Devices in Laboratories and Workshop Areas

Introduction and scope

This policy applies to the use of mobile phones and other portable electronic devices such as personal mp3 and mp4 players and iPods in laboratories and workshop areas. Such devices being taken into laboratory areas may present a hazard, not only for the device owner, but for others in the work area.

Personal mobile phones and music players must not be brought into or used in laboratory areas where one or more of the following criteria apply:

There is a high risk of them becoming contaminated with any of the hazardous substances being handled in the laboratory. This may then result in exposure of the individuals via ingestion or skin contact. Contamination can also be carried out of the laboratory thus putting others at risk including those outside of the work place such as friends and family.

• You must never handle a mobile phone or other personal electronic device whilst wearing lab gloves.

They are cause of distraction, which is a potential hazard when carrying out safety critical procedures.

• Use of mobile phones may distract workers, which may result in an accident during a safety critical process. Phones should be left outside the lab/workshop if this is perceived to be a risk, or else switched off/turned to silent if kept on one's person. This should be considered in the risk assessment for all the work in the area. In particular mobile phones should be left outside the lab/workshop if the work undertaken will involve the use of heavy equipment, high-intensity lasers or other potentially hazardous pieces of equipment.

Where it is important to be aware of what is going on in the work area. Wearing ear phones interferes with the ability to hear alarms and to conduct normal communication. This can produce a sense of isolation from the environment and could be considered a serious risk to safety.

• Individuals working in laboratories or workshops must be able to participate in normal communication and be able to hear what is happening in their working area, including fire alarms. Portable music devices should only be worn in low risk areas, where there is no risk from contamination or distraction. Individuals must only wear one earbud, and must not remove or adjust earbuds with contaminated hands or gloves.

• Earbuds should not be worn if machinery with moving parts is being operated, e.g., centrifuges, lathes, drills, etc., to ensure the risk of entanglement is not increased.

• Earbuds must never be worn where reduced situational awareness could result in an accident or incident. Headphones must not be worn in laboratories as they will completely cover the ears and cannot easily be adjusted to allow one ear to be uncovered.

Mobile phone signals may interfere with sensitive scientific equipment.

• Mobile phones and other portable electronic devices may in some cases interfere with sensitive equipment. If the risk assessment identifies this as an issue phones/devices should be left outside the laboratory.

There is a potential for creating an ignition source in areas where flammable vapours are present.

• Mobile phones and personal electronic devices could provide an ignition source in flammable atmospheres under certain conditions. Therefore great care must be taken in the laboratory and, where there is a risk of ignition, phones and other devices must be left outside the lab. This should be considered in the risk assessment for the work.

Where it is essential that you can be contacted, please refer potential callers to the laboratory phone where available. When answering the laboratory phone always remove your gloves.

Lone working

It is acknowledged that there may be situations, such as lone working, where it is important to ensure the availability of a mobile phone as a control measure. Where this is the case the individual should keep the phone on their person, under their lab coat – phones should not be kept in the pockets of lab coats - and only make calls in an emergency or accept calls as part of the agreed contact arrangement. Again gloves should always be removed before handling the mobile device.

The availability of a mobile phone does not however remove the need for a proper assessment of the risks associated with lone working or substitute for other more robust checks. For example the lone worker could be incapacitated and unable to use the device.

Approved by SMC: 09.2018
Review Date: 09.2020