Safety in the Animal Unit Flashcards
Legislation
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
…more
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Everyone who uses the facility is responsible for H&S
Safety Officer appointed by each department
Requires employer to protect employees “SO FAR AS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE”
Also requires employee to take reasonable steps to protect themselves and their colleagues
Includes visitors to site
Emphasises employee responsibility
Identifying Hazards
What is the hazard – how can it hurt us?
What is the risk – i.e. the likelihood that it will happen?
What hazards are there?
Animals
Allergies Bites/scratches Zoonoses
Procedures
Substances/needle stick
Anaesthesia
Radiation
General
Electricity/fires etc.
Allergens
LAA (Laboratory Animal Allergens)
Sensitivity to lab animals, their secretions or excreta
One of the main causes of occupational asthma
Likelihood of developing allergies depends on:
Length of exposure
Quantity of exposure
Type of exposure – animal proteins found in urine, fur, feathers, dander, saliva
Individual sensitivity
Impossible to predict who will develop a reaction – may be as high as 1 in 3 workers
- Length of service is no guarantee
Allergy symptoms
Mild/Medium
Runny nose
Sneezing
Skin rashes, red blotches
Sore eyes
Allergy symptoms
Severe
Asthma, shortness of breath
Tightness of the chest
Anaphylaxis
How do we help?
Ventilation (multiple changes/hour) Flow cabinets and fume hoods IVC’s (local exhaust) Filter tops for transport PPE 3 yearly monitoring of LAA levels Laundry facilities Department has risk assessed its activities
Individual Measures - Personal Protective Equipment
Mandatory
Masks – in animal rooms (Prevent exposure)
Coats/coveralls (prevent transmission)
Overshoes/safety shoes/wellingtons
Mob Caps
Dust masks MUST be worn in all animal rooms
Individual Measures - Personal Protective Equipment
Optional
Gloves
Masks/visors/goggles
Respirators
Hazards from Animals
Bites
Rodents, Ferrets, Large animals
Scratches
Scrambling, kicking
Rabbits
Possible infection. Tetanus – entry route
If bitten or scratched
Return animal to cage or another handler
Allow the wound to bleed under running water
Contact a first aider if necessary
Complete an incident/accident report form if necessary
Monitor wound - contact a doctor if concerned
Prevention
Handling practice
Manual handling training
Hazards from Animals
Zoonoses
- *Streptobacillus moniliformis**
- *Piscine tuberculosis**
Leptospirosis (wild rodents only) Rabies (Currently unlikely in the UK) Toxoplasmosis (Cats) Salmonella Ringworm
Reporting
Some incidents must be reported by law
Occupational asthma
Injury resulting in more than 3 days absence
Major injury (fractures etc
Report to H&S Dept UoS
Hazards from Procedures
Reagents/Substances
Carcinogens
Toxins
Chemicals
Measures For Procedural Hazards
Dangerous substances
CoSHH and Risk Assessments in place
Use fume hoods
PPE
Hazards from Procedures
Needle Stick Injury
Depends on substance
Treat as bite wound
Fill in accident report form
Hazards from Procedures
Radiation
Ionising
X-Rays
Radioactive Material
Non Ionising
UV Light
Laser
Measures For Procedural Hazards
Radiation Project has to have a work certificate Use designated areas Refer to local rules Protective equipment – lead Monitor work areas
UV/Laser
PPE
Appropriate training
Use Designated areas, visible notices
Hazards from Procedures
Anaesthetic gases/oxygen
Gas cylinders
Surgery
Measures For Procedural Hazards
general
Use activated charcoal to remove toxic waste
Care compressed gas cylinders
(Leaks
Weight)
Consider gas cylinder training
Do not attempt to repair anaesthetic set ups
Hazards from Procedures
GM Work
Fill in a GM Risk Assessment form– available from Biological Services Unit
Return to BSU
Then sent to the Local Genetic Modification Safety Committee
This assesses the risks of working with the animals
Risk Assessments
To provide ‘suitable’ and ‘sufficient’ measures to minimise the risk
Not necessarily perfect
All works/procedures have to be assessed but not all will warrant a formal risk assessment if it can be demonstrated that the risk is already minimal
CoSHH Assessments
Control of Substances Hazardous To Health
A risk assessment for a chemical, reagent or substance
Allergens come under CoSHH regulations as a ‘substance likely to cause harm’
CoSHH and Risk Assessments
Collect data - what is the hazard?
Elimination - Does it have to be used?
Substitution - Is there an alternative?
Can you use less or use it less frequently?
Know disposal or emergency procedures – so there are no panic situations in the event of a fire or spill.
CoSHH and Risk Assessments
Control measures/precautions
Engineered control measures are preferable e.g. LEV (Local Exhaust Ventilation), fume cabinets
Control by procedural systems
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Other Hazards
What general hazards are there?
Fire: Individual responsibility
Electrical items: PAT Test
Accidents: Accident reports
Waste Disposal: Waste Assessment
Before You Start Work
Contact Occupational Health – to disclose any underlying/unknown illness or condition
Make sure you know who the facility technicians and NACWOs are
Ensure you know the local SOPs, procedures and risk assessments – ask for a copy
Contact Biological Services for an induction course
Reporting procedures
Accident book (now online) Your responsibility to fill in form if you have an accident.
Threat reporting – to security – 24085 Control Room
Major equipment malfunction – H&S Dept
Radiation issues - Radiation Officer
