Safety in a workshop

• Safety in a workshop is very

important. If a person uses equipment,
tools and machinery, he/she should
have received safety training. This
should ensure that he/she feels
confident in the use of machines and
can operate them without having an
accident or causing an accident to
other people. Below are a number of
exercises that introduce the person to
an understanding of working in a safe
environment.
Before you can use equipment and machines or
attempt practical work in a workshop you must
understand basic safety rules. These rules will help
keep you and others safe in the workshop.

Workshop rules
• 1. Always listen carefully to the teacher and
follow instructions.
•
2. Do not run in the workshop, you could
‘bump’ into another worker and cause an
accident.
•
3. Know where the emergency stop buttons are
positioned in the workshop. If you see an
accident at the other side of the workshop you
can use the emergency stop button to turn off
all electrical power to machines.

• 4. Always wear an apron as it will protect

your clothes and hold lose clothing such as
ties in place
5. Wear good strong shoes. training shoes are not suitable.

6. When attempting practical work all stools should be put

away.

7. Bags should not be brought into a workshop as people

can trip over them.
8. When learning how to use a machine, listen very
carefully to all the instructions given by the teacher. Ask
questions, especially if you do not fully understand.

9. Do not use a machine if you have not been shown

how to operate it safely by the teacher.

10. Always be patient, never rush in the workshop.

11. Always use a guard when working on a machine.
12. Keep hands away from moving/rotating machinery.
13. Use hand tools carefully, keeping both hands behind
the cutting edge.
14. Report any damage to machines/equipment as this
could cause an accident.
Why does it matter?
• Safe working protects:
– You
– Other lab workers
– Cleaners
– Visitors
– Your work
 How to do a Risk Assessment?

• Determine hazards and evaluate risks

• Use all relevant available data
• Determine controls needed to
minimise those risks
• Document the assessment
• Agree it with your supervisor
• Use those control measures

You will receive specific training on how to do this

in your department
Control Measures (in order of preference)

1. Use a less risky

substance
2. Use a safer form of that
substance (eg solution
instead of powder)
 Control Measures (in order of preference)
3. Totally enclose the
process (eg a glove-box)
4. Partially enclose the
process (eg with a fume
cupboard)
5. Ensure good general
ventilation
Control Measures (in order of preference)
6. Safe systems of work
7. Reduce exposure times,
increase distance,
reduce volumes
8. Personal protective
equipment.
Protecting yourself
• Wear the clothing and
protective wear identified in
your risk assessment
• Laboratory coats must be
kept fastened
• Don’t wear sandals or open
shoes
• Long hair must be tied back
 Protecting yourself - gloves
• There are many different types of
protective glove
• Use the correct ones for the job
you will be doing
• Remember that you need to
select chemical protection gloves
according to the materials and/or
substances with which you will
be working
• Remove your gloves before using
instruments, telephone, and
leaving the laboratory
 Laboratory hygiene
• Never eat, drink or smoke in
a laboratory
• Never apply cosmetics
• Never touch your face,
mouth or eyes
• Never suck pens or chew
pencils
• Always wash your hands
before you leave and
especially before eating
 What are the general hazards in a
laboratory?
• Fire
• Breakage of glassware
• Sharps
• Spillages
• Pressure equipment & gas
cylinders
• Extremes of heat & cold
• Chemical hazards
• Biological hazards
• Radiation
 Avoiding Fires
• Flammable substances
– Use minimum quantity
– Store in special storage
cabinet
– Use temperature-
controlled heating sources
(eg water-bath rather than
hot-plate or Bunsen burner)
 Minimise fire damage

• Make sure corridor fire

doors and laboratory
doors are kept shut at
all times
 Elements of Fire
• Elements of Combustion (Fire Triangle)
• All required for a fire to occur.
• Trend is to include “Chemical Reaction” as
fourth element (Fire Tetrahedron).
 Fire Properties & Chemistry

• Solids do not burn. Gases burn.

• Fuel must release gases/vapors –
may require heating. (Ray Bradbury
– Fahrenheit 451)
• Fuel gases must mix /w Oxygen in
proper proportion (Lean / Rich -
Flammable Range).
• Must be a source of ignition.
 Fire Terms

• Flash Point
• Flammable Range
(Lean/Rich)
• LEL/UEL (LFL/UFL)
• Ignition Temperature
• Flammable vs. Combustible
liquids
• Bonding and Grounding
• 1 - Flash Point – minimum temperature a fuel
must be heated before it will ignite
• 2 - Flammable Range (Lean/Rich) – when there is
an appropriate fuel/air mixture for combustion I.e.
not too lean (too little fuel), not too rich (too
much fuel)
• 3 - LEL/UEL (LFL/UFL) – Lower Explosive
(Flammability) Limit / Upper Explosive
(Flammability) Limit. These are the upper and
lower limits of the Flammable Range.
• 4 - Ignition Temperature – How hot the ignition
source has to be – usually higher than the flash
point.
• 5 - Flammable vs. Combustible liquids –
Flammable liquids have flash points
Combustible liquids have flash points higher than
those. Flammable liquids are at or above flash
point at normal/ambient temperatures.
• 6 - Bonding and Grounding – refers to
procedures to dissipate static electricity during
handling or transfer of flammable/combustible
liquids. Bonding means to electrically bond to
containers. Grounding means to electrically
connecting them to ground
Classes of Fires
Classes of Fires
 Fire Extinguishant Materials

• Water - class A only - cools /removes heat

• Dry Chemical - class A, B, or C - interferes with
chemical reaction
• Carbon Dioxide - class A, B, or C (usually C) -
removes Oxygen / smothers fire
• Halon – (being phased out - ozone) class A, B, or C
(usually C) - removes Oxygen / smothers fire
• Metl-X - class D only - specialized dry chemical for
metal fires
• Foam – Class B, holds down vapors
Fire Extinguisher Features
• Operating lever
• Locking pin
• Pressure gauge
• Discharge nozzle
• Label
– type of extinguisher
(A,B,C,D)
– instructions
 Fire Extinguisher Use

• Select correct extinguisher for class of fire

• Pull the locking pin
• Aim at base of fire
• Squeeze and hold the discharge lever
• Sweep from side to side
• CAUTION - monitor the area, the fire could
re-ignite
• Always notify supervisor of extinguisher use
so it can be replaced or recharged and the
fire investigated
 Glassware
• Use correct techniques for the
insertion of tubing onto
glassware
• Never use glassware under
pressure or vacuum unless it is
designed for the job and suitably
shielded
• Dispose of chipped or broken
glassware – it is a risk to you and
others
• Always dispose of broken glass
in a glass bin or sharps bin and
not in a general waste bin
 Spillages
• Clear up spillage
promptly
• You will already have
determined how to do
this as part of your risk
assessment
• Dispose of any
hazardous material as
toxic waste
 Gas cylinders
• Never use without formal training
• Minimise the number in a laboratory
– Store externally whenever possible
• Cylinders are heavy and can do
serious damage to you if they fall
– Ensure that they are chained when
in use
– Move only with a cylinder trolley
• Use regulators & control equipment
suitable for the gas concerned
• Consider the consequences if your
cylinder leaks
 Cryogenics
• Liquid gasses are extremely
cold and can cause burns
• Liquid gases evaporate and
many can cause
asphyxiation
• If you need to take cryogens
in a lift, there are special
procedures to follow –
speak to your supervisor or
a senior member of
technical staff
• You must have special
training to use them
 Electrical Equipment
• Always do a visual check on
electrical equipment before
use, looking for obvious wear
or defects
• All portable electrical
equipment must have a
current “PAT test” sticker
• NEVER use defective
equipment