Safety

Question 1

What are the classes of hazard?

Answer 1

• Chemical
• Physical
• Drugs
• Allergens
• Fire & Evacuation
Biological agents

Question 2

Examples of chemical hazards

Answer 2

Explosives
• Carcinogenic / Mutagenic / Teratogenic
• Corrosive / Caustic / Acidic
• Radioactive
• Symbols – Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of
Chemicals (GHS)

Question 3

Examples of physical hazards

Answer 3

Lifting heavy / awkward weights
• Animal bites (small animals)
• Crush injuries
o larger animals
o gas cylinders falling (and leaking)
• Trips / slips / falls
o and what did you drop?
• Splashes, esp. eyes / mucous membranes
• “Sharps” injuries
o Any skin puncture
▪ Not just accidental self-injection
o Physical injury
o What was introduced into the wound
▪ Toxic?
▪ Infectious?
▪ Will it cause a reaction (local / systemic) in the injured person?

Question 4

What are the potential biological agents hazards

Answer 4

Infectious agents being used
o Hazard groups 1-4
o Based only on risk to humans
• Zoonoses
o Any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate
animals to humans (WHO definition)
o Exotic, e.g. rabies, brucellosis
o Enzootic, e.g. leptospirosis (rodents), toxoplasmosis (cats), ringworm
(large farm animals, esp. cattle)
• Special categories of persons
o Pregnant / “of child-bearing age”
o Immunocompromised
• Institutional approval required

Question 5

What are the potential drug hazards?

Answer 5

Anaesthetics
o Narcotics / hallucinogenics
o Volatile anaesthetics (scavenging)
• Carcinogens / Mutagens / Teratogens
• Controlled Drugs / Access
• Radioactive
• Excretion / urine / faeces
• Carcase disposal

Question 6

What are the allergen hazards?

Answer 6

Laboratory animal allergy (LAA)
• Know your status
• Do you suffer from asthma, or other respiratory conditions?
• Use PPE & RPE, and follow procedures
o Masks must be FFP3 or equivalent

Question 7

What to do in the case of fire and evacuation?

Answer 7

Turn off gases that may contribute to a fire (e.g. oxygen)
• If working with animals: -
o Return the animal to its cage, or to a recovery cage, if appropriate
o Otherwise, euthanise
• Get out !
o Closing doors behind you

Question 8

What PPE is suggested?

Answer 8

SHWW Act 2005, Section 13
o Employee shall “co-operate with his/her employer…”
• Use / wear what is provided
• Protect yourself
• Protect other people
• Protect the animals
• Protect the environment