

Minibus Passenger Transport Vehicles. 65

14. MANUAL HANDLING OPERATIONS. 65

15. WORKSTATION AND DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT. 68