1 An Introduction for Engineering, Science and Medicine staff to safe laboratory practice Presented...

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An Introduction for Engineering, Science and Medicine staff to

safe laboratory practice

Presented by Lance Islip

Laboratory Safety Awareness

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Course Outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• Participate in safe laboratory conduct

• Access safety literature including Australian Standards

• Identify , assess and control risks for plant, equipment and chemicals

• Develop good housekeeping practices

• Select and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

OHS in your area

What do you know about the OHS systems for:• Access to your lab facilities (or other restricted zones)• Emergencies (evacuation, spills, contamination, fire)• Chemicals• Waste• Protective clothing and equipment• Managing hazards and risks• Plant and Equipment• Training• Purchasing of laboratory supplies or new equipment• What documentation exists for these (Government, UNSW,

School, lab, etc that you know of)

OHS729 Laboratory Review form 4

OHS in your area

What OHS documents should be in a laboratory or workshop:• Register of RA’s and SWP’s• Emergency procedures• Chemicals register• MSDS’s• Plant and Equipment register• Maintenance schedule• Equipment log books for use and maintenance• Training records• Equipment manuals

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1. Always wear appropriate clothing as well as PPE

2. Never adopt a casual attitude

3. Do not store or consume food or drink

4. Keep the laboratory locked

5. Maintain good housekeeping practices, including cleaning up spills and disposing of wastes correctly

6. Look after your visitors

Safe Conduct

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Selection, use and storage for:• Protective footwear• Protective clothing• Eye protection• Gloves• Respiratory protection• Hearing protection

Supporting UNSW Documentation:• OHS659 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guideline

Personal Protective Equipment

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The least effective control measure – the hazard still exists.

Protection in the laboratory for:• Eyes• Limb and body• Hearing• Respiratory

PPCE needs to be:• Suitable, properly maintained, meet standards• Provided with training


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• Workers who rely on PPE must understand the functioning, proper use, and limitations of the PPE used.

• Protects only the wearer, and does not protect anyone else.

• Must be assessed on a case by case basis.Wearing PPCE outside the lab?

• Hazard present?

• Public exposed – not protected

• Contamination issues

• Fear in others


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Protective Footwear

How could this happen in a lab/workshop?

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Step 1: Identify workplace hazards, eg chemicals, slippery floors, falling objects, flying objects, sharp materials, oily surfaces, hot surfaces.

Step 2: Use Australian Standard 2210 Part 1 to select the footwear typeselect the preferred upper and sole material and

sole design

Step 3: Factors to look at include:chemical resistanceslip resistancepenetration resistanceelectrical conductivity propertiesanti-static propertiesheat resistance

Protective Footwear - Selection

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Protective Footwear - Types

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• Lab coats are appropriate for minor chemical splashes and spills

• Plastic or rubber aprons are best for corrosive or irritating liquids.

• When cleaning and decontamination of reusable clothing is difficult, disposable outer garments may be useful

• Not to be stored on workbenches, backs of chairs etc

Protective Clothing

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Eye Protection

Safety Glasses

•lenses are impact resistant and frames are far stronger

•should have side shields and should be worn whenever there is the possibility of objects striking the eye.

•not appropriate for dusts, powders or liquids

Chemical Splash Goggles•worn when there is potential for splash from a hazardous material•chemical splash goggles should have indirect ventilation•some may be worn over prescription glasses

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Face Shields

• Use when working with cryogens or large volumes of hazardous materials, for protection from splash to face or flying particles

• Face shields can be used in conjunction with safety glasses or goggles

Contact Lenses

• Contact lenses may be worn in the laboratory

• They do not offer any protection from chemical contact

• If contaminated with a hazardous chemical, rinse the eyes using an eyewash and remove the lens immediately

Storage

• Safety glasses, goggles and Shields should be stored in a drawer/cupboard (i.e. not on bench) to avoid contamination

Eye Protection

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Asian nose bridge Vs Caucasian bridge

Eye Protection

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Eye Protection

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Gloves

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Gloves should be worn if there is a physical, chemical or temperature hazard

For Chemical Hazards consider the following: • degradation rating • breakthrough time • permeation rate • Compatibility information

For Physical and Temp hazards:• Leather• Fabric• Insulation• Loop pile

Gloves

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Dexterity – Grip – Size – Length• Consider double gloving, replace outer glove if splashed• Wear tight-fitting glove over loose glove to increase

dexterity• Ribbing, granular finish, felt• Too tight causes fatigue

Inspection – Use – Care – Storage• Inspect before each use, test for pinholes• Wash before removing• Change disposables as soon as contamination occurs• Do not touch other surfaces whilst wearing• Do not store open glove containers near chemicals• Ensure gloves are not stored on top of chemical

containers

Gloves

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Respiratory Protection Initial Hazard Assessment

This may involve measuring exposure levels.

Respirator Selection •half-face or full-face air purifying respirator, •powered air purifying respirator, supplied air respirator or SCBA•appropriate type of filter or chemical cartridge is selected

Training and Fit-Testing •Qualitative fit-testing using irritant smoke•Positive and negative pressure checks

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Class P1

Filters particles from inhaled air.

• Must have a correct fit/seal on face.

• Beard/stubble make these ineffective.

Surgical masks

Filters particles from exhaled air

• Fluid resistant to infectious material splash or spatter

• Protects others from your microbes

• No protection from inhaled dusts unless also rated to P1.

Respiratory Protection

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Respiratory Protection

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Workers exposed to loud or excessive noise must be provided with hearing protection

Should be:

• compatible with the job

• hygienic

• comfortable

• able to provide audibility of warning noises

•OHS708 Noise Management Procedure

Hearing Protection

Risk Assessment

When do you need to do a risk assessment?

Who needs to write and approve the risk assessment?

Things to remember when writing a risk assessment:

• Specify type of PPE

• Refer to MSDS and Manufacturers Manuals

• Consider hazard types

• Emergency Procedures

• Are all steps of the Activity addressed?

• Additional Controls

• Review timeframes

• Review effectiveness of controlsOHS329 Risk Assessment and Control Procedure

OHS017 Risk Assessment and Control Form

OHS643 Hierarchy of Chemical Risk Controls 26

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The SWP is a control measure identified in the risk assessment and includes:

• Step by step instructions for undertaking the task safely

• Specific precautions required

• PPCE to be provided and worn

• Emergency shutdown

• Waste disposal

• Authorisation, training and review

• OHS027 Safe Work Procedure Guideline

• OHS026 Safe Work Procedure Form

• OHS701 Personal Protective Equipment signs

Safe Work Procedures

Display them near the equipment. Some people even have a photo of the custodian on it.

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Safe Work Procedures

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• Plant safety

• Electrical safety

• Safe Working Procedures

• Gas Cylinders

• Fume Cupboards

Plant Safety

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Plant includes all machinery and equipment, both stationary and mobile, tools and implements used in the laboratory eg:

• Computers, manual handling equipment, microscopes, freezers, gas cylinders, ladders, drying ovens, autoclaves

Injuries that result from unsafe plant range from minor burns and cuts to traumatic injuries such as broken bones, amputations and death eg:

• hit by moving plant, • caught or crushed in plant, • Cuts and bruises from hand tools, • Strain and overuse injuries from poor posture and operating

positions

Plant Safety

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Plant Safety

Activity

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Plant Safety

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• Only use plant for which you have been trained

• Always use safety devices provided

• Wear appropriate clothing

• Wear the PPE provided

• Read the Safe Working Procedure provided

• Lock out/tag out procedure• Consider safety as a priority in plant design• Purchase plant with safety devices installed• Budget for training of staff and students• Assess competency of staff• Ensure that maintenance can be done safely

Plant Guidelines

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• Guarding

• Operational controls

• Emergency stops and warning devices

• Mandatory design standards

• Operator competencies

• Registration requirements

• Maintenance and repair

• Dismantling, storage and disposal

• OHS327 Plant and Equipment Procedure

• OHS728 Plant design Guideline

• AS 2243.6 – Safety in Laboratories Plant and equipment aspects

Control Measures for Plant

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Plant Safety

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Plant Safety

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Plant Safety

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Plant Safety

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Plant Safety

Working at heights

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Management and Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that:

•Use of ladders should only be considered if other safer alternatives, such as scaffolding or elevating work platforms, are not reasonably practicable

•Risk Assessments are carried out for activities involving working at heights

•Safe Work Procedures or guidelines are developed specifically for these activities

•All identified Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment (PPCE) is available and in good order before work commences

OHS707 Working from Heights Guideline

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Plant Safety

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• Never transport in a lift with people

• Only keep cylinders “in use” in labs

• Check appropriateness of regulator to the cylinder

• Perform leak testing

• Don’t store or transport incompatible cylinders together

• Ensure valve shut

Gas Cylinders

• Open valve fully then back off 2 turns

• Remove regulator to transport

• Use trolley for transport and push trolley in front of you

• Wear PPE to transport

• No oil or grease on oxygen regulators

• Do not drop, roll or drag cylinders

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Working safely with electricity

• Check that laboratory electrical equipment has been tagged

• Do not use double adaptors – poorly designed with no overload protection

• Use RCDs on powerboards and extension leads

• Powerboards must be correctly mounted

• Use extension cords as a temporary measure only

• Do not bring untested electrical equipment into the workplace

Electrical Safety

A source of energy sufficient to ignite combustible dusts, flammable vapours or gases etc. Examples include:

(a) a naked flame,

(b) exposed incandescent material,

(c) hot surfaces,

(d) radiant heat,

(e) a spark from mechanical friction,

(f) a spark from static electricity,

(g) an electrical arc,

(h) any electrical, electronic, mechanical or other

equipment.

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Ignition Sources

Spill preparedness and response

All laboratories must have:• Procedures for potential emergencies• Spill kits• Training sessions/drills to ensure all lab users know how to

respond to an emergency

UNSW Documentation:• OHS421 Chemical Spills Guideline• OHS301 PCB Spill Response and Disposal Procedure• OHS305 Spills Procedure – Mercury• Science Faculty OHS site http://www.med.unsw.edu.au/ohswebsci.nsf• Medicine Faculty OHS site http://ohs.med.unsw.edu.au/ohsweb.nsf 45

Spill preparedness and response

• Contain the spill

• Absorb the spill

• Dispose of used

materials

• Report the spill

• Restock spill kit

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• Domestic• Broken glass• Sharps• Chemical• Biological• Cytotoxic

• Animal carcasses• Radioactive• Schedule 8• Human tissue• Co-mingled• General laboratory

waste

Waste Segregation and Disposal

All waste needs to be segregated into its waste stream according to the UNSW Hazardous Waste Procedure.

Documentation:• OHS014a Waste Disposal Form - Chemical – UNSW• OHS321 Laboratory Hazardous Waste Disposal Guideline

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Waste DisposalChemical waste treatment and disposal

• Store the waste correctly – appropriate containers, bunding

• Label the waste accurately (contact name, date, inventory)

• Segregate the waste – do not mix incompatible chemicals

• Submit a chemical waste inventory form to Facilities Mgt fax x54532

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Options for biological waste treatment and disposal

• Bio-waste to go into a labelled bio-waste bag and put it into the yellow

bins (these are collected by the contractor and autoclaved), or

• Autoclave the labelled bio-waste and put it into the yellow bins, or

• Autoclave the waste AND VALIDATE THE LOAD, then de-identify the

waste by putting it into a robust black plastic bag which goes into the

domestic waste

Note: Chemically decontaminated liquid bio-waste is now chemical waste and must only be collected by the chemical contractor.

WASTE DISPOSAL

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Fume Cupboards

It’s all about the air flow

• Understanding how this equipment works is knowing where the air goes and how it is treated.

• Is it filtered, ducted, recirculated, cleaned?

• Which way does it go

• Turbulence and obstructions– Cabinet Choice needs to be risk based

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Bench Type Ducted Fume Hood• Used for decanting &

mixing:• Volatile solvents• Corrosive liquids• Toxics if inhalation risk exists• Control of Noxious odours• It captures, dilutes and

exhausts fumes to external atm.

Use of fume cupboards

• Max allowable volumes should be known– E.g. max flammables 7.5L/m2 of base

• Pre use checks to be made– Clean and free of contamination

– Enough space to work safely?

– Extinguisher handy?

– Chemicals not required are removed

• During use – Minimum possible chemicals present

– Reduced reaction rates

• Sash position is important

– Use PPE to perform the work

– After use requirements too.

Sash position is critical

Traffic is an issue too

Recirculating fume cabinets

• Rely on filtration or absorption

• Discharge directly into the lab

• Suitable for light to moderate use with a limited range of substances


• Do Not Use:– Where more than 50mL of corrosive liquids are involved in a rxn that

generates fumes

– Where acid digestions are carried out

– For perchloric acid digestions

– For infectious organism handling

– For carcinogenic material (Cat 1 & 2) except where chemisorbed onto the filter

– For radioactive materials exceeding 10x Annual Limit of Intake for inhalation

– Where temp and humidity may affect filter operation


• Ensure substances used are compatible with filters used

• Do not use for storage

• Do not use after major spills – replace filters

– Treat spills in RFC’s as if they were on the bench!

• Determine filter saturation monthly if not fitted with auto monitors

• Avoid Bunsen use. Keep away from sides (15cm) and the filter (30cm).

• Keep a logbook of:

• Filter change, substances used, volumes used, hours of operation, spill records.

• Periodic monitoring of the exhaust

• Check filter efficiency test certificate sticker date (also for BSC’s)


This is NOT a fume cabinet

Do not get them confused

Biological safety cabinets

• These DO NOT filter or absorb any hazardous fumes, vapours or gases.

• They recirculate 70% HEPA filtered air– This also recirculates the vapours leading to

hazardous atmospheres– Also not spark proof, so can ignite the vapours

• 30% HEPA air is returned to the lab

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Cytotoxic drug safety cabinet

•Intended specifically for handling injectable cytotoxic drugs, but may have wider application in the handling of other hazardous drugs and materials.•These applications may require additional precautions.

Cytotoxic drug safety cabinet

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Chemical Labelling

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Information about chemicals - Labelling

You must label the following if they contain Hazardous Substances (except if they are used and cleaned immediately):

• Decanted substances• Mixtures/formulations/preparations • Research/laboratory samples and finished

products • Reaction intermediates and waste-products • Substances in enclosed systems e.g. pipes and

vessels containing hazardous substances

• OHS429 Labelling of Hazardous Substances Guideline

Labelling

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Chemical Safety - Labelling

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Chemical Safety - Labelling

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Labelling

• Manufacturer• Signal words and/or DG

Class– HAZARDOUS, WARNING, POISON, FLAMMABLE, TOXIC

• Chemical and trade names in full

• Risk & Safety phrases, UN #

• Emergency – spills, fire,

leaks, equipment types to

use

• First aid

• Dates?

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• Signal words and/or DG Class, UN # – HAZARDOUS, WARNING, POISON, FLAMMABLE, TOXIC

• Chemical and trade names in full

• Risk & Safety phrases

• Emergency – spills, fire, leaks, equipment types to

use

• First aid

• Dates?

Labelling decanted containers

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• Must be accessible – hard copy or electronic

• Must be no more than 5 years old

• Must be used during risk assessment

• Helps decide on airborne contamination monitoring

• Check for adequacy of emergency and spill procedures

• Can be used as the risk assessment if used as directed

• Should go with an injured person to the doctor or hospital

• Need more information? Use other sources such as...

Chemical Safety - MSDS

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www.CHEMALERT.unsw.edu.au

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http://hsis.ascc.gov.au/

Chemical Safety - HSIS

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http://hsis.ascc.gov.au/SearchHS.aspx


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Chemical Safety - ADG Code

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Safety in the Laboratory

Operational aspects:• Audits• Inspections• Staff/students leaving the laboratory

• OHS734 Chemical Audit Checklist• OHS614 Chemical Substances - auditing checklist• OHS048aWorkplace OHS Inspection Checklist -Offices, General

Labs & Workshops• OHS704 Laboratory Decommissioning Checklist

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Safety LiteratureUNSW OHS website

• www.ohs.unsw.edu.au

Australian Standards

• Available through OHS website

WorkCover NSW website

• www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

Safe Work Australia

• http://safeworkaustralia.gov.au/

Safety sign maker

• http://www.stclaire.com/safety_sign_builder/ssb-panel.php

Safety equipment websites

• www.seton.net.au

• www.ansell.com.au/specware/search.asp

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Other OHS Training

• OHS Awareness online• Hazardous Substances • Bio - Safety and Infection Control• Working Safely with HF (theory!)• Radiation Safety Training• Gene Technology for Researchers

• Evaluation Form

• Attendance Register

• Questions?

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