Workstations in laboratories
met / n/
a
yes / *no
Risk assessment pursuant to § 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Arbeitsschutzgesetz)
Workstations in laboratories / Form 2.0
Seq. No.:
Office:
Group / Author / DateFirst assessment / Yes / No / Last assessment on (date)
Number of employees
1. General / met / n/
a
yes / *no
1. Tasks are only be assigned to individuals who are qualified to perform the task.
2. Employees, who do not yet have the appropriate qualifications for the tests to be performed, only use test setups after receiving approval by a person responsible.
3. The company medical officer initiates the necessary occupational-medical health care.
4. General Laboratory Regulations are available and widely accessible.
5. All individuals working in the lab are trained prior to beginning work and subsequently on an annual basis. The training is documented in writing.
6. Operating instructions for special rooms (e.g., cold rooms, storage rooms) as well as for work procedures and testing equipment where the application or use thereof poses a special risk to employees (e.g., synthesis methods, distillation equipment) are available on-site (hardcopy) and the described measures are observed.
7. Steps have been taken to ensure that all employees (including those who do not speak German) have understood the contents of the General Laboratory Regulation and the operating instructions.
8. The workstations are kept clean and tidy and contamination is immediately eliminated.
9. Hazardous work is not performed alone. If it is, additional organisational and technical measures are taken. Corresponding work and measures are listed in Item 10.
10. Laboratories, to which unauthorised persons have access, are always locked when there are no employees there.
11. Protective eyewear, lab coats and closed, slip-resistant shoes are worn in the lab.
12. Protective eyewear does not need to be worn in laboratories once it has been established that there is no risk to the eyes on account of the work processes and activities. Such processes and activities do not involve hazardous substances.
13. Regulations known to every employee stipulate which work necessitates the wearing of protective equipment such as face shields, protective gloves, etc.
14. There is a sufficient quantity of personal protective equipment available and it is worn when needed.
15. No food, drink or tobacco is brought into the laboratories and consumed, and no cosmetics are used.
16. An appropriate social area is available for eating, drinking and for storing food and drink.
17. First aid equipment is available and is regularly inspected for completeness.
18. Lab coats and protective gloves are only worn in workspaces or at workstations outdoors and not in other areas such as offices, cafeterias, social spaces, etc.
19. External staff is only granted access after registration and approval by the person responsible.
20. Before external staff begins work, hazards that emanate from the laboratory are removed or suitable safety measures are determined and the external staff receives instruction.
21. If external staff performs welding, burning or soldering work, there has to be a permit from administration and maintenance.
22. The electrical emergency stop switches are located inside the laboratories near the exit and are marked accordingly.
23. The emergency stop switches for the gas are located outside of the laboratories near the exit and are marked accordingly.
24. Safety-related shortcomings are immediately eliminated such as unsecured compressed gas cylinders or are reported to the designated administration and maintenance for remedy.
25. Equipment and apparatuses that are sent for repair are free of contamination and hazardous substances. Written confirmation, e.g., by means of a release note.
2. Technical safety measures
1. There is sufficient, functional technical room ventilation, e.g., an air change rate of eight times per hour when handling hazardous substances, which is monitored by means of an ambient air “traffic light”.
2. Supply air is routed in such a way that no draft is created.
3. If there is an automated nighttime reduction of the laboratory ventilation system, all employees are aware of this.
4. If there is an automated nighttime reduction, the room ventilation is automatically activated at the start of work.
5. Full ventilation can be reactivated during the nighttime reduction by means of a button or switch.
6. There are sufficient, functioning fume cupboards available.
7. Vertically displaceable front sashes on the fume cupboards are protected against falling down.
8. A warning sign that reads “Keep front sash closed” is posted on the front sash in an easily visible location.
9. The proper ventilation function of fume cupboards is monitored by an automated device (optical and acoustic alarm in case of failure).
10. Safety devices on the fume cupboards are not manipulated and disabled.
11. The ventilation systems (room ventilation, fume cupboard) are regularly inspected.
12. A hand-held fire extinguisher, as a rule, a CO2 extinguisher, is available in the laboratory. The location is marked, known to all employees and kept clear at all times.
13. There are special extinguishing agents (e.g., metal fire powders) or extinguishing sand available for substances that may not be extinguished with water or foam, e.g., alkali metals, silanes.
14. Laboratory doors open in the escape direction and have a window.
Exception: Laser laboratories
15. The doors are kept closed during work.
16. The work surfaces of the working tables are liquid-tight and resistant to the materials being used.
17. The following minimum widths are observed in the laboratory room:
- 1.00 m between workstation and traffic route
- 1.40 m between two opposing workstations
- 1.45 m between two opposing workstations if a passage for a third person is needed
- 0.90 m for pure traffic routes
3. Other risks yes no
1. The floors are level and liquid-tight.
2. Slip hazard, e.g., due to pools of liquid or granulate materials, is immediately eliminated.
3. Long-lasting, unilateral stresses are avoided, e.g., for frequent pipetting motorised pipettes are used.
4. Stools are available for activities that require standing for extended periods.
5. Writing stations are separated from adjacent laboratory workbenches by suitable splash protection.
6. Lab tables with a backsplash or collection basins when handling larger quantities of fluids.
7. Form 5.0 is adapted for computer workstations.
4. Risks as a result of mechanical effects
4.1 Handling of rotating parts yes no
1. Closed systems are used (covers, forced locks).
2. Shields to protect against flying parts are attached.
3. There is a sufficient quantity of protective eyewear available.
4. Hazardous areas are labelled as such or locked.
5. An easily accessible emergency stop switch is available.
6. Parts that are to be opened are protected against falling unintentionally shut.
4.2 Handling of compressed gas cylinders yes no
1. If compressed gas cylinders are placed in the laboratory, the room should be labelled with the W19 warning sign, “Warning: gas cylinders”.
2. The compressed gas cylinders are protected against falling over, e.g., chain.
3. Valves and other parts for significantly oxidising pressurised gases are kept free of oil, grease and glycerine.
4. For oxygen gas only special manometers that are marked in blue with the words, “Oxygen – keep free of oil and gas” are used.
5. The valves on compressed gas cylinders for flammable and combustible gases are opened slowly.
6. No torque-increasing tools are used to open the valves.
7. Compressed gas cylinders whose valves cannot be opened manually are returned (supplier or supply and disposal).
8. Valves on compressed gas cylinders are closed after use.
9. Valves and emergency shut-off devices for the gas are kept free at all times.
10. Compressed gas cylinders are operated with suitable pressure reducers.
11. Compressed gas cylinders are transported with suitable aids and with a protective cap only.
12. The dates for regular inspections are known and are observed.
4.3 Handling of sharp and pointed objects yes no
1. Stoppers are manually drilled on a solid surface.
2. When inserting glass parts into stoppers, hands should be appropriately protected, e.g., protective gloves, cloth.
3. Glass parts are inspected for damage prior to use.
4. Bending torques and tension are avoided by using spherical joints, screw-cap connections or PTFE bellows in conjunction with glass apparatuses.
5. Pointed and sharp objects are stored separately and in special storage equipment.
6. Special puncture-proof containers are available for the disposal of needles, scalpels, etc.
7. The containers are only filled to a point where the lid can be permanently closed without compressing the contents.
4.4 Lifting, carrying and transporting of loads yes no
1. The lifting and carrying of heavy loads is performed as group work.
2. Lifting devices such as cranes or trolleys are used in order to lift heavy loads.
3. Hazardous areas of the lifting devices are marked accordingly.
4. Regular inspections of the lifting devices are performed pursuant to the Industrial Safety Regulation (Betriebssicherheitsverordnung).
5. The manufacturer’s operating manuals are available and accessible.
6. Operating instructions for the “lifting devices” are available, known to all employees and accessible.
7. In order to facilitate the transport of heavy objects, transport aids such as carts, rollers, pallet trucks or forklifts are used.
8. The transport aids are inspected on a regular basis.
9. The manufacturer’s operating manuals are available and accessible.
10. Operating instructions for the “transport aids and forklifts” are available, known to employees and accessible.
11. Appropriate safety gloves are available.
12. Safety shoes with protection in the toe area are made available.
5. Physical hazards
5.1 Use of optical radiation yes no
1. A shield and a reflection cover are available.
2. The corresponding warning label is posted at the entrances to the hazardous area. Label W027, if necessary with added information (UV, wavelength, exposure limit)
3. There is a sufficient quantity of protective eyewear available.
5.2 Use of UV radiation yes no
1. A shield for the UV source and a reflection cover are available.
2. The operating status of the UV lamp is clearly visible.
3. When using high power lamps, any ozone generated is safely discharged, e.g., through the fume cupboard or source extraction.
4. The corresponding warning label is posted at the entrances to the UV area. Label W027, information about the use of eye or face protection
5. All personnel working on UV sources are trained prior to beginning work and subsequently on an annual basis.
6. There is a sufficient quantity of eyewear for UV protection available.
7. Skin-covering protective clothing is available.
8. Products providing light protection are available.
9. Protection against hot UV sources is available.
5.3 Use of laser radiation yes no
1. Class 3R laser systems and higher are registered at the Staff Unit for Health and Safety and Sustainability.
2. A laser protection officer is appointed by the Staff Unit for Health and Safety and Sustainability for Class 3R laser systems and up.
3. Areas where lasers are in use are separate and appropriate warning signs are placed at all accesses.
4. When Class 4 lasers are in operation, a laser warning light is mounted at the access to the area where lasers are in use.
5. Access control to the area where lasers are in use is implemented and observed.
6. All personnel working on laser systems are trained prior to beginning work and subsequently on an annual basis.
7. There is a sufficient quantity of eyewear available for laser protection corresponding to the energy and the wavelength of the laser systems.
8. Operating instructions are available, known to all employees and accessible.
9. There is a sufficient quantity of gloves available that protect the skin corresponding to the energy and the wavelength of the laser systems.
10. The path of the laser beam is encapsulated or shielded.
5.4 Use of ionising radiation yes no
5.4.1 Radioactive materials yes no
1. A permit for the handling of radioactive materials is available for the specified laboratory room.
2. A copy of the permit decision, the Radiation Protection Ordinance (Strahlenschutzverordnung) and the current version of the radiation protection instructions are accessible.
3. Handling of enclosed radioactive materials.
4. Handling of open radioactive materials.
5. The designated radiation protection officer and his/her representative pursuant to the Radiation Protection Ordinance (StrlSchV) are known.
6. Access to the radioactive area is labelled in accordance with the Radiation Protection Ordinance.
7. The hazard group sign for the fire brigade is posted.
8. Steps have been taken to ensure that only trained personnel have access to the monitoring / control area and are active there.
9. Category A individuals who are exposed to radiation as part of their work will be screened annually by the occupational-medical health department.
10. The personal doses of the people working in the control area will be determined (film badge, albedo).
11. The ventilation systems are inspected on an annual basis.
12. Contamination controls are carried out on every working day.
13. Regular function testing of the contamination monitors is carried out.
14. The enclosed radioactive materials >100 times the exemption limits are regularly inspected for damage and leaks by an expert pursuant to the conditions of the permit.
15. In the isotope laboratory, the windows and doors are protected against unauthorised opening (starting at room category RK2, the windows must be sealed).
16. In the isotope laboratory, the windows and doors can be easily decontaminated (do not mount sun blinds inside).
17. In the isotope laboratory, starting at room category RK2, there is function monitoring of the ventilation and alarm signal (low-pressure indicator, optical and acoustic alarm).
18. In the isotope laboratory there are appropriately shielded waste containers.
19. In the isotope laboratory, starting at room category RK2, there is a telephone, which continues to function for a period of time in the event of a power outage.
20. A fume cupboard is available in the isotope laboratory starting at room category RK2.
5.4.2. X-ray radiation yes no
1. The permits or confirmations of notice from the regulatory authority are available for all X-ray equipment.