Environmental

Accidents involving electricity are usually very serious.

1. All items of portable electrical equipment will be inspected every three years by a competent person.
2. If you have any reason to believe that any portable equipment is damaged or defective, you should:
   • Unplug the equipment
   • Take steps to prevent anyone plugging it in again (eg. tape a warning sign over the plug)
   • Inform the Estates Office who will arrange to have it repaired by a competent person (Electrician)
3. You should regularly look at the condition of electrical equipment you use. If you see anything that looks unsafe eg. a cracked plug, frayed wire, report it immediately so that it can be repaired by an appropriately trained and qualified person.
4. Electrical equipment, apart from new equipment, should never be used in the Office without first being inspected and passed by a competent person. Electrical appliances brought from home should not be used until they have been inspected. Contact Estates Office to arrange inspection of any equipment.

• Extracts from the article in Nature Chemistry July 2023 - “Insights from a laboratory fire”

Fire is probably the greatest single safety related threat to members of staff. Even if everyone were to escape safely from the building, a fire could destroy facilities and documents. We should do as much as we can to prevent fire. If a fire should start, a fast and effective response can help save life and property.

Fire Prevention

The University's no smoking policy eliminates one of the main ways in which a fire can start. Our systems for inspecting electrical equipment should reduce the chances of faulty electrical equipment being a source of fire. Other important precautions are:

• Avoid accumulations of material, which might easily burn eg. waste paper, cardboard, and plastics, especially in corridors and stairwells
• Do not obstruct the ventilation of electrical equipment or place material close to electrical appliances
• Do not overload electrical sockets by connecting too many appliances to a single socket

How people are warned there is a fire

• A siren sounds continuously throughout the building
  • The alarm will be actuated manually via the break glass fire alarm call points
  • Or by operation of the fire detection system.
• In some classrooms a fire-crier system is in place.  This emits verbal instructions to occupants. In some areas with high background noise (e.g. workshops) flashing beacons are used as a visual indicator of an alarm.

Action on discovering a fire

If you discover a fire, it is important to take the following steps in the order given:

• Sound the alarm by operating the nearest break glass fire alarm call point. No fire is too small for this. Fire alarm call points are situated in corridors or near fire doors into stairewells. A fire extinguisher should not be discharged until the alarm has been sounded.
• Get someone to call the fire brigade by dialling 999 and report the exact position of the fire if known.
• Warn others in the vicinity. Shout fire and bang on doors!
• Leave the building by the nearest fire exit.  Report to the Fire Marshal (wearing high visibility fluorescent vest).  Provide them with information on:
  • the exact location of the fire
  • if any persons are injured or trapped
• Proceed to the designated assembly point.

Action on hearing a fire alarm

If you hear the fire alarm:

• Avoid putting yourself in any danger
• Leave the building by the nearest exit and go to the designated assembly point closing all doors behind you. Departing staff should ensure that all office and communal areas are evacuated. Bang loudly on any locked doors to ensure that nobody is inside.
  • Meeting clerks should ensure all participants leave by the nearest exit and go to the assembly point
  • Students and visitors will be told to leave by the person in charge of the group or by a staff member
  • In centrally-timetabled areas, the person in charge must ensure that they are aware of the location of escape routes
  • The occupancy of buildings can vary daily, so an exact roll call may be impractical. It is vital that the premises are completely evacuated.  The Fire Marshal must be informed of anyone who may still be in the building. If there is the slightest doubt, inform the Fire and Rescue Service on their arrival.
• Nominated floor checkers should:
  • check all rooms
  • report to the person in charge who will be at the assembly point
• Do not re-enter the building until the fire alarm has been silenced

Escape routes

Corridors and escape routes must be kept clear. Combustible materials should not be stored in corridors or escape routes, as they could become a source of fire and smoke. Furniture and other items should not be placed so they partially block escape routes. This would prevent people leaving the building quickly. In a corridor filled with smoke, furniture can create a serious obstacle.

Fire doors help prevent the spread of smoke and fire through buildings, making it easier for people to escape. They should therefore be kept closed at all times and never wedged open.

Fire drills and alarm tests

• Fire drills are held in all the University buildings twice per year to test the efficiency of our evacuation arrangements.
• The fire alarm is tested each week.

A quick guide for fire wardens

• Avoid putting yourself in any danger
• Working towards an exit you should check rooms and corridors in your designated area. Instruct people to leave by the nearest exit
• You should then leave by the nearest exit. 
• Liaise with the Fire Marshal (person wearing the high visibility fluorescent vest) at the main entrances reporting:
  • the status of the evacuation in your designated area
  • If someone refuses to leave or if you cannot be sure that an area is clear, you should inform the Fire Marshal
• You may then be asked to stand an outside door to prevent anyone from entering the building

A quick guide for fire marshals

• Avoid putting yourself in any danger
• On exit empty the fire information box in the foyer
• Put on the high visibility fluorescent vest
• Direct evacuees to designated assembly point
• Delegate a member of staff to each entrance to prevent re-entry
• If necessary delegate qualified First Aiders to look after casualties
• Consult with evacuation team and members of staff to confirm their building area was emptying
• Try to establish source of fire/alarm
• Ensure emergency services have easy and fast access
• Report to the emergency services on their arrival.  Pass on all relevant information which may include:
  • location and nature of fire
  • potential hazards (floor plan)
  • injuries
  • missing personnel
• Permit re-entry to the building only with permission from the emergency services and after the alarms have been silenced

The Radiation Protection Service must be consulted on and approve the use of any sources of ionsing radiation.

• Ionising Radiation Safety Arrangements
• APPENDIX 1 Radiation risk and dose units
• APPENDIX 2 Risk assessment for general labs
• APPENDIX 3 RPS Duties
• APPENDIX 4 Template for local rules
• APPENDIX 5 Contamination monitoring procedures
• APPENDIX 6 Audit form
• APPENDIX 7 Classified workers
• APPENDIX 8 Lab decommissioning
• APPENDIX 9 X-ray Equipment Form
• Radiation user online training course - instructions for use
• Iso inventory system user instructions
• Iso inventory system RPS instructions

Local Rules

• Geology
• Institute of Medical Sciences
• Marischal Museum
• Polwarth Building
• Rowett local rules
• XRF (UoA Premises)
• XRF (Non UoA Premises)

Advice on the use of lasers is available from the Radiation Protection Service. The Service should always be consulted on the purhcase and use of lasers in Classes 3 and 4.

• Guidance on the purchasing and use of laser pointers

Noise is part of everyday life, but prolonged exposure to loud noise can permanently damage hearing. Young or old, once someone loses their hearing they can never get it back.

Symptoms and early signs of hearing loss include

• Conversation becoming difficult or impossible
• Family members complaining about the television being too loud
• Having trouble using the telephone
• Finding it difficult to catch sounds like 't', 'd' and 's', so you confuse similar words
• Permanent tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears) can also be caused

Generally hearing loss is gradual. By the time it is noticed it, it is probably too late. We aim instead to avoid exposure to levels of noise which could cause hearing loss.

Noise levels require investigation if people have to raise their voices to have a normal conversation when they are 2 metres apart. Contact the University Safety Advisers who can arrange for a noise survey. Noise surveys should also be undertaken before hearing protection.  This ensures the correct type of protection is being supplied.

Further information

Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive on the control of noise at work

Following a power failure affecting a University building, emergency lighting powered from batteries will switch on automatically.

The emergency lighting is expected to last for at least one hour. Its purpose is to illuminate exit routes from the building. It is not there to enable building occupants to remain in the building and continue working.

Read the to be taken following a power failure.