School of Physics

Health & Safety InductionFor a Safe Working Environment

Overview

We will look at

• Responsibilities • General safety procedures• Security• Emergencies & Fire

Health & Safety at Work Act 1974Sect. 2

• Provide and maintain safe plant and safe systems of work• Make arrangements for ensuring safe means of handling, use,

storage and transport of articles and substances (COSHH)

• Provide information, instruction, training and supervision

“competent & safe employees”

• Provide a safe place of work• Provide and maintain safe access to and egress from that

Workplace• Provide and maintain a safe working environment and adequate

welfare facilities

Health & Safety at Work Act 1974Sect 7

You have a legal responsibility to

• Take reasonable care of your own health and safety

• Take reasonable care of others’ health and safety

• Co-operate with the University and follow instructions

• Not tamper with health, safety or fire equipment

• Report failings and dangerous occurrences

School Safety Handbook(available on the Physics Safety website)

Read It!Hazards may be familiar or unfamiliar:• Chemicals• Cryogens• Electricity• Lasers• Magnetic fields• Nanomaterials• Pressure and vacuum systems• Radioactivity and X-rays

Traffic light System

Laboratory Hazard Information

General Laboratory Safety

• Only use equipment you are authorised to use• Specialist training for chemicals, compressed gases,

cryogens, lasers, radioactive sources & x rays• Respect lab equipment and your colleagues• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear• Use required safety equipment (Risk Assessment)• Do not travel in a lift with cryogens• Do not eat or drink in the laboratory• Do not drink water from taps unless

specifically labelled as drinking water

Risk Assessments

• Required by law• For all experimental work• To identify hazards and precautions• Must be reviewed, e.g. 12 months or if change occurs• Generic RAs and templates on Physics intranet• Individuals sign acceptance• Should be available in labs at all times• Specific RA training is available

Personal Protective Equipment

Ensure it is appropriate

• Workshop areas eye protection is MANDATORY

• Latex gloves very strongly discouraged

Sensitiser, allergy can be very nasty

Nitrile gloves (unless other types specified in RA)

• Other specialist PPE, as per the RA

• DSE Regs. allow for eye tests & equipment

Chemical Safety

• Lab coats, safety glasses and closed shoes are mandatory

• Be aware of chemicals even if you don’t work with them• Hazardous chemicals are marked with orange symbols

& require a COSHH assessment• Don’t handle or mix chemicals you know nothing about,

they may seriously injure or kill you• Clean up after yourself• Take care with unknown spillages • Ensure correct storage and disposal

Hazard Warning Labels

Hazard Warning Labels

Sharps

• Disposable gloves offer no protection against sharps• If contaminated sharp injury, encourage bleeding (within

reason!) and seek immediate first aid• NHS needlestick hotline: 0117 342 3400 • Always dispose of sharps in authorised sharps bins• Two separate bins: glass and metal• Do not mix or overfill, problems with disposal• Stores Manager for disposal and new bins

Working at Height

• Working above the floor, from stepladders, ladders, unprotected edges, etc

• Only permitted if trained by Physics Workshops• Ask assistance / seek appropriate training• Do not use chairs, desks or other

improvised items• 207 major injuries at work in UK in 2008 from

falling off furniture and office equipment!Ref: Health and Safety Executive “Statistics of Workplace Fatalities and Injuries”

Manual Handling

Includes lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling

• Health problemsSprains, strains, cuts, crushesTrapped nerves, hernias, back disorders

• Ask Supervisor or Building Manager for lifting equipment or assistance 

• Strong magnetic field in 1920’s ground floor corridor and the basement service tunnel

• Could interfere with or stop pacemakers and other electrical implants, with potentially serious results

• Be aware – think before entering the corridor• Use 1st floor corridor as an alternative• Use of medical implants is not indicated

by appearance, age or physical fitness

Magnetic Fields

Security

Be aware of potential for

• Vandalism, theft, terrorism and publicity stuntsChemicals, nanomaterials, radioactive sources Information and dataResearch and IT equipment

• Lock unattended labs and offices• Do not allow ‘tailgating’ through main doors• Report all incidents and suspicious activity

Emergency Procedures

• University Emergency Number: (0117 33) 112233• Someone injured, contact:

local first-aider -or- 112233 for first-aider & porter• Complete and return accident report form to SSM• Dangerous incidents, no injury - must report• Reporting allows investigation and future prevention• Some accidents reportable to HSE - RIDDOR

Lone Working

If you are working out-of-hours then you • Must sign in and out using register in foyer• Risk assessment must include out of hours work• Must not involve ‘hazardous’ activities• Ensure telephone or mobile phone coverage • Must have procedures in place, (Buddy System)

e.g. work in pairs, prearranged check in times• Out of Hours Evacuation go to the

main entrance and report in.

If you find a fire

• Sound the fire alarm• Fight the fire only to aid your escape• Evacuate quickly & calmly• Report the fire at earliest safe opportunity:

Fire Brigade: (21) 999 Security Office: (0117 33) 112233 Fire Marshal: red hi-viz jacket

Fire Procedure – On Finding a Fire

Fire Extinguisher Types

Water Paper, wood, etc.Not electrical, liquids or gases

CO2 Electrical, safe on most small fires

On hearing the alarm

• Leave building quickly and calmly• Do not run• Close doors & windows, if safe to do so• Shut down hazardous equipment, if safe to do so• Use nearest fire exits / routes• Don’t use the lifts• NOTE Routine alarm test on Wed @ 08:30 (ish)

Fire Procedure - Evacuation

On hearing the alarm

• Don’t delay to collect belongings• Don’t enter smoke filled rooms• If smoke, keep low to the floor as hot & toxic• Check top of doors are cool with the back of

your hand before opening• Failure to evacuate immediately may result in

disciplinary action

Fire Procedure - Evacuation

Fire Procedure - Evacuation

Electrically locked security doors

• Interface of NSQI & Physics, teaching labs, corridors etc• Most doors auto release• Push door first, if not unlocked then break glass

release button• If you break glass notify Porters or

Buildings Manager for replacement

Fire Procedure - Evacuation

On exiting the building

• New temporary assemblypoint

• Report to designatedassembly point promptlymoving away from entrances

• Don’t create hazardon Tyndall Avenue

Tyndall Avenue

Security Lodge

Royal Fort House

NSQI

On exiting the building

• Supervisors to confirm all team present• Report missing personnel & disabled persons left at

Refuge Points• Remain at assembly point until advised otherwise• Do not wander off - it may be assumed that

you are trapped in the building• Don’t re-enter the building until told to

even if the bells stop ringing

Fire Procedure - Evacuation

People with disabilities

• Require Personal Emergency Egress Plan (PEEP)• May need assistance of volunteers or nominated

personnel• Evacuation lifts are available • Refuge points on stairwell landings have

communications with the porters

Fire Procedure - Evacuation

First Aid & Local Geography

Know your nearest

• First aiders• First aid boxes• Emergency Exit• Evacuation Assembly Point• Emergency showers• Eye wash stations

Further Information

• Lecturer, Supervisor or Lab Technician• School Safety Manager

Mark Cheshire, Room 3.28, ext. 88940• School Safety Advisor

Peter Barham, Room 3.17, ext. 88711• School of Physics Safety Website

www.phy.bris.ac.uk/safety/

Summary

We have looked at

• Responsibilities • Safety Handbook• Risk assessment• General safety procedures• Security• Emergencies & Fire

Thank You!

Any Questions?