SAFETY - WELCOME TO THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR!

1. SAFETY- WELCOME TO THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR!

2. SAFETY HANDBOOK • everybody should have received a copy of • 2011-12 issue • read and digest, then return tear-off slip • to room 246 • also available on web-site • www.chem.ed.ac.uk/safety

3. Outline • Background • Emergency procedures • Audits and issues • Summary

4. Why is Health & Safety important? • Legal requirement - H&S legislation • Financial implications • Own desire to work in safe • environment • Moral responsibility not to endanger • other people

5. HEALTH AND SAFETY - THE LAW Your employer has a duty to protect you and keep you informed about Health and Safety. You have a responsibility to look after yourself and others.

6. SAFETY COMMITTEE HEAD OF SCHOOL Phil McDonald Chair Neil Robertson Academic/Inorganic Bob Baxter Organic Trevor Ridley Physical/Laser Alan Taylor Emergency Incident Team Alain Simpson Postgraduate Jeff Walton Research Staff Ronald Brown Radiation

7. X-rays Radiation Ronald Brown SAFETY COMMITTEE Gary Nichol Lasers Trevor Ridley University Health & Safety Department Biological Waste Chemical Disposal Simon Daff Dominic Campopiano Stores Electrical Testing Stores All members of the School Faults Building Phil McDonald Chemistry.faults@ed

8. RADIATION PROTECTION LECTURES Ionising radiation - X-rays, radiation sources Lasers The time, dates and location will be circulated by email when known www.safety.ed.ac.uk/training/Radiation_basic.html ATTENDEES MUST REGISTER BEFOREHAND BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS No work can be done without prior approval • Consult Dr D Campopiano or Dr S Daff • Complete appropriate GMO risk assessment form – authorised by supervisor and sent to Dr. Daff • Await approval from GMO committee

9. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES The old and new buildings have independent fire alarm systems. When a continuous alarm sounds evacuate the building and report to the assembly area (by Brewster statue). Keep clear of road! An intermittent alarm alerts the safety team to a problem in the other building - do not evacuate until the alarm becomes continuous

10. Evacuation of Old Building • close doors and windows • use the closest stairs NOT the lift • use nearest (safe) escape route out of building and go to assembly point at the Brewster statue - keep off road! • inform Incident Commander if normally sealed fire doors have been used to exit building • do not re-enter the building until the “all-clear” is given New Building - use external route to assembly point at the Brewster statue - either the doors in link corridor or designated fire escapes

11. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES If you discover a majorincident (threatens safety of occupants) during normal working hours • sound alarm • make safe potentially dangerous equipment • evacuate building asap • report to University Security- phone 2222 • report to Incident Commander • DON’T then disappear - stay near Incident Commander

12. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Outside normal working hours, YOU may have to be the Incident Commander. • Find out now what you may have to do • - see Safety Handbook • Action checklist posted outside • servitors’ box • Additional information in servitors’ box • - opened by University Security or by • member of staff with sub-master key

13. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Minorincident (no threat to occupants) • deal with incident (minor fires with appropriate equipment - don’t replace) • attend to personal injury (know location of nearest first-aider!) [Allminor incidents mustbe reported to Room 246 immediately]

14. Audits and Issues2011

15. Challenges we face • Numerous inexperienced workers • Numerous short-term researchers • Flat authority structure Industry-level standards must be met by us too

16. Internal Safety Auditing Teams audit all laboratories at least once/year. No advance notice given. Checklist for audit in appendix 1 of Safety Handbook • Particular attention will be paid to housekeeping, risk assessment, and solvent storage

17. Safety Audits 2011 • Housekeeping • Safety Specs • Lab management • Ordering, Storage and Waste Disposal • Risk Assessment forms

18. Risk assessments – please keep improving • MUST DEMONSTRATE FULLY that hazards have been identified and that scheme of work is appropriate for control of risk • Electronic or paper version of form (available from Stores or www.chem.ed.ac.uk/safety) - file paper copy in lab and email or send copy to room 246 • update existing risk assessment forms - should not be more than 12 months old! • genericrisk assessment must not be used to cover work with special hazards

20. EYE PROTECTION Safety spectacles must be worn at all times in teaching and research laboratories. Spectacle wearers must wear over-glasses to ensure protection from side splashes, or wear prescription safety spectacles.

21. Chemical Manager Automated check before starting a new purchase. leads to purchase avoidance – use it properly! Chemical Disposal Responsibility for storage and disposal of chemicals rests with individual research groups – purge lab stocks regularly • Stores will dispose of known chemicals at low cost • Before leaving, agree with your supervisor what is to be kept • give materials/samples to supervisor • label properly with a lab notebook reference • arrange disposal of surplus chemicals

22. Waste Disposal • ensure waste goes into correct container • - broken glass • - sharps • - tin cans • - “empty” solvent bottles • - “empty” acid/alkali bottles • - waste chemicals • ensure work spaces are safe for cleaners and contract workers • ensure compliance with requirements for • field-work and activities involving the public

23. Good house keeping

28. lab management All labs must have a system of local lab management: - a responsible scientist in charge - or a rota system of lab members Carry out a monthly lab safety check A record of the safety checks with responsible person and date should be displayed beside the safety station in the lab

29. A SUMMARY OF SAFE PRACTICE A professional approach requires • awareness • planning • calmness and decision in emergency • responsibility

30. AWARENESS Be aware of • nearest fire alarm • nearest fire-fighting equipment • nearest first-aider • nearest first-aid box • what your neighbour is doing

31. PLANNING Think ahead and • assess risk • define contingency measures • plan (minimise!) waste disposal

32. BE PRO-ACTIVE INTERVENE!