Health and Safety…Health and Safety…

Andrew Glidle,Andrew Glidle,Biomedical EngineeringBiomedical Engineering

What is health and safety?What is health and safety?

Why?Why?It’s good for youIt’s good for youIt’s good for othersIt’s good for othersSurvive to complete your PhD!Survive to complete your PhD!

How to work safelyHow to work safelyPlanningPlanningTrainingTrainingRisk AssessmentRisk Assessment

Links to information on School Links to information on School WebsiteWebsite

http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/

Then select ‘Current Students and Staff’Then select ‘Current Students and Staff’http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/studentstaff/http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/studentstaff/

Then select ‘Safety’Then select ‘Safety’http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/studentstaff/safety/http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/studentstaff/safety/

Goes to page with manuals, codes of practice, risk Goes to page with manuals, codes of practice, risk assessment forms etc.assessment forms etc.

Risk AssessmentsRisk Assessments

Common sense, or not?Common sense, or not?

Potential Hazard x Chances of Hazard OccurringPotential Hazard x Chances of Hazard Occurring

…but what’s the scale?…but what’s the scale?

Web based forms Web based forms -- link from Safety website:link from Safety website:

http://web.eng.gla.ac.uk/tools/risk/http://web.eng.gla.ac.uk/tools/risk/

Separate forms for General, Chemical and Bio’ activitiesSeparate forms for General, Chemical and Bio’ activities

Five Steps to Risk AssessmentFive Steps to Risk AssessmentLook for the hazardsLook for the hazards

Decide who might be harmed and howDecide who might be harmed and how

Evaluate the risks and decide whether existing Evaluate the risks and decide whether existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be precautions are adequate or whether more should be donedone

Record your findingsRecord your findings

Review your assessment and revise it if necessaryReview your assessment and revise it if necessary

Online forms guide you through this and make you think Online forms guide you through this and make you think about what can be done to reduce the riskabout what can be done to reduce the risk

InformationInformation

Lots of different activities in EngineeringLots of different activities in Engineering

Senior researchers/staff will often know where to lookSenior researchers/staff will often know where to look

School of Engineering Safety Manual has a list of School of Engineering Safety Manual has a list of contactscontacts

Contact me or Doug IronsContact me or Doug Irons

Be slightly wary of a fellow PhD student’s advice Be slightly wary of a fellow PhD student’s advice ––sometimes it’s very good, sometimes they’re crossing sometimes it’s very good, sometimes they’re crossing their fingers!their fingers!

OnOn--line sources of line sources of informationinformation

http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/

http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/classroomhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/classroom--checklist.checklist.pdfpdf

http://www.http://www.hsehse..govgov..ukuk/electricity//electricity/

First aidFirst aid‘Cuts and bruises’ that don’t involve hazardous materials‘Cuts and bruises’ that don’t involve hazardous materials

-- School has First Aiders in each buildingSchool has First Aiders in each building-- First aid boxes distributed throughout the SchoolFirst aid boxes distributed throughout the School

More serious incidentsMore serious incidents-- Get First AiderGet First Aider-- A & E at Western Infirmary (Dumbarton Road)A & E at Western Infirmary (Dumbarton Road)

Very serious incidentsVery serious incidentsEmergency services ext 4444Emergency services ext 4444

Let Doug Irons know Let Doug Irons know –– procedure and links to accident report forms are procedure and links to accident report forms are in the Safety Handbook and on the SEPS websitein the Safety Handbook and on the SEPS website

If you’re interested in training as a First Aider, contact Doug If you’re interested in training as a First Aider, contact Doug IronsIrons

Main risksMain risks

LiftingLifting

ElectricalElectrical

ChemicalChemical

BiologicalBiological

LasersLasers

MechanicalMechanical

CryogenicsCryogenics

Cuts, burns, trips, fallsCuts, burns, trips, falls

Things falling over…Things falling over…

If you’re unsure, askIf you’re unsure, ask

Don’t do things if you’re unhappy about doing themDon’t do things if you’re unhappy about doing them

Think about all the ways things could go wrongThink about all the ways things could go wrong

ElectricalElectrical

MechanicalMechanical

If you’re lucky - I’m squeamish!

Lasers/Bright lightsLasers/Bright lights

For very bright sources, keep your hands/body out of the way too

ChemicalChemical

BiologicalBiological

In general people with a biological background work safely because otherwise their cultures die, however this only comes after a lot of training/experience

CryogenicsCryogenics

LiftingLifting

GasesGases

Hole in a concrete floor that was made by a gas storage cylinder that ruptured its bottom and jetted upward through the ceiling and into the room above. The gas discharge also blew out the walls of the lab where the tank was stored

MicrofabricationMicrofabrication

Safety video on Safety video on www.jwnc.gla.ac.ukwww.jwnc.gla.ac.uk and and follow the internal login tabfollow the internal login tab

Accidents will happenAccidents will happen

SummarySummary

Think, take your time and ask, understand Think, take your time and ask, understand what you’re doing, and if you’re not sure if it’s what you’re doing, and if you’re not sure if it’s safe to do, don’t do it.safe to do, don’t do it.

…but don’t get paranoid and enjoy what you …but don’t get paranoid and enjoy what you dodo