Unit 4: Laboratory techniques and applications
Learning aim A: Understand the importance of health and safety in scientific
organisations
Title: Health and safety in scientific organisations
Aims:
Describe health and safety legislations relevant to an organisation
Describe hazards and discuss aspects of health and safety management
Introduction:
In this report, I am going to look at a scientific organisation and evaluate the
activities of the company. I am going to research the health and safety
legislations and how the company complies with them. I am going to evaluate
the institutes within the company that work with hazardous materials in order
to find out if the company provides adequate training and protective
equipment.
P1: Explain how health and safety measures in a scientific
organisation comply with legislations
Organisation: Biotechnology and biological science research council (BBSRC)
Biotechnology and biological sciences research council is a non-departmental
public body. It is the largest UK founder of bioscience. It funds scientific
research institutes and university research departments. Case studies from
BBSRC has had an impact on science, economy, and social issues. These
include: Smart breeding for striga-resistant rice, VR technology aided by
binocular vision research, caffeine boost for strawberry pollinators, improved
food safety through policy changes, and many more.
,BBSRC is committed to providing/maintaining a healthy and safe working
environment for employees, students, visitors, contractors or other people
who are affected by our activities. BBSRC regards the management of Health
and Safety as an important part of our objectives and management priorities.
Potential hazards and health & safety measures:
The company has various departments, the main departments include
sustainable bioenergy centre, and strategically funded institutes. The potential
hazards and health & safety measures differ in these departments but are
equally important to protect everyone that works in the company. Risk
assessments are undertaken by the relevant line manager and reviewed by
health and safety advisors. There are fully trained first aiders at every
establishment. The first aider’s contact information is available on notice
boards, websites, and induction packs. This is a very efficient health and safety
management system which complies with the legislation. Several workplace
hazards have been identified as requiring separate procedures. These include
COSHH, working with biological agents, stress management, radiation
protection, and lone working.
The company ensures that health and safety is taken seriously by inspecting
the establishments. Each site carries out routine health and safety inspections.
They provide a useful check before things go wrong. Among other things
inspections consider:
The working environment
Plant, equipment, and materials
Who uses the area
Working methods (training and housekeeping)
Maintenance and cleaning standards
Personal protective equipment regulation (PPE)
This regulation keeps the safety of the workers in mind by providing adequate
equipment to protect against any potential hazards. Without this regulation,
workers would be put at risk, for instance workers working in establishments
, that work with radioactive substances could be harmed by ionising radiation if
they do not wear the correct protective equipment.
To maintain this regulation the company:
Have designated establishments where protective equipment must be
worn
Ensure that protective wear must be worn before entering the
workplace
Provide adequate equipment and protective wear
Dangerous substances and explosive atmosphere regulation (DSEAR)
This regulation prevents harm from fire or explosions. These potential hazards
are high risk as they can cause property damage, life threatening injuries, or
fatalities. This can be caused by working with types of resources such as
flammable/toxic gas, radioactive substances, and biological agents.
To maintain this regulation the company:
Prohibits smoking in the BBSRC premises except in certain designated
areas
Provide establishments that work with radioactive substances with
correct equipment and prior training for workers
Display screen equipment regulation (DSE)
As an employer, you have to protect your workers from the health risks from
working with display screen equipment such as PCs, laptops, smartphones, and
tablets. This regulation mainly applies to workers that use DSE daily and for
more than one hour at a time.
To maintain this regulation the company:
Ensure that the workstations for employees are well designed
Provide formal breaks
