Health and Safety in Electrical Laboratories

Please read the following carefully

HOUSE RULES

  1. Eating and drinking are not permitted in any of the schools laboratories. In addition, smoking is not permitted within any University building or on Campus grounds.

INTRODUCTION

  1. Electrical and mechanical equipment and components can be dangerous. The Health and Safety at Work Acts place on everyone the obligation to take responsibility for the health and safety not only of themselves, but also of others who may be affected by his acts or omission at work.
  2. There are many types of hazard to be guarded against. Some are fairly obvious, such as bare conductors or moving parts. Others are less readily apparent, but equally dangerous and include such things as slippery floors, toxic fumes, transient voltages, etc. You will need to be aware of all hazards associated with your work and also how to take measures to minimise any likelihood of injury.
  3. It is also important to recognise that an experiment which is reasonably safe under laboratory conditions may be lethal if conducted under rather different conditions. The rules which follow should therefore be taken only as a guide to safe conduct with normal laboratory equipment under normal laboratory conditions. If it should be necessary to use unfamiliar equipment, or to work in other environments, the student should always first seek further authoritative advice. A risk assessment is required from each and every student before any research/ project work is carried out. The risk assessment must adequately identify all hazards associated with the activities undertaken.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  1. Normal work hours in the laboratories are between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday inclusive. If you need to work in the School outside these normal hours, you must obtain written permission from the Head of School after consulting your supervisor and undertaken a risk assessment which carefully notes that the work is outside of normal hours. Information In no case would this allow performing experimental work alone.
  2. When working in the School outside normal hours, you should ensure that all access doors, including those leading to inner rooms which may be in use, are kept locked. Do not approach intruders if you are alone in the School. Windows and doors should be secured and lights switched off before leaving the building. Check that the outer door is locked.
  3. No person is permitted to work alone on energised equipment at any time. If any supplies whatever are to be switched on (including apparatus connected to the 240V mains), there must be another person within sight and sound. He/she must be competent to switch off supplies, raise an alarm, and apply resuscitation; he/she should have attended a resuscitation lesson.
  4. Particular care is needed when dealing with unfamiliar apparatus, or when working in unfamiliar circumstances. Always consult the instruction book before using any new apparatus. If you have any doubt about how to use equipment, seek the advice of a person who is familiar with the problems.
  5. In each laboratory, notices are prominently displayed which give telephone numbers for use in an emergency, and also give advice on how to apply resuscitation. Make sure that you know where these notices are and that you have read them.
  6. Particular care should be exercised when handling equipment capable of storing energy, e.g. batteries, current-carrying inductors and charged capacitors.
  7. Never work with wet hands, wet clothing, or wet bench or floor surfaces.
  8. Be on your guard against stroboscopic effects either from fluorescent lighting or from stroboscopes, which can make rapidly moving parts appear stationary.
  9. Loose clothing and long hair are very dangerous near moving machinery. Never work wearing overcoats or scarves, and secure ties and long hair.
  10. Report immediately any damaged or faulty equipment to laboratory staff, and do not attempt to use any damaged equipment.

 

Please complete the following electronic form. By completing and sending this form you are agreeing the conditions above

http://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=2254

Your Smartcard will be updated to authorise entry into the schools teaching laboratories, normally within 2 working days.