Chemical Safety
Chemical Safety
Chemicals often have hazards associated with them, whether they be laboratory reagents, common cleaning products, engineering oils, woodworking dusts, or soldering fluxes. These hazards can be associated with fires or explosions, or can be due to the hazards presented to the health of individuals.
Guidance on Chemical Safety can be found here: Chemical SafetyLink opens in a new window
All chemicals need to be uploaded to LabCup, the chemical inventory database. If you require access please see details below.
LabCup
Labcup is a user-friendly inventory system that provides consistent tracking and storage for chemicals within the University, whilst supporting researchers and students to get more done safely.
You must add chemicals you purchase or retrieve from stores to your inventory.
What needs to be added?
LabCup is expected to include, at least:
- any commercially sourced chemical material for which an SDS can be provided (even if not hazardous, such as "HPLC water")
- any hazardous material, chemical, or formulation that is labelled with GHS or CLP pictograms.
- any pressurised gas cylinders, regardless of size that are procured for the purposes of research, teaching, or operations in laboratories and workshops.
- These need to be recorded whether they are in goods reception, connected to an instrument in use, regular storage, or waste storage.
Additionally, it is recommended to include:
- hazardous materials generated in-house, especially those flammable or that pose inhalation hazard.
- cryogenics such as liquid nitrogen
Access
Once you have completed your Labcup training, your Principle Investigator or Admin will assign you a role. This will enable you to access the system.
A form to request new users is available on the central H&S Labcup page:
Training
Labcup training is mandatory for all staff and students who need to use the LabCup inventory system. This training is available as a Moodle.
H&S Guidance
Please see central guidance (title linked) for the following:
1. How to assign a new role
2. How to delete a user and reassign their chemicals
3. How to do a stock take
4. How to add a hidden storage location for restricted chemicals
Procedure for ordering chemicals:
A set of ordering guidelines for purchasing hazardous substances on OPeRa can be read here.
All items MUST be added to your LabCup inventory.
- Create entry in LabCup for chemical you wish to order. LabCup will provide you with the hazard level (view this by hovering over the red flag on each inventory item) and will generate a unique barcode. You will need this for OPeRA.
- Read the manufacturers safety data sheets and review the hazard codes to ensure you understand the hazards of the chemical and how to handle and store it safely.
- Find the item you wish to purchase in OPeRA and ensure you select the correct hazard level.
- Copy and paste the LabCup barcode into the internal note on OPeRA. This will be checked during the top-tier process and by Finance. If the barcode is missing, your requisition will be rejected.
- Collect your item from Stores who will have provided a barcode for you to attach to the item(s).
- Store item in storage location as identified on LabCup.
COSHH Risk Assessment
A COSHH risk assessment is also required when you purchase a hazardous substance.