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Health and Safety Notice
NOTIFICATION OF BUILDING WORKS - <Enter name of building>
IMPACT ON USE OF SAFETY CABINETS DUCTED TO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING
Issued: 18 April 2004
To be implemented from: 28 April 2004
Background
Reason for works: / <Descibe>Commencement of works: / 29 April 2004
Estimated duration of works: / <Describe>
Location(s) of works: / <Describe>
Estimated number of contractors on site: / 20
Normal hours of work: / <Enter start and finish times>
The use of microbiological safety cabinets - which are ducted to the sides of the building - for handling small quantities of solvents and potentially toxic chemicals and radioisotopes as well as during fumigations, may cause problems for scaffolders and the workmen if we fail to put the following additional control measures into place.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT BY 28 April 2004
· All workers in your laboratories are aware of the new procedures
· The necessary signage has been posted
· Any venting of formaldehyde via those exhausts on the side of the building is restricted to between: <Enter start time> and <Enter finish time> on <Enter days of week>. All fumigations must be carried out in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) described in this document
· That no radioisotope work takes place in those safety cabinets that exhaust to the side of the building
· That work with hazardous volatile chemicals is prohibited in these safety cabinets
Signage
The signage listed in Table 1 must be displayed as described.
Table 1: SignageSign / Where displayed / When displayed
/ On the front face of every numbered safety cabinet that exhausts to the side of the <Enter building name>.
The correct numbered sign must be placed on each cabinet. See list below or contact your DSO or Campus / Building Manager: <Managers name>John BarnesGuy FairhurstJoanna FownesChristine HobbsAnna McDaddSarah MuirPeter SchreiberCaroline Woollin if in doubt. / At all times until further notice
/ On the inside of the window adjacent to the relevant duct exhaust. The number assigned to your cabinet is listed in Table 1 of this Notice. As this is a double-sided sign ensure that the correct side faces outwards.
NOTE: for Containment Level 3 laboratories, this sign must be placed at the nearest point OUTSIDE of the lab itself so that the signage can still be accessed even in the event of an emergency evacuation of the lab / At all times when venting formaldehyde
/ This is the flip side of the sign above.
On the inside of the window adjacent to the relevant duct exhaust. The number assigned to your cabinet is listed in Table 1 in this Notice. As this is a double-sided sign ensure that the correct side faces outwards.
NOTE: for Containment Level 3 laboratories, this sign must be placed at the nearest point OUTSIDE of the lab itself so that the signage can still be accessed even in the event of an emergency evacuation of the lab / At all times except when venting formaldehyde
SOP1: Routine fumigation of safety cabinets
Notice must be given to Estates (<Enter contact name> <Enter second / alternative contact>) by email before any routine fumigation with formaldehyde is carried out. You must specify the precise date and time within the allocated slot at which you will need to vent.
Estates will contact the contractors to make the appropriate arrangements. Only once Estates have confirmed by email that it is safe for you to vent your cabinet on the pre-arranged day and time can the fumigation be initiated.
DO NOT START A FUMIGATION UNTIL YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO VENT WHEN REQUIRED.
To fumigate follow the procedure described in your laboratory Code of Practice.
When ready to vent (after <Enter permitted time>) then turn the sign on the window so that the red ‘DO NOT APPROACH’ face is outwards.
This sign must then be reversed so that the green ‘SAFE TO APPROACH’ face is again outwards <Enter time period> after commencing venting.
DO NOT LEAVE THE PROHIBITION SIGN FACING OUTWARDS AS THIS MAY HINDER CONSTRUCTION WORK THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
Once fumigation and venting has been completed, the Laboratory manager must inform Estates of the start and finish times for venting of fumigant. This must be done by email.
SOP2: Routine fumigation of Containment Level 3 laboratories
As described in SOP1 except that;
1. The signage on the window must not be returned to the green ‘safe’ state until the room has been declared safe to enter – this is usually overnight.
2. It must be made clear to Estates that a room, and not only a cabinet, is to be fumigated.
SOP3: Emergency fumigations of safety cabinets or Containment Level 3 laboratories
In the event of a spillage of a Hazard Group 2 or Hazard Group 3 pathogen the emergency procedures described in your Local Code of Practice must be followed.
As there may be a delay between the spillage occurring and it being possible to fumigate it is essential that the contaminated area / cabinet is sealed off and appropriate Biohazard warning signage is posted.
If fumigation is required, the Lab Manager must inform Estates immediately and the procedures described in SOP1 or 2 followed.
Once fumigation has been completed, the Laboratory manager must inform Estates of the start and finish times for venting of fumigant.
SOP4: Use of safety cabinets for isotope work
This must be discussed on an individual basis with the site Radiation Protection Officer (RPO): . Work of this type will only be permitted to continue providing the revised risk assessment (conducted with the site RPO) finds that it is safe to do so either with existing or further control measures.
SOP5: Use of safety cabinets for handling hazardous solvents
The use of microbiological safety cabinets for handling hazardous volatile chemicals is prohibited for the period of the building works unless the quantity, concentration, and toxicity of the chemical is of such low risk that the work could be carried out safely on the bench.
A list of fume hoods, which could be used as an alternative, is available from . However, this may not be in your department or even on your floor, so double containment in sealed containers will be required for transportation between laboratories.
Please place a warning sign on each relevant cabinet; advise all lab workers at the next lab meeting of the impending works giving the reasons why cabinet may no longer be used for this type of work.
Table 2: Duct exhausts from microbiological safety cabinets – <Enter building name>Location: <Describe>
Duct No. / Room Number / Department / Contact Name
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
Location: <Describe>
No. / Room Number / Department / Contact Name
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter Floor number> Floor
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter> / <Enter>
Contact Numbers:
Name / Telephone Number(s)<Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter>
<Enter> / <Enter>
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