Laboratory Safety Lecture

Dr. Philip Hall

 Safety Notice !

Please put your phones and

laptops away
 Staff Members

Academics

Head

Deputy
Head
 Academic Staff
• ~65% international
• 100% of staff have international
experience
– PhD
– Postdoctoral
– Industrial experience
– E.g. the UK, the USA, Belgium, Australia,
Malaysia Singapore, Bangladesh

• The knowledge and skills learnt are

internationally recognised and applicable
 Awards
• Municipal First Class Discipline For Chemical
Engineering and Technologies
• Provincial First Class Discipline for Chemical
Engineering and Technologies
• Municipal Key Course Environmental Engineering
• Provincial 13th Five-Year Plan Undergraduate
Distinction Course Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering, Provincial 12th Five Year
Plan Emerging Featured Course

8 October 2019 Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering 5

 Graduates
• Over 80 % of Graduates in Chemical and
Environmental Engineering go on to further
education

• Over 75% of Graduates in Chemical and

Environmental Engineering between 2012-2017
went to QS Top 50 ranked Universities.

• Over 80% of Graduates in Chemical and

Environmental Engineering in 2016-2018 went on
to study at QS Top 10 ranked Universities.

• Last Year 95% of graduates went top ten ranked

Universities
 Graduates
• What do they do?
PhD’s 10% of our Graduates go on to do PhD’s

6 Students have won Full Scholarships at Cambridge and

Oxford

Many others have received full Scholarships at University’s

around the world

99% of graduates studying Chemical Engineering last year

went on to further education or found work within 90 days of
graduating

100% of graduates studying BRICSBRIEnvironmental

Engineering last year went on to further education or found
work within 90 days of graduating
 Plagiarism
• If you do not understand Plagiarism
speak to your Personnel Tutor
• The Departments Policy is to give 0
marks for work that is proved to be
plagiarized.
• If you are caught cheating in an
exam you will get 0
 Mental Health
• Stress and pressure
• Difficulty concentrating or lack of motivation
• Sleeping difficulties
• Concerns about the effects of alcohol or
drugs
• The death of a close friend or family
member
• Loneliness
• Worries about work, study, friends and
family
• Relationship concerns
• Difficulty coping with cultural differences
• Feeling depressed, anxious, suicidal
• Other personal and/or mental health
problem
 Mental Health
If you think you have any problems
speak to your personnel tutor or any
many of staff who you feel comfortable
with.
or
Contact the Counselling Services
 What C&E Engineers do?

What is Chemical &

Environmental Engineering?
 What is Chemical
Engineer?
Chemical engineers create and develop the
processes to produce, change or transport products
and materials.
They use their maths and science knowledge to
investigate problems and design solutions for issues
such as safety, efficiency and sustainability, and
these skills can open the door to:
plenty of variety and exciting challenges
opportunities to travel the world
the potential to help create a sustainable planet
competitive starting salaries
professional status - become a Chartered Chemical
Engineer
 What is Chemical
Engineer?
Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering
that uses principles of chemistry, physics,
mathematics, and economics to efficiently use,
produce, transform, and transport chemicals,
materials, and energy.
A chemical engineer designs large-scale processes
that convert chemicals, raw materials, living cells,
microorganisms, and energy into useful forms and
products.
Chemical engineers are involved in many aspects of
plant design and operation, including safety and
hazard assessments, process design and analysis,
control engineering, chemical reaction engineering,
construction specification, and operating
instructions.
 What is Environmental
Engineering?
• The application of science and engineering principles
to improve the natural environment (air, water, and/or
land resources).

• To provide healthy water, air, and land for human

habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate
polluted sites.

• It involves waste water management and air pollution

control, recycling, waste disposal, radiation protection,
industrial hygiene, environmental sustainability, and
public health issues.
 What is an Environmental
Engineer?
• Environmental engineers are engineers for the future.
• Working alongside engineers from other disciplines the
environmental engineer is the key figure providing
sustainable solutions to problems.

– Environmental Protection
– Water treatment
– Process Engineer
– Education
– Sustainability
– Technology and Consulting
– Economic Sustainability
– Government
– Social Sustainability
 What C&E Engineers do?

Design (chemical) processes that are:

SAFE

PROFITABLE
 What C&E Engineers do?

“The primary duty of a

chemical engineer is to
retire, not having killed
anyone”
 Process vs. Lab Safety
• As Chemical and Environmental Engineers you will need to
design processes that are safe.
• This is generally on a large scale, and requires different
procedures to the lab work you will do in your degree.
• You will learn many different techniques to do process
safety throughout your degrees (HAZOP, HAZID etc).
• You can not do this without understanding exactly the
chemicals/materials you use.
• Process safety is not wearing PPE!

The underling principles of both are the same,

if you don’t fully understand what you are
doing you can not make it safe!
 Why Bother ?
Health and Safety is a contractual obligation for all students
and staff at UNNC.
• Failure to follow Health and Safety Policies Regulations
and Practice is an academic offence.
• The UK Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), the
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
(1999) (MHSWR)
• Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations
(1992)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations -
COSHH (1988)
• Health & Safety at Work (1974)
• Law of the People's Republic of China on Work Safety
(Order of the President No.70
– Article 49 Employees should comply with the policies and
operation standards at work.
 Who has to Comply?

SAFETY

Everyone (e.g. Staff, student, visitor,) has

to comply with, and implement, all
statutory legislation and ensure that all
areas comply with all aspects of safety.
 The ‘Swiss cheese’ model

Successive layers of defence, barriers, and safeguards

Risk = Hazard x Exposure

 C&E Engineering

Who is the person most

responsible
for your safety :
Yourself!
 C&E Engineering
You are the person responsible
for ensuring that any experiment or
work you are carrying out or
supervising does not create a
safety problem to those working
near you

As an Engineer at a top university

you are assumed to be intelligent,
sensible and disciplined
 C&E Engineering
Qualifying Year Students
All essential information comes from the laboratory manuals and
Risk Assessments with which you are supplied. The assessments
are implicit in the instructions, and no separate assessment is
necessary.
Do not deviate from the instructions UNLESS the matter has been
discussed with a member of Staff or Demonstrator on duty.
You will need to prove that you have read and understood this
information before starting practical's.
Part I Students
You will need to show that you can design and conduct your own
experiments in a safe way within the brief of the practical.
Part II Students – Project Work
Students may have to carry out their own Risk Assessments and
procedures before starting lab work. You will receive instruction in
how to do this.

All laboratory work must be

supervised
 The Unexpected

BEWARE THE UNEXPECTED CAN,

AND DOES, HAPPEN
 Why Does it Matter?
Safe working protects:
• You (and your work)
• Other lab workers
• Cleaners
• Visitors
If an accident does occur
• Always call a Demonstrator/Member of Staff.
• All labs have First Aid Boxes and fire extinguishers
• Safety information is posted in the labs
– Emergency numbers
– First Aiders in the School
• Check this information and equipment when you
start work
• Get advice on clearing up spillages etc.
– Don’t leave it to others
 General lab hazards

Common Undergraduate
Hazards
• Chemical hazards
• Fire
• Breakage of glassware
• Sharps
• Spillages
• Extremes of heat & cold
• Electrical equipment
• Pressure equipment & gas
cylinders
Other Hazards
• Biological hazards
• Radiation
 Physical Hazards

Flammables and Combustibles – liquids, solids, and

gases
Corrosives substances – in particular acids and bases
Explosive substances – oxidizing chemicals, pyrophobic.
Reactive unstable chemicals
Pressure – compressed gas cylinders
Sensitive Chemicals – Air-sensitive, moisture-sensitive,
chemically reactive
 Chemical Hazards

Flammable Oxidising Explosive Compressed Corrosive

Gas

Toxic Irritant Carcinogenic Dangerous to

Mutagenic the Environment
 Laboratory Safety Rules
Report ALL Accidents and Injuries
(including near miss)
• Do not be late, if you are you may be sent away
• Do not turn up to a Laboratory session without your PPE (you
will not be allowed in)
• Do not take mobile phones other other electronic devices into
the laboratory
• Where PPE at all times
• Do not engage in practical jokes or boisterous conduct in the
laboratory
• Never run in the laboratory
 Laboratory Safety Rules
• No bare arms or legs
• Gloves to be worn when handling chemicals
• Long hair to be tied back above the collar
• Scarves and hoods to be positioned INSIDE the laboratory coat
• If you see ANYONE (including staff) are not wearing PPE, come
and tell me and I will report it
Protecting yourself - Clothing

• 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 - Clothing

• 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 - Clothing
 Protecting yourself - Clothing
Tie Long hair back (and tuck it in)

 
NO STUPID TROUSERS (MALE and FEMALE!)
 Protecting yourself - Lab Coat
There is never an excuse for not wearing
laboratory coat in the lab!
• You have all been issued with a lab
coat, you must look after it.
• Never wear you lab coat outside of
the PMB building, it is there to
protect you, and protect others
from you!
• If you have just arrived at the
university and don’t have a lab
coat like this, speak to a
technician

If you do not bring a lab coat with you,

you will not be able to borrow one and
you will not be able to do the lab
Protecting yourself - Glasses
There is never an excuse for not
wearing laboratory glasses in the lab

• If your glasses are uncomfortable, or

mist up go to the marked area next to
the door to sort them out.
• If they don’t fit properly contact the
demonstrator and get a new pair.
• We will ALWAYS provide you with
laboratory safety glasses
Protecting yourself - Glasses
Protecting yourself - Glasses
There is never an excuse for not
wearing laboratory glasses in the lab

• If your glasses are uncomfortable, or

mist up go to the marked area next to
the door to sort them out.
• If they don’t fit properly contact the
demonstrator and get a new pair.
• We will ALWAYS provide you with
laboratory safety glasses

The ‘Durham Experiment’

Where is the
tomato?
 Protecting yourself - Gloves
• There are many different types of
protective glove. Use the correct
ones according to the materials
and/or substances with which you
will be working
• The most common type you will
use as an undergraduate is nitrile.
• Remove your gloves before using
instruments, and leaving the
laboratory.
• Keep your hands away from your
face, eyes, mouth, and body while
using chemicals.
• Wash hands after removing
gloves.
• Wash your hands before (and
after) going to the toilet
Protecting yourself - Gloves
Protecting yourself - Gloves
Protecting yourself - Gloves
 Protecting yourself - Gloves
Which one is correct?
 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)

Make sure corridor fire

doors and laboratory doors
are kept shut at all times
 Fire Safety – Clothing Fire
• If a fire occurs inform your
supervisor give them all the
information then leave the
building.
• Leave the building as quickly as
possible by the nearest exit do
not pick up belongings
• If your lab coat is on fire, DO
NOT PANIC and RUN
• Use the shower in the lab
• Drop and roll
• Remove the lab coat
• (Cover with a fire blanket)
• Chill any burn with cold water
and seek medical advice
immediately.
Fire Safety – Clothing Fire
 Fire Safety

In an emergency
the first 30 seconds
are the most important
 Fire Safety
• Make sure that you know what
to do:
– If you have a fire
– If you hear a fire alarm
• If a fire occurs inform your
supervisor give them all the
information then leave the
building.
• Leave the building as quickly as
possible by the nearest exit do
not pick up belongings
Every year there is a similar story
of a fire in a laboratory.
Lets make sure it is not UNNC
 Waste Materials
Don’t pour chemicals down
the sink, use the correct
waste disposal
• Part of the Risk Assessment will
be to determine how to dispose
of hazardous waste materials
safely

• Organic/inorganic acid/base etc.

must be segregated into the
correct waste bottle or drum

• Do not put materials down the

drain or in with normal waste
unless authorised to do so
 Waste Materials

Conc. Acid + Organics

(especially HNO3) (e.g. acetone)

Explosion
 Broken Glassware
‘The mark of a chemist’

• 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
 Laboratory Equipment
• Keep your workplace tidy
• Clear up waste, deal with
washing up and put things A tidy laboratory avoids
away as you finish with accidents to everyone!
them
• Make sure everything is
safe before you leave
things unattended
 Fume Hood Work
• You will need to use
certain chemicals in a
fume hood
• No more than 3 people to
a fume hood
• Do not take anything from
the fume hood that is not
covered

• Never use any laboratory

equipment unless you are
trained & have been
authorised to do so
• As well as injuring yourself
you may cause very costly
damage
 Electrical Equipment
• Always do a visual check on
electrical equipment before
use, looking for obvious wear
or defects
• NEVER use defective
equipment
• Never use any laboratory
equipment unless you are
trained & have been
authorised to do so
• As well as injuring yourself
you may cause very costly
damage

If in doubt ask a
demonstrator
 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

If you have an allergy to lab

materials or suffer from a
medical condition which may
affect you in the laboratory (eg
diabetes or epilepsy), ensure
that your supervisor knows
 Spillages
• Report any spillage to
your supervisor
• Clear up spillage
promptly as instructed
• Dispose of any
hazardous material as
toxic waste
Messy workers are usually
poor workers!!
 Gas Cylinders

• You are not trained to use gas cylinders

• Do not touch!

• Cylinders are heavy (> 90 Kg) and can

do serious damage to you if they fall
– Ensure that they are chained when in use
– Move only with a cylinder trolley
 First Aid
If you get any chemicals onto you skin or spill
any on your clothes report it immediately.

• All laboratory technicians have undergone simple

first aid training
– For ALL chemical splashes, wash with plenty of water for 10
minutes
– Control bleeding with direct pressure, avoiding any foreign
bodies such as glass
 Pre-lab Preparation
It is very important that you do some preparation
before you start any laboratory session

You WILL be asked to do some pre-lab preparation

before you start any practical session

This is designed to make sure you understand the

practical you are about to undertake

This may take the form of a ‘pre-lab’ test on Moodle

or you may have to do a full Risk Assessment

If you do not do this, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO

DO THE LAB, and you will receive no marks for that
session
 Completing Your Training
1. Attend the annual safety lecture (you
have now done this)

2. Search for ‘Chemical and Environmental

Engineering Safety’ on Moodle and
enrol.
 When in doubt – ASK!!!
Do not carry out a new
or unfamiliar
procedure until you
have been fully trained
& understand the
precautions necessary
for safe working
DO NOT GUESS!!!!
 Enjoy Your Lab Work!
These procedures and this safety
training are not here to scare you or
to stop you studying science

They are there so that you can be

properly trained to do it safely

Have a safe and successful year in

the department