Hazardous Substances

Scope

This experimental work instruction applies to the use of High Health Hazard Substances which include those that are classified as, or expected to be, sensitizing, carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (or similar hazard).  It also includes nanomaterials / nanoparticles.

 

Pre-visit

User Principal Investigator shall provide the following to the Diamond Local Contact at least eight weeks prior to the experiment at Diamond:

• Essential Information Requirements (see below);
• Assurances that Users coming to Diamond achieve the relevant Essential Competency Requirements (see below)

 

Pre-experiment

Diamond Local Contact shall ensure that the above pre-visit requirements for the User are achieved.

 

Experimental Setup

Diamond Local Contact & User Visit Principal Investigator shall collaborate to ensure adherence to:

• Essential Experimental Setup Checklist (see below).

 

Operation

Diamond Local Contact & User Visit Principal Investigator shall collaborate to ensure adherence to:

• Essential Operational Checklist (see below).

 

Essential Safety Requirements

High health hazard substances shall be:

• Eliminated or replaced with non-hazardous or less hazardous substances where reasonably practicable;
• Suitably risk assessed, identifying failure modes, safety controls and emergency controls.(ref Essential Hazard & Failure Mode Checklist);
• Used in the lowest quantities / concentrations possible;
• Safely packaged & transported to Diamond, and meet dangerous goods requirements (where applicable);
• Contained or enclosed to minimize handling and contamination risks;
• Suitably ventilated, where enclosure is not possible;
• Clearly labelled including name, hazards and owner;
• Handling: good laboratory practice to be followed when handling materials especially in peripheral lab spaces;
• Notified to high-risk groups (e.g., New and Expectant Mothers (NAEMs), immunocompromised persons, etc.).

 

Essential Information Requirements

Information required:

• A full description of the proposed experimental setup & technical specifications;
• Substance and products details including names, formulas, quantities, concentrations, physical forms, etc.  (This information must be in the Experimental Risk Assessment);
• Control measures required, including whether a glove box or local exhaust ventilation, e.g. fume cupboard, is required.

 

Essential Competency Requirements

Person setting up experimental equipment shall:

• Have sufficient experience of setup, substances, risks and required safety controls to ensure safe setup;
• Have sufficient skills and be practiced in the setup and handling of the substances, risks and required safety controls used in the experiment;
• Have sufficient knowledge of the essential safety requirements of the substances to ensure safe setup.

Persons operating equipment shall:

• Have sufficient experience and be practiced in safe use of the specific equipment, substances, risks and required safety controls to ensure safe operation;
• Have sufficient skills and be practiced in safe use of the specific equipment, substances, risks and required safety controls used in the experiment;
• Have sufficient knowledge of the essential equipment and substances safety requirements, risks, and safety controls to ensure safe operation.  This includes knowing when to stop operations and what to do in the case of an emergency;
• Be suitably supervised if they do not have sufficient skills, knowledge, and experience.

 

Essential Experimental Setup Checklist

• Persons setting up the equipment shall meet the Essential Competency Requirements;
• The Experimental Risk Assessment (lab form, or COSHH assessment) has been read and understood by the persons using the substances;
• Hygiene measures are appropriate, available, and working.  Wet wiping or HEPA vacuuming is needed for nanomaterials;
• Visual inspection of the setup and containment;
• Gas monitoring is in place and functional (where hazardous gases used);
• Modifications from planned setup have been checked by a competent person;
• Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV): Where prescribed, local exhaust ventilation is functioning, is within date (green label), and correctly positioned.  The capture hood is positioned as close to vent / leak sources as practicable and appropriate to the characteristics of the substance being captured (e.g., pressure, density, etc.).  Exhaust tubes are open and secured at least 30cm* into LEV (*check LEV logbook);
• Gases and vapours are listed on the LEV COSHH risk assessment and validated.

 

Essential Operation Checklist

• Persons operating the equipment meet the Essential Competency Requirements;
• Visual check of the setup and containment is carried out before every operation;
• Modifications to the planned setup are done by a competent person and checked against the Essential Experimental Setup Checklist;
• Safety controls stated in the User Experimental Risk Assessment (ERA) (or lab form) are applied, and the ERA has been graded and validated;
• Safety controls stated in both the beamline risk assessment and any Diamond equipment risk assessment are applied;
• Suitable supervision of the experiment is in place to ensure safety;
• No food or drink to be consumed or stored in areas processing or storing high hazard materials;
• Failure modes of the set-up are understood by all persons supervising the experiment;
• PPE identified on the risk assessment is provided, it fits, it is in good condition, and all operators are proficient in its correct usage;
• Emergency conditions and required action is understood by all persons supervising the experiment;
• Emergency actions specific for a leak, spill or other contamination event of high hazard materials during the experiment, the setup / preparation (including peripheral lab use), or post-experiment clearance have been written (identifying the foreseeable emergencies) and are understood by all persons supervising the experiment;
• Emergency action on the fire alarm sounding is understood by all persons supervising the experiment;
• Emergency action on gas detection is understood by all persons supervising the experiment;
• Emergency action on power outage is understood by all persons supervising the experiment;
• If safety issues are identified, the Principal Beamline Scientist (PBS) must be contacted, and the issues resolved before continuing with the experiment;
• Safe and appropriate waste removal has been arranged.  Samples to be removed by User unless agreed otherwise;
• Clean down: All potentially contaminated areas will be cleaned, and any contamination removed (post-experiment);
• PPE and lab wear used in the experiment will be correctly cleaned or disposed of.

 

Essential Hazard & Failure Mode Checklist

The main hazards of high hazard substances are:

• Uncontrolled release;
• Area contamination;
• Exposure of persons at higher risk; and
• Loss of sample.

Principal failure modes are:

• Poor equipment and / or system design;
• Poor installation / setup (e.g., exhaust line falling out of LEV);
• Poor maintenance of equipment;
• Inadequate repairs or modifications;
• An unsafe system of work; and
• Operator error, poor training / supervision.