Legislation in a Scientific Workplace PDF

Title Legislation in a Scientific Workplace
Course Scientific Practice
Institution Keele University
Pages 2
File Size 60.2 KB
File Type PDF
Total Downloads 18
Total Views 145

Summary

Rules and Regulations in a Scientific workplace
The danger in school laboratories/ workplace...


Description

To define a regulation, it is a rule which is made and maintained by an authority. A legislation is an act of constructing laws. It is vital that regulations as well as legislations are met in a Scientific workplace due to making sure that the Laboratories are within safe conditions by avoiding any risks with dangerous chemicals and substances when using it for experiments and also avoiding any contamination. But failing to comply a regulation involving with Health and Safety is indeed a criminal offence which would result in the Head Department of the workplace or the entire company being prosecuted with a fine or imprisonment. Another issue in the scientific workplace as to why regulations and legislations are present is that when scientists or students perform experiments, the dangers is that they tend on not wearing laboratory coats, and being involved in accidents that is due to the Laboratory not having a good safety records or no regulations relating with health and safety. A young technician given by the name of Sheharbano Sangji took the risk of not wearing any protective clothing while she undertook her task. December 2008 she was working with a type of chemical liquid called Tert-Butyl Lithium. The 23 year old was drawing the Lithium, from a bottle into a syringe as the plunger came out of the syringe barrel. The chemical provoked spontaneously in the air which splashed onto Sangji's clothing and was set on fire. The risk she faced was burnt from 40% of her body such as her hands, arms as well as her upper torso. This became so severe that she was transferred to a few medical centres which she died in. Sangji was clothed in a synthetic material such as polyester recognized as "analogues to solid gasoline". The company of the ACS Committee on Chemical Safety stated that "Once it ignites, it burns just like a hydrocarbon so it is an inappropriate lab apparel by itself. A Laboratory coat may have protected her as well as the sweater she wore from igniting as well as forming less injuries. Another article stated that there were two school students who were brutally injured and burnt during a science demonstration. A Manhattan Lecturer was performing a demonstration to the students in his class with a high combustive chemical and did not advise them to wear any protective clothing such as coats, gloves as well as safety goggles. The Health and Safety legislation was clearly not followed within the Laboratory because it is stated, "Always when dangerous chemicals, glassware flames are handled or utilised, all persons present whether they are handling or utilising the objects must wear eye protection." The students in the school as well as the teacher who demonstrated the practical did not follow the legislation which had put them in danger. As the teacher was demonstrating the chemical experiment, a fireball shot at the students, leaving one student suffering from second degree burns to his airways, face as well as his neck. Another student however, was also burnt to the hands. A different teacher in the class managed to throw a blanket of the male student's head to douse the flames. This article shows that legislations in the

workplace is essential as the health and safety legislation would need to be adapted once it fails to protect the students from any harm. A Chemistry student in Yale dies due to working alone late at night whilst her hair was caught in a Lathe Machine. A Lathe Machine is a industrial machine used to spin as well as shape in hard materials. The university Laboratory must provide with legislations that should be followed as well as in a scientific workplace due to the case of harming employees or students. Not following a legislation may lead as a result in permanent injuries or death. All students in the university should have carried out a risk assessment and have it present in the laboratory to avoid any risks as they know it all. Also in case of any danger a member of staff or a technician should be around in the laboratory in case of any explosions, danger or any assistance in the experiment. Another issue is that the young girl did not have her hair tied back. When performing an experiment, it is essential for students working on a practical that their hair must be tied back to avoid it being caught in the machine and causing many life threatening issues. This caused the young Yale student her life. It may have been possible that legislations were present and in place but the student may have refused to follow. It may have been followed but failed in preventing the student from danger due to the legislations may not cover all of the health and safety issues well or not mentioned clearly. This is the indication that all students working in a laboratory or a scientific workplace must be under supervision by ensuring that their hair is tied back, they are wearing the appropriate clothing such as protected gear and also carrying out her risk assessment.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/danger-in-school-labs/ https://abigailhayes97.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/importance-of-regulations-andlegislations-in-a-scientific-workplace-2/ https://sianmills.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/the-need-for-current-regulations-and-legislationin-safe-working-practices-m5-d4/ https://www.channel4.com/news/yale-student-dies-in-laboratory-accident...


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