Health and Safety
- Risk assessing all practical sessions
- Providing first aid and emergency cover
- Running Health and safety induction and training sessions
- Routine maintenance and cyclical replacement of equipment
- Logistical support such as waste stream management and chemical segregation.
The technical team can help with other health and safety enquires such as working with hazardous materials, risk assessment, personal protective equipment (PPE) and electrical safety.
You can download the General Safety Guidelines
Good practice in laboratories
Responsibility of students and researchers
You must take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of yourself and others. You must adhere to university
regulations regarding health and safety, and work in a responsible and safe manner at all times. You will receive specific information regarding fire, first aid, accidents, risk assessment, use of chemicals and equipment.
- Dress properly and appropriately – lab coats should be worn and fastened at all times and open-toe footwear, flip flops or high heels are not worn in laboratories.
- All cuts or abrasions to the hands should be covered with adhesive dressings prior to the practical class.
- Long hair must be tied back.
- Coats and bags should be stored neatly in the facilities provided.
- Avoid ingestion of hazardous substances – no eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum/pencils/nails or mouth pipetting.
- All work must be risk assessed.
- Follow all procedures and instructions carefully.
- Keep your lab bench tidy to reduce exposure to chemicals and accidental spills.
- Label all reagents and solutions appropriately.
- Ensure the correct waste streams are used.
If in any doubt at any stage, stop and ask for advice.
- A lab coat must always be worn.
- Other protective equipment e.g. safety glasses or gloves, must be worn if required.
- Wash your hands prior to leaving the lab.
- Lab coats must not be worn outside laboratory areas, e.g. cafes or in toilet areas.
You are provided with a lab coat when you start your course. If you forget yours, you can hire one for the day from the prep room, 840 Owen, for a £2 donation to charity. Over the last ten years we have raised more than £4000 for local and national charities.
First aid
During normal working hours, First Aid is provided by local First Aiders. The contact details are displayed on the green signs posted near to building exits or at the top of stairwells.
If local First Aid cover is not available or it is outside of normal working hours, First Aid cover is provided by Security staff. They can be summoned by dialling 0114 225 2000, or 888 from a University phone to inform them of the accident and your location. As required, Security Control will call the ambulance service on your behalf as they will be able to direct them to the incident more accurately.
In life-threatening situations e.g. where the casualty is unconscious or is having a suspected heart attack, stroke etc., in order to save vital time anyone can dial 999 (internally) direct. However, they must always get someone to contact security on the internal emergency number 888 to let them know their location so they can provide extra assistance if needed and meet the ambulance.
Any accident, no matter how minor, must be reported. Staff should report accidents and near misses using the online system. Students should come to the Biosciences and Chemistry Technical prep room, 840, Owen. ‘Near-miss’ occurrences should also be recorded, even though no injury has occurred.
Reporting accidents and near misses allows the investigation into possible patterns or identification of things which may be dangerous but have not yet caused an injury. The information can then be used to prevent further incidents.
Fire safety
In the event of an alarm
Continuous – If you hear a continuous claxon stop what you are doing, leave your work in a safe manner and evacuate the building immediately using the stairs, not the lifts. Technical staff are Fire Marshals and will come round the labs to assist in the safe evacuation of all staff and students. Follow the directions on the blue fire notices posted adjacent to the fire alarm call points.
Intermittent – If you hear an intermittent claxon this indicates that an adjacent area is being evacuated, but you are in no danger and may carry on working. However, you must be ready to evacuate if the alarm changes to continuous.
If you have to evacuate the premises
- exit quickly and calmly
- go directly to open air
- close the door behind you but do not lock it
- obey instructions from Fire Marshals
- Do not enter an adjacent building
- Do not stop to collect belongings.
If you discover a fire
- Raise the alarm by breaking the glass of the nearest fire alarm call point
- Inform security control by dialling 888 (from a safe place) and inform them of the fire, security control will call the emergency services
- Should there be any problem or delay in contacting security control, call the Fire Brigade direct by dialling 999 (or 9-999 on an internal phone) and give the correct address of the building and any other information they require. Inform security that you have done this
- Leave the building by the nearest available exit route and report to a Fire Marshal, Security Officer or Fire Officer and provide them with details of the fire
- Do not use the lifts
- Proceed to the assembly point or other location, as instructed.
Training and induction
Teaching
Induction to working in the Bioscience and Chemistry laboratories will consist of a range of activities for example
- a health and safety talk given at the start of the course,
- a health and safety booklet that must be read and the declaration form handed in at Biosciences and Chemistry help desk,
- introductory practicals giving information about working in the laboratories, waste streams, hazard symbols, laboratory housekeeping and some basic techniques,
- short videos made by Sheffield Hallam University students about fire safety and laboratory health and safety.
Fire Safety Video
Laboratory Health and Safety video
Research
Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre (BMRC) researchers will receive an induction consisting of a classroom session and a lab-based session. Topics covered will include fume hood training, spill kit training, information about waste streams and chemical storage systems.
BMRC users will carry out a risk assessment before any practical work and maintain a safety file. The safety file can be used for documenting training carried out, emergency contacts, safety data sheets and risk assessment documents.
All lab users will be involved in the management and housekeeping of the laboratories and will be informed of their rotas and duties.
Detailed information can be found on the BMRC blackboard site which users are signed up to when they start.