HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Welcome to an on-line health and safety training package intended for staff and students working within UofE buildings on the Little France campus Information contained within these pages is intended for use by University of Edinburgh staff and students only.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS This on-line training package is intended for laboratory-based workers, but is not a substitute for more detailed training which may be organised by laboratory managers. Last updated: February2018

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Please take time to view the following material, and direct any urgent questions to your H&S Advisor, Laboratory Manager, or the Little France Buildings H&S Manager (the contact details for whom are shown on the last page of this presentation). Thank you

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Though both are types of local exhaust ventilation systems, fume hoods (sometimes called fume cupboards) are most definitely not the same as biological safety cabinets. A separate training package related to biological safety cabinets is available through the same pathway that you took to reach this presentation.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Typically, a fume hood comprises several key components; these include: • A working area behind an adjustable viewing screen (sash); and • Fans (to draw air in and then vent fumes outside the building).

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS There are several factors that affect the capability of a fume hood to provide safe and efficient containment for the hazardous chemicals; amongst these are: • the volatility and other physical and chemical properties of the substance(s) used; • the rate of release of a toxic substance within the fume hood; • the amount of heat generated within the fume hood;

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS And also … • air draughts within the laboratory; • inappropriate use of a fume hood for more than very short-term holding of waste; • bulky apparatus within the fume hood, which may distort the air flow; • the linear face velocity of the airflow across the front opening of the hood; and • the toxicity of the substance(s) used.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Fume Hoods

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS A risk assessment should always be undertaken to underpin safety related to work that is to be done within a fume hood. The risk assessment should take into account the nature of the potential hazards in terms not only of the work involved and the known route harm associated with the substances to be handled, but also the techniques to be carried out and whether protection of the work is needed.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Regardless of the nature of work that is to be done within a fume hood, there are certain safety-related features that are more or less applicable to all such tasks, and which you should design into your work plan. The following guidance is based on measures described more fully in Section 14 of the Safety Manual for University buildings on the Little France campus, which you will find at: http://docstore.mvm.ed.ac.uk/HealthAndSafety/manual/Manual14.pdf

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • Check that the fume hood is in a good state of repair and operating within normal parameters before commencing work. Do not use the fume hood if you have any doubts about its performance; • Select appropriate control measure(s), and commence work only after completing a formal risk assessment (remembering that where a less hazardous substance could be used to achieve the desired effect, generally speaking it must be used as a safer option);

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • Always use fume hoods for handling chemicals which produce dust, particulates, gas, vapour, fumes or aerosols that have any real potential to be harmful; • Plan the work beforehand, and do not place paperwork inside the fume hood to be read while doing the work; • Wear a lab coat, properly fastened up, and gloves if required; • Sit comfortably in front of the fume hood;

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • Use good laboratory technique (i.e. do not rely on the fume hood to compensate for poor technique); • Fume hoods should be located within laboratories so that airflow and users are not disturbed by the movement of colleagues past their workplace (a minimum one metre of clearance is recommended);

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • The rate of release of toxic or flammable vapours should be minimised by good experimental design; • The extract fan must be switched on when the fume hood is being used, and at all times when it contains volatile compounds;

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • During use, the sash opening should be set at the minimum that is practicable for the job being done, and never set above that at which the face velocity has been measured and found to be acceptably safe; and • It must be possible to close the sash quickly without any risk of disturbing chemicals or apparatus within the fume hood.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • Appropriate hazard warnings must be displayed during each procedure (and removed after completion of hazardous work and clean-up of the fume hood). • Do not use the fume hood simply to store materials, and keep the work area as clear as possible of unnecessary equipment and chemicals.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Fume hoods may be used for the temporary placement of vessels containing liquid nitrogen in order to allow the liquid to convert entirely to gas and diffuse away to local exhaust ventilation, but appropriate hazard signage must be clearly displayed to warn others who might attempt to use the hood.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • For each use, the fume hood must be allocated to the control of one operator only. • The fan should be left switched on for a period of time after completion of the work to ensure that fumes are completely purged from the hood.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • Correspondingly, once fumes have been purged from the fume hood, the fan speed should be reduced to help minimise energy costs; • By the same token, keeping sashes lowered, when work is not being done, also helps reduce costs;

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • Check airflow and fault indicators regularly to ensure that the fume hood is operating within specified limits. Faults should be reported immediately. • Work should not be commenced, or should be suspended immediately, if the hood displays a fault condition.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS • Fume hoods must not be used as a substitute for a biological safety cabinet when handling biological materials; and • Fume hoods must be efficiency and safety tested at least once per year, and test records kept for five years.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS There is an aspect to energy saving related to the operation of fume hoods, especially when these are not actively in use. When the sash is open, fan speed must be kept high to maintain the updraft necessary for the operator’s safety.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS When work is concluded, or the operator is able to leave the fume hood for a period of time, it is both wise (from the point of safety) and economical to draw down the sash so that the fan speed can be reduced.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Finally, upon completion of the task, the operator should ensure that the hood is left completely clean and free from chemical or other contamination, all waste has been properly and correctly managed, and the hood is left in a safe condition for use by the next worker. This is the responsibility of each and every user; not that of anyone else!

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Problems and Questions Refer all enquiries to your H&S Advisor, Laboratory Manager or the Little France Buildings H&S Manager as soon as possible.

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS Lindsay Murray Health & Safety Manager, The University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine (Little France/Bioquarter campus) Room SU225, Chancellor’s Building Ext: 26390 lgm@staffmail.ed.ac.uk

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS You have now completed this on-line training package summarising the correct use and potential limitations of fume hoods. Please also attend any additional training that may be organised by your laboratory manager. Thank you

HEALTH & SAFETY @ LITTLE FRANCE FUME HOODS