RDC Building Induction

Introduction

For access to the Royce Discovery Centre in the Harry Brearley Building, you will need read this induction page and then complete the Google Form at the bottom. 

As well as this, you will also need to complete an induction for each specific lab or workshop you are looking to gain access to. If you have previously completed the building induction but are looking to request access to another lab, go straight to the Inductions & Building Contacts page.

The laboratories on the first floor, as well as the various zones in the workshop, are each associated with their own specific hazards. Everyone has a duty under the law to work safely and not do anything that would make things unsafe for others (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, reg 7).

This induction provides general guidelines for working safely within the Harry Brearley Building - Royce Discovery Centre and forms part of the general induction to allow you access.  It does not replace or supersede the University or the Department working guidelines which you must be aware of and can be found here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/hs

Main Contacts

The technical staff are responsible for the smooth running of the facility. For any issues you encounter in the building, please contact the facilities manager at Royce_admin@sheffield.ac.uk or the specific lab manager. 

Please see the Inductions & Building Contacts page for a list of all lab managers.

Building Access and Opening Times

The standard working hours within the building are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. In order to gain access to the building, you must:

• Understand the University emergency system and know what to do in the case of a fire and/or accident.

• Have completed all mandatory H&S training, including fire training, within the past 12 months.

• Have any work that you intend carrying out approved in advance and have carried out the necessary risk assessments.

• Undertaken building and specific laboratories induction.

The Building is a swipe-access only building. Access is required for the main door, to access the ground floor workshop, and the lift/stairs to the first floor laboratories.  Each laboratory requires swipe access, with some labs requiring you to enter your personal pin code. You can find the pin code for your Ucard on Muse > account settings > pin. 

Please note the building is alarmed outside of working hours! You must leave the building by closing time!

If you invite a visitor to the building who does not have swipe access, they will need to sign-in and sign-out on the sheet in reception. Whoever is hosting the visitor must collect them a visitor pass from the first floor. Visitors must then return their passes to the box on reception when leaving.

Do not let people walk-in after you in the building, they may not have approved access. Also, as the main entrance doors open widely, please wait until they close before moving away from the entrance area.

Communication

When access is granted to the building you will be added to a dedicated facility users circulation list (royce-discovery-centre-users-group) Please do not ignore any correspondence sent on this group as it will be essential information.

Accidents, First Aid, Fire & Emergencies

IN AN EMERGENCY

To summon assistance including Ambulance, Fire or Police, use any internal phone and dial 4444, or direct dial 0114 222 4444 from a mobile phone to contact the University of Sheffield's Emergency Control Centre who will be able to assist.

Fire alarms are tested weekly, on Fridays at 11.15am.  There is no need to evacuate for this unless the alarm continues to sound.

If you need to exit a room and the green door release button isn’t working, please use the emergency door release button nearby.

First Aid

First aid kits are located in the workshop (ground floor), at the mezzanine floor (by the meeting rooms) and by the kitchen on the first floor. 

Eye wash sinks are available in most labs. In case you spill chemicals on yourself or for severe burns, a safety shower is located on the first floor corridor. If you have the need to use either the safety shower or the eye wash, seek medical attention immediately.

Accident Reporting

All incidents or near-misses, injury to persons, or exposure to hazardous substances that require the use of the first aid kits, safety shower, eye wash or fire extinguishers must be reported. Please log the incident and inform the facility manager. All incidents must also be reported and logged using the University accident, incident and near miss online reporting system which can be found at: https://students.sheffield.ac.uk/health-safety/accident-reporting

General Building Rules

Lab Wear & PPE

Each area within the workshop and laboratories will have their own lab wear requirements. But generally, you must always have covered legs and shoes must have a closed top. You must also wear safety eye protection.

Safety footwear is mandatory within the workshop (light grey areas only), and safety overshoes are available for visitors required to be standing by the equipment within the light grey areas. The dark grey floor is a pedestrian designated area where safety footwear is not required.

Food & Drink

Food and drink are not allowed in any of the laboratories or the workshop under any circumstances - food and drink may only be consumed in office areas.

Use of Chemicals

COSHH

COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002) assessments must be carried out on any chemicals or substances that you are intending using to determine the hazards involved and how to control them. COSHH assessments are a specific form of risk assessment and should show how we deal with chemicals from when they arrive in the Department right through to when we have finished experiments and want to dispose of them (this includes transport and storage).

A COSHH assessment of any chemicals that you are using in your experimental work must be carried out before you start.

Storage of Chemicals

All chemicals in the laboratories must be stored appropriately – specific classes of Dangerous Goods must be segregated from each other. Listings are available online, for example:

https://www.seton.co.uk/media/cms/files/stuk/DMEU_TDS_00320_EN_std.lang.all.pdf

Metal powders must be stored in the powder storage area of the ground floor Workshop, with an up to date list of powders and associated MSDS available in a folder. Please create a label using the laptop and printer next to the area if you are storing a powder. Instructions are on the desktop of how to create a label.

Before you leave the department, it is your responsibility to ensure that all chemical waste and samples that are no longer required are disposed of.

Dealing with Chemical and Material Spills

When completing your COSHH assessment, you must specify how you will deal with any accidental spills of chemicals or materials.  General advice would be:

●      Clear area of all other researchers.

●      Clean up spillage if safe to do so and only by those who are trained to use it.

●      Collect a suitable spill kit.

●      Clear up and place in an approved container.

●      Arrange disposal via the correct route

Spill kits and absorbent granules are available from the technical staff which can be used to deal with liquid spills.

When dealing with material spills such as powders, please ensure that any dust production is minimised during the cleaning operation (often the use of a vacuum cleaner is preferable over a dustpan and brush for this reason). Metal powders should be cleaned up immediately (however small the spill) using an ATEX rated vacuum and then disposed of using the metal powder disposal system in place.

Safe transportation of gas cylinders and cryogenic liquids

Gas cylinders - You may only move gas cylinders around if you have attended gas cylinder training and have completed a risk assessment. Cylinders should be transported using a gas cylinder trolley with any churning kept to a minimum. The cylinder must be secured in place during transit and should be secured into a cylinder stand prior to use rather than keeping it on the gas trolley. Safety shoes must be worn whilst moving gas bottles. You must not travel in a lift with a gas cylinder.

Cryogenic liquids - Occasionally, liquid nitrogen may be used in a procedure. This usually requires decanting out a volume from the dewar held in the cage in the foundry entrance. Only vessels designed to take liquid nitrogen must be used. Anyone undertaking this work must have a risk assessment and also be shown the correct procedure including wearing the correct PPE as indicated on the liquid nitrogen cage. You must not travel in a lift with any liquid nitrogen.

Gasses under pressure

Cylinders contain a huge amount of stored energy that could cause significant injury and damage to property if the vessel is damaged or stored under the wrong conditions.

Guidance from the BOC says that we should:

1. Always leak test equipment before use. 

         a. Observe regulator gauges for 1 minute, if the pressure drops, there is a leak

         b. Test for leaks using a leak testing spray/ solution – all joints and connections should be checked

2. Regularly check and maintain your equipment for safety – this refers to regulators, hoses, hand assemblies and flashback arrestors

         a. Visually inspect the condition of all equipment weekly or before use including checking for loose fittings.

         b.  Function test equipment every 6 months (flashback arrestors should be flow and function tested yearly)

         c.  Replace items according to the manufacturer's recommendation or within 5 years of manufacture.

If you notice that a piece of equipment does not have a current PAT test, please contact Facility Manager to arrange for it to be tested.

Waste and Spills

The University has made a commitment in the Environmental policy to reduce the amount of waste produced and increase the amount reused and recycled. If you are unsure how to deal with your waste materials, please speak to one of the technical staff.

Waste Metals

The workshop has 6 waste metals containers (all grey with coloured labels) where waste metal can be placed (no metal powders must be placed in these bins):

●      Green label - Aluminium

●  Red label - Titanium

●      Pink label - Copper

●      Yellow label - Mild steel

●      White label - Stainless Steel

●      Blue label - Miscellaneous

These metals are available for re-use if required or are sent for recycling when full. 

Chemical

All waste chemicals must go through the CMBE Waste Store for disposal. The new procedure guidance can be found HERE.

Some chemicals are suitable for disposal down the sink – please check with the laboratory manager if you are not sure.

The Royce Discovery Centre has a facility in the workshop to collect filters etc. which have been contaminated with metal powders; these are kept under water to reduce the possibility of an explosion - to use this facility, please liaise with the additive manufacturing research group.

Before you leave the department, it is your responsibility to ensure that all chemical waste and samples that are no longer required are disposed of - do not leave this for someone else to do.

Sharps

Sharps should never be placed in the general waste bins. Cardboard waste bins are available for the laboratories, and a metal bin labelled with ‘caution sharps’ is placed in the workshop. When full, the technical staff will arrange for disposal.

Health Related Hazards

The main health hazards of working with powdered materials include:

●      Risk of damage to lungs and respiratory tract especially with those powders which have a suspected carcinogenic effect (e.g. silica, nickel powder, stainless steel powder).

●      Eye damage

As such it is extremely important that the use of substances in powder form is addressed fully during the COSHH and task based risk assessments to minimise any risks to yourself and other users of the space.

Containment

It is important that powdered materials are kept contained as much as possible to avoid the spread of potentially hazardous materials across the department. The workshop uses sticky mats in areas that are prone to powder contamination to try and control the potential spread of powders. When handling large quantities of powders (for example filling and cleaning of additive manufacturing equipment), the user should ensure that disposable over-suits and overshoes are used.

Powders must be kept in fully labelled storage containers and where identified in C0SHH assessments stored in the powder storage room.

DSEAR

The dangerous substances and explosive atmospheres regulations 2002 (DSEAR) are concerned with preventing or limiting the harmful effects of fires, explosions and similar events arising from dangerous substances used or present in the workplace.

DSEAR requires that ‘any workplace where explosive atmospheres may occur are classified into hazardous zones based on the risk of an explosion occurring, and protected from sources of ignition by selecting equipment and protective systems on the basis of the categories set out in the Equipment and Protective Systems for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (EPS).’

In summary, the DSEAR regulations cover:

●      Risk assessment for the activities

●      Measures taken to eliminate/ reduce identified risks

●      Hazardous area zoning

●      Provision of suitable systems/ safety equipment

●      Information and training to users

Control measures that should be included when working with potentially explosive substances include:

●      Reducing the quantity of any dangerous substances to a minimum

●      Prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere

●      Collect and remove substances to a safe place (e.g. ventilation, filtration etc)

●      Avoid ignition sources

●      Keep incompatible substances apart.

Metal powders can be explosive due to high surface area to volume ratio.  When working with metal powders, precautions include:

●      Ensuring all equipment is grounded

●      Preventing sparks or friction which can act to ignite the powders

●      Avoiding dust clouds, open flames and chemical reactions

●      Ensuring that a class D fire extinguisher is readily accessible.

These must all be addressed in risk assessments associated with the equipment including that for maintenance and filling of hoppers etc.

Optical radiation: infra-red (IR) and ultra-violet (UV)

All work with infra-red (IR) and ultra-violet (UV) radiations must be carried out in accordance with all relevant legislation (The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations, implemented into UK law in April 2010, which enacted the Artificial Optical Radiations Directive 2006/25/EC) as well as approved codes of practice and guidance representing best practice so that the risk of exposure to hazardous quantities can be minimised.

Areas where UV-producing equipment are in use must be accessible only to trained, authorised personnel who have completed the relevant safety training. Access to equipment must be restricted by engineering controls and design features of equipment e.g. interlocked screening, and visible hazard warning signs must be displayed at the entrance and boundaries of hazardous areas.

Factors which contribute towards the risks of using a laser include:

●      Accessibility of the laser

●      Power distribution

●      Pulse characteristics

●      Wavelength

Users of the Class 3 or 4 systems, i.e. BEAM Magic 2.0, Renishaw inVia Raman microscope (C12b) and/or the laser lab (C12a) must complete both the local area specific inductions (BEAM: Dr George Maddison, Raman: Dr Nik Reeves-McLaren and Laser lab: Dr Robbie Oliver)

The Laser Safety Officer (LSO) is Dr Robbie Oliver, who can provide expert knowledge on the use of lasers (Class 3 or above) within MSE. The responsibilities of the LSO are:

• To provide advice to users planning laser installations in matters of health and safety.

• To liaise with central University laser safety staff on issues and inspections.

• To maintain up-to-date registers of lasers and trained users in the Department

• To assess laser installations for compliance with good practice and appropriate legislation.

• To provide technical advice to the DSO and HoD to assist them in approving risk assessments, safe operating procedures or capital works.

• To keep up to date with legislation in connection with the use of lasers and advise the HoD on any policy changes that may ensue.

• To provide all laser users in MSE with a copy of the University Policy and Procedures for work with lasers.

Heat Stress

Many of the processes carried out in the workshop involve the use of elevated temperature and as such heat stress is a possible risk that should be considered when carrying out risk assessments.  Heat stress occurs when the body’s means of controlling its own temperature starts to fail.  Factors that increase the risk of heat stress includes the ambient temperature and radiant heat load, work rate, ventilation, humidity and any clothing worn.

The effects on the body of heat stress include; Excessive sweating, muscular cramps, excessive fatigue, dehydration, inability to concentrate, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke - which can lead to loss of consciousness or death.

In order to reduce your risk of heat stress you should:

●      Ensure that you are drinking plenty of fluids to reduce the likelihood of dehydration

●      Plan work so that you can make sure that you take regular rest breaks in a cooler environment

●      Use PPE or heat shields to protect you from excessive radiant heat

If you feel that you are suffering from the effects of excessive heat due to the work that you are doing, please speak to Bev Lane for further advice.

Next steps

Thank you for reading through the RDC Building Induction. 

1. Please now complete the Google form below to request building access.

2. Go the the Inudctions & Building Contacts page to request an induction for the specific lab/s you're looking to access.

Once you have completed both the RDC Building Induction Google form and a workshop/lab induction, access will be activated on your Ucard. Access requests are usually processed within 24 hours on completion of inductions, however please allow up to one week.