Issue3/MS-May-2003
Issue 2/MS-Nov-2001
Revised & submitted 16Nov95
Issue 1/MS 10Mar95

Risk Assessment for Laboratory 7 (R1 G15-18) 

Lab 7 is situated on the ground floor of the East wing of Building R1. It has access to both the main east/west corridor of R1 and to the outside via a large folding door. Egress is assured as both doors can be opened without a key even if locked.
Lab 7 is a general-purpose laboratory for the Calorimetry Group and as a result is an area where a variety of tasks are carried out. 
The tasks may be described as: manufacturing, testing, data acquisition and storage. 

•	Manufacturing of mechanical and electrical systems may require the use of hand tools, 	
machine tools, soldering, grinding, cutting and polishing.

•	Testing can involve using radioactive sources, UV and visible sources, high voltages, 	
UV and visible lasers, flammable gases, cryogenic and vacuum equipment.

•	Data acquisition may require the use of computers and visual display units.

•	Storage equipment and materials which may include glasses, hardware, solid, liquid 	
and gaseous chemicals and radioactive sources. Any of these may be, heavy, flammable, 	sharp edged or any combination.  

These lead to the risk:
•	of physical injury
•	of fire
•	of electric shock
•	of exposure to ionising, laser, UV radiation
•	of contamination from, exposure to, chemical substances	
•	from pressurised  gasses
•	from vacuum systems
•	from cryogenic systems

The laboratory is sub-divided into areas, so that work in a specific area may be carried out in the safest possible way. 
They are: 
1.	Workshop (specific assessment, see ref.1)
2.	Glass and chemical handling
3.	Optics (darkroom)
4.	General
PTO

Good working practises will help reduce the dangers from these risks, particular points to note are:
•	passageways and doorways should be kept clear at all times as should access to fire extinguishers	and breakglass fire alarm
•	if flying leads have to cross passageways, they should be properly protected and secured
•	ionising radiation sources are normally kept in Health and Safety Group through Fran Childs, if	they are used in the lab then appropriate warning notice must be displayed and Unauthorised	Personnel access restricted, temporary storage is available in PPD’s “Radiation Safe” in lab 9
•	the glass and chemical handling area has a fume cupboard with a filtered extraction system, the	area also has an extractor fan and so any use of chemicals (other than very small quantities)	should be restricted to this area
•	chemicals should only be stored in appropriate containers and should be clearly labelled, after use	they should be returned to the special storage cupboard, COSHH regulations in force where	applicable
•	hand tools should only be used by persons conversant with their proper use or be supervised by	such a person, appropriate protective equipment should be used
•	any work which involves exposed mains or high voltage terminals should not be carried out while	working alone  
•	some of the equipment in use is heavy and/or awkward, therefore, recommended procedures for	safe manual handling should be followed if the equipment is lifted
•	the optics area is effectively a confined space and so personnel should not work inside without the	ventilation fan being on
•	laser and UV light sources should only be used in the optics area which has permanent warnings	displayed and protective equipment available
•	when lasers or UV light sources are in use appropriate protective equipment must be worn, warning	signs displayed, under certain specific conditions lasers may be operated with exposed beams at	which time the door interlocks the laser and external illuminated warning sign indicates the	operation of the laser
•	when compressed gases are used only the correct type of regulator should be used, bottles should	be stored in appropriate stands, and only piping of sufficient pressure rating used for any	interconnections - in addition, if flammable suitable extraction and safety cut-off systems should	be used
•	when vacuum systems are in use pumps should be vented externally, only proper vacuum fittings	should be used and if any glass components are used appropriate measures taken to reduce the	risk of damage

This concludes the general assessment of lab 7, provided the above comments are noted and all warning signs obeyed then no serious risks are associated with working in this area.
PTO

Additional risk assessments relating to specific pieces of equipment or particular activities will be dealt with separately and referred to below.

ref.1 – Workshop, Risk Assessment for Lab 7 Workshop.doc at
http://hepwww.rl.ac.uk/Cmsuk/ppd_general.htm

Additional Rutherford Appleton Laboratory safety documents whose recommendations must be followed in respect of work in this area are:
RALSC3  Electrical safety
RALSC8  Use of portable electrical equipment
HSN3    Apparatus left working during silent hours
HSN20  Radiation Protection
HSN29   Fire prevention
HSN41   Safety of visitors
HSN47   Personnel working alone
HSN51   COSHH Regulations
GENERAL Signs and warnings

This information is now available on the Health & Safety web site at
 http://www-internal.clrc.ac.uk/staff/health_safety/