Introduction

Welcome to all our new undergraduate starters.

As you are to be working in the Department you must be made aware of our health and safety rules, procedures and guidance which have been produced for our laboratories, work areas and offices.

The local induction for new undergraduates, including the for undergraduate teaching laboratory, consists of the information provided in the presentation and information below, and also in links to other parts of the Physics Department Health and Safety website. After reading and understanding this information, you must complete an online test.

Emergencies, Accidents and Incidents

In case of an emergency contact security on x22222 on landline or 024765 22222 on mobile.

Please familarise yourself with the Department's fire procedure, which covers the Physics, Physical Sciences and Material and Analytical Sciences (MAS) buildings.

The department has a number of people trained in first aid. Their names and locations are to be found on notices in the stairwells, as well as on the Physics Department Health and Safety website. Details of ALL accidents and incidents must be reported to a first-aider, and also ensure that you inform your supervisor or tutor as soon as you can.

Teaching Laboratories

As stated in the document Good Lab Practice there are certain Departmental restrictions with the use of laboratories.

• First Year Undergraduates may only work in laboratories during officially timetabled hours.
• Second, Third and Fourth Year Undergraduates may work outside the normally timetabled laboratory hours, although this is not encouraged. Permission to do so must be obtained either from the academic staff assigned to the laboratory (2nd and 3rd) or the project supervisor.

Use of the teaching laboratories is governed by rules that are applicable to all members of staff, postgraduate and research students, and any undergraduates working outside their normally timetables hours.

1. Before attempting to use the facilities offered by a teaching laboratory, the academic head of that laboratory, and the laboratory chief technician, must be informed of the intention.
2. The names of people who are responsible for the Undergraduate Laboratories are available from the Departmental Office.
3. The academic head has the authority to refuse to allow the facilities to be used, and can withdraw permission in the event of failure to comply with these rules.
4. Research staff must be made aware of any hazards present in the area, even though the hazard may not be part of their operation.
5. Laboratory technicians must be made aware of any procedure which will involve using apparatus, tools, preparations etc., which belong to the laboratory.
6. To ensure safe working conditions, and to provide continuity for the teaching of experimental work, it is essential that any removals of or modifications and changes to apparatus and other items of laboratory equipment and fittings be returned to their original condition before the laboratory is next used for teaching.

Further Training and Information

We have a series of training modules which are important to be studied as early as possible on your arrival in the department. We establish from your supervisory staff which of the many modules we offer are particularly relevant for you on commencing your work or project in the Department. We then will offer training in that module as soon as possible.

On-line questionnaires are also available in several modules for those who start at a time of year where we are not able to run training sessions. You will be expected to pass the relevant module(s) before you can formally commence work in your area.

The Departmental safety web pages are full of advice, or links to areas with advice and guidance, to help you; but please remember that you can ask anyone on the Departmental Safety Committee for advice as well; we will do all we can to provide all the answers, and will help to find those answers which are more challenging, so do not hesitate to ask us. The committee meets quarterly in March, June, September and December. Any suggestions regarding health and safety issues (internal, or campus wide) can be referred to the committee by informing the secretary of the committee.