Meganiese en Megatroniese Ingenieurswese – Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Safety procedures for laboratory setups
These safety procedures are applicable to Mechanical and Mechatronic Projects, as well as all
postgraduate students. The safety procedures that must be followed for each new laboratory setup
(or a change to a setup), are described below:
1.
Determine the potential risks the setup holds for:
• The health and safety of the people who are going to use the setup.
• The health and safety of the people who are in close proximity to the setup.
• The equipment itself, the environment and surrounding buildings.
Examples of risks that must be considered are:
• uncontrolled accumulation of flammable gases;
• inadequate protection from fast rotating masses, such as shafts and fans; and
• inadequate insulation of electrical equipment, especially when working with water.
2.
Determine the steps that can be reasonably accomplished to minimise the risks, taking the
following into account:
• Seriousness and scope of the risk.
• Availability of knowledge regarding the risk, and methods to minimise/remove the risk.
• Availability and appropriateness of methods to minimise/remove the risk.
• The costs involved to minimise/remove the risk with respect to the associated
advantages.
• The project must be stopped if funding is not available to minimise/remove significant
risks.
3.
Design the laboratory setup with the above-mentioned factors in mind. Examples of
measures that can be taken are:
• use personal protective equipment;
• protective screens on rotating machinery;
• adequate ventilation to avoid accumulation of gases;
• adequate insulation of electrical equipment, as well as an emergency stop; and
• maintaining good housekeeping at all times.
4.
Compile safety and operating instructions with the above-mentioned in mind.
5.
Compile housekeeping instructions with the above-mentioned in mind.
6.
Present the design, safety instructions and housekeeping instructions to your project
supervisor. The supervisor must approve the design and safety procedures by signing your
document, after which the technician responsible for the laboratory, must also approve it by
signing it. The original singed document must then be handed over to the laboratory
manager (Cobus Zietsman), and a copy of the signed document must be displayed next to
Departement Meganiese en Megatroniese
Ingenieurswese
Privaatsak X1
7602 MATIELAND
Suid-Afrika
Tel: +27 (0) 21 808 4376
Faks/Fax: +27 (0) 21 808 4958
E-pos/E-mail: [email protected]
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic
Engineering
Private Bax X1
7602 MATIELAND
South Africa
2
the laboratory setup. Experiments will not be allowed if these steps have not been taken.
7.
Table 1 lists examples of typical risks, their impact on design and operating instructions. It
may be used as a guideline.
Table 1: Examples of risks, their impact and operating instructions
Risk
Design impact
Operating instructions
Moving equipment
• Provide emergency stop (large,
red switch, easily accessible).
• Protective screens over moving
parts (compulsory for V-belts,
chains and shafts).
• Ensure that screens are in
position before equipment is
switched on.
• Disconnect power before
working on equipment.
Flammable liquids and
gases
• Ventilate before switching on.
• Provide purging of equipment
where flammable liquids or gases • Stop fuel first, then air flow
are being used.
during shutdown.
• Provide drainage holes that can
prevent accumulation of liquids.
Gases that can accumulate • Ensure adequate ventilation by
leading to asphyxiation
supplying e.g. fans.
• Ventilate adequately before
use/entry.
Structure that can fail
causing heavy objects to
fall
• Take accidental transverse
forces and stability into account.
• Screen environment.
• Wear safety shoes.
• Wear a hard-hat.
People working on
scaffoldings from where
they can fall
• Provide safety ladders and
handrails.
• Use safety harness.
High noise levels
• Screen off the noisy
environment.
• Wear ear protection.
High temperatures
• Screen and prevent people from
accidentally accessing the warm
area.
• Conduct warm gases to an area
where it can mix safely with cold
gases.
• Ensure screens are in position
before use.
• Ensure that coolant is flowing.
Intense light (lasers)
• Screen the environment.
• Wear safety glasses.
Electric shock
• Provide emergency stop.
• Use fuses.
• Visual feedback that power is
switched on (e.g. LEDs).
• Insulate live wires.
• Ensure that emergency stops
are easily accessible.
• Ensure that screens are in
position.
High pressure gas or
liquids
• Provide pressure regulators and
pressure relief valves.
• Screen piping to ensure that
leaks cannot cause
damage/injuries.
• Ensure that pressure relief
valves are working properly.
• Ensure that couplings are
firmly connected.
• Examine pipes for external
damage.