Unit 4: Laboratory Techniques and their Application
A: Understand the importance of health and safety in scientific
organisations
Health and safety in scientific organisations
The University of Oxford is a highly ranked research university with top-notch study and research facilities. They are
also known for their outstanding and innovative research and are home to some of the most skilled researchers in
the world [1]. I have visited two departments in Oxford alongside my group of health and safety inspectors to
ensure that they are meeting health and safety legislations. The departments that me and my group inspected were
the surgical theatre and the behavioural testing control room. Monkeys are placed in the surgical theatre to go
under anaesthesia and they are then taken to the behaviour testing lab so that neuroscientists can conduct
research on them.
Risk assessment for both working environments
Surgical theatre
Hazard Risk Who will be Injuries it Actions taken What more
harmed could cause to minimise the can be done
risks and the
legislation/s
that it is
meeting
Medical gas If left open, Veterinary Severe The canisters are Store gas
canisters they could surgeons breathing attached to the canisters in a
be inhaled issues wall with a metal cupboard for
chain. easier access
Could be Injuries to feet
knocked Compressed gas
over symbol can be seen
on the door before
entering the
surgical theatre.
This meets the
COSHH 2002
legislation and the
CLP 2009
legislation because
the gas canisters
are labelled stating
what is inside
them.
This action also
meets the COMAH
2015 legislation.
X ray machine Exposure to Veterinary Damage to cells The x-ray machine Have a separate
radiation surgeons in the body and has wheels for easy room for the X
A: Understand the importance of health and safety in scientific
organisations
Health and safety in scientific organisations
The University of Oxford is a highly ranked research university with top-notch study and research facilities. They are
also known for their outstanding and innovative research and are home to some of the most skilled researchers in
the world [1]. I have visited two departments in Oxford alongside my group of health and safety inspectors to
ensure that they are meeting health and safety legislations. The departments that me and my group inspected were
the surgical theatre and the behavioural testing control room. Monkeys are placed in the surgical theatre to go
under anaesthesia and they are then taken to the behaviour testing lab so that neuroscientists can conduct
research on them.
Risk assessment for both working environments
Surgical theatre
Hazard Risk Who will be Injuries it Actions taken What more
harmed could cause to minimise the can be done
risks and the
legislation/s
that it is
meeting
Medical gas If left open, Veterinary Severe The canisters are Store gas
canisters they could surgeons breathing attached to the canisters in a
be inhaled issues wall with a metal cupboard for
chain. easier access
Could be Injuries to feet
knocked Compressed gas
over symbol can be seen
on the door before
entering the
surgical theatre.
This meets the
COSHH 2002
legislation and the
CLP 2009
legislation because
the gas canisters
are labelled stating
what is inside
them.
This action also
meets the COMAH
2015 legislation.
X ray machine Exposure to Veterinary Damage to cells The x-ray machine Have a separate
radiation surgeons in the body and has wheels for easy room for the X
