Safety Management Experience Dickson LAU Departmental Safety Representative LABORATORY ANIMAL UNIT (LAU) 1
Topics 1. Introducing the LAU 2. Safety organization & management system 3. Potential hazards and exposures 4. Safety training for LAU users 5. Safety training for LAU staff 6. DSR: Difficulties 7. DSR: Satisfaction 2
Mission of the LAU The LAU is committed to the provision of quality laboratory animals well-equipped experimental animal holding facilities professional services to support the leading role of the University in research and teaching 3
LAU Services 1. Supply: 2. Provide: 3. Others: animals, diets, bedding, drugs, etc. centralised animal holding & surgery facilities advisory / veterinary service disease diagnostic services training animal importation / exportation bedding / cage autoclaving service cage washing / disinfection service, 4
5
6
General Office Specific Pathogen Free Breeding Area (SPFBA) 7 Minimal Disease Experimental Holding Area (MDA)
Conventional Experimental Holding Area (CA) Service Area (SA) Operation Room 8
Conventional Animal Holding Area Conventional Animal Holding Area Unit Laboratory 9
Safety Management System SPECIFIC HEALTH & SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES of the LAU: Provision of safe facilities for researchers to use (Safety Office Website: Code of Practice for the implementation of the Safety and Health Policy) Risk assessment of the task Hazard identification Identification of safety measures Implementing the system Monitoring the system 10
Safety Organization and Arrangements Departmental Safety Committee Chairman: Members: Dr. K.S. Lo (Head of Unit) Mr. Dickson Lau (DSR) Dr. W.K. Tse (DDSR/MDA Area Head) Mr. P.H. Yeung (DDSR/CASA Area Head) Mr. M.S. Cheuk (SPFBA Area Head) Mr. K.M. Lam (Lab Area Head) Ms. Shirley Yeung (GO Area Head) 11
Departmental First Aiders, Fire Wardens & Safety Representatives Area First Aider Fire Warden Safety Representative A B A B A B SPFBA Ms. C. Lau Ms. A. Leung Mr. R. Cheuk (Area Head) Ms. C. Lau Mr. R. Cheuk (Area Head) Ms. C. Lau MDA Dr. W.K. Tse (Area Head) Ms. A. Lam Dr. W.K. Tse (Area Head) Ms. A. Lam Dr. W.K. Tse (Area Head) Ms. A. Lam CA-LAU Bldg Mr. D. Lau (DSR) Mr. P.H. Yeung (Area Head) Mr. D. Lau (DSR) Mr. H. So Mr. D. Lau (DSR) Mr. H. So CA- LAU Ext Mr. K.S. Cheung Ms. M.Q. Pan Mr. K.S. Cheung Ms. M.Q. Pan Mr. D. Lau (DSR) Mr. K.S. Cheung CA-FMB Mr. W.S. Hui Ms. W.Y. Yung Mr. W.S. Hui Ms. W.Y. Yung Mr. D. Lau (DSR) Mr. W.S. Hui Laboratory Mr. K.M. Lam (Area Head) Mr. S. Law Mr. K.M. Lam Mr. S. Law Mr. K.M. Lam (Area Head) Mr. S. Law General Office Ms. K.M. Bow Ms. S. Yeung (Area Head) Ms. S. Yeung (Area Head) Ms. E. Yuen Ms. S. Yeung (Area Head) Ms. E. Yuen 12
Potential hazards and exposures when working with animals 1. Animal Bites & Sharps (needle stick injury) 2. Wet Floor (slipping) 3. X-Ray & Anaesthetic Machines 4. Drugs & Chemicals 5. Carcinogens & Infectious Agents (Biological Safety Level I & II) 6. Autoclave, Cage Washer, Rack Washer 7. Manual Handling Operation 8. Animal & Laboratory Wastes 9. Allergy to Laboratory Animals (ALA) 10. Others (workshop equipment, paper shredders, electrical safety, compressed gases, fire safety, lone workers. ) 13
Animal Bites; Sharps & Injection Wounds Identify ferocious animals & biters Provide training on animal handling/restraint; use restrainers & protective gloves; vaccination (rabies; tetanus ) Use sharp box, dispose of needles without recapping Report the incident to DSR Seek medical advice and treatment from University Health Service (UHS) 14
Slipping on Wet Floor Install handrails along corridors Remove floor wax Install colored-belt barriers to restrict access to wet areas Floor wax handrails colored-belt 15
Operation Room Surgical Lamp X-Ray Machine Surgical Table Anaesthetic Machine Lead-shielded wall/floor 16
Operation Room Radiation Equipment (X-Ray machine) License for radiation equipment (under the Radiation Ordinance, Cap. 303) Placard & controlled access to radiation area Routine maintenance for equipment Proper personnel protective equipment 17
Operation Room Anaesthetic Machine & Drugs Use of inhalational anesthetic agents in well-ventilated areas with a scavenging system Routine maintenance for equipment Anaesthetic & analgesic drugs kept under lock & key with proper inventory record (under the Dangerous Drug Ordinance, Cap. 134) 18
Carcinogen Suite Proper equipment Proper PPE Equipment maintenance Medical surveillance Training of researchers & staff Cyto-toxic Safety Cabinet Individually Ventilated Cage (IVC) System Standard Operating Procedures 19
Autoclave (Sterilization Equipment) Pressurized Steam Vessel Sterilization is the use of physical or chemical processes to destroy all microbial life (including bacterial spores) Registered equipment (under the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance, Cap. 56) Equipment operated by licensed persons Routine equipment maintenance Standard Operating Procedures Licence & SOP 20
Lifting and Handling Heavy Loads Diets; Bedding & Cage Equipment Proper lifting / handling techniques Training on Manual Handling Operation (courses provided by Safety Office [SO]) Bedding Store Maximum allowable stacking height Setting a maximum allowable height for stacked items SOP for using ladders Diet Store 21
Animal Waste (Soiled Bedding) Conventional Method Provision of suitable PPE (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) Routine equipment maintenance >500 cages handled each day Compliance with SOP 22
Automatic Vacuum-assisted Soiled-Bedding Disposal System (BDS) Funding: University Development Fund (University Central); Medical Faculty Matching Fund & LAU Topup Fund Effective reduction in exposure to Laboratory Animal Allergens Reduction of manual handling of soiled bedding (ergonomic problem) Reduction of offensive smells Streamlining of operation & increase in efficiency Downward Draft Bedding Disposal Station First of its kind in Hong Kong. Installed in 2009 Filter Units Collection Bin 23
Allergy to Laboratory Animals Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) Powered Air Purifying Respirator for Service Area staff PPE for Animal Room Workers 24
Occupational Health & Safety Training & Surveillance Training for Researchers LAU Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Induction LAU Annual Orientation Lecture / Practical Sessions for New Animal Users (with participation from SO & UHS on OHS topics) LAU web-based training (being developed) Surveillance for Researchers & LAU Staff UHS Pre-employment & Annual Medical Examination for animal users handling carcinogens & infectious agents UHS Annual Laboratory Animal Allergy Questionnaire for animal users LAU Annual updating of animal users list for UHS Register 25
Safety related activities in the LAU OHS Induction (SO Form) Discussions on safety matters in Departmental Meetings (2-monthly) & Area Mini-Meetings (quarterly) Inspections by SO 2007 & 2009 Cross-Area Inspections by Area Heads & DSR In-house training: 5S Good Housekeeping for Laboratory Works for subtechnical staff & technical/office staff (By Occupational Safety and Health Council, HK) Departmental internal 26 training
DSR (LAU) - My difficulties Safety culture (>60 staff, hundreds of users, outsiders) Resources to implement safety policy Space (e.g. clearance of fire-escape route; blockage of sprinkler heads) Manpower, equipment, funding Diversity in animal experiments Restriction in movement to different Areas (disease control reason) Inter-personal/communication & problem-solving skills Authority: users & colleagues Inter-Area co-operation Time to carry out DSR duties 27
DSR Duties Departmental Safety Representatives (http://www.hku.hk/safety/policy.html) (a) informing the Head of Department and the Director of Safety of any special hazards in, or new hazards about to be introduced into, the department/unit; (b) ensuring that new members of the department, including students, are informed of the University's health and safety policy, as well as departmental safety and health policy, standards and procedures; (c) identifying training needs and conducting activities to stimulate and maintain interest in safety and health amongst personnel in the department; (d) ensuring that means exist for all machinery and equipment to be maintained and used in a safe condition; (e) ensuring with the assistance of the Director of Safety that first aid, personal protective equipment and safety facilities are provided and properly maintained; (f) consulting with the Director of Safety, to promote, plan, and direct a regular programme of safety inspections, and participating in such inspections; (g) ensuring that accidents are reported promptly in accordance with University procedures and reporting any case of non-compliance to the Head; (h) maintaining liaison with the Director of Safety and the Director of University Health Service; and (i) investigating accidents and incidents and recommending accident prevention measures to the Head as and when necessary. 28
DSR (LAU) - My Satisfaction Active support and commitment Head of LAU Safety Office University Health Service Better and safer working environment Training opportunities Team-ship & support of fellow colleagues Meeting international (AAALAC) accreditation standard (LAU: AAALAC-accredited since 2005; the only AAALAC-accredited university animal facility in Hong Kong at present) 29
Thank You 30