This document forms a record of the assessments of hazards and risks associated with the delivery of the 'forces' lecture. It has been drawn up in accordance with guidelines set out by the UK Health and Safety Executive.
Low Temperature |
Frozen Carbon Dioxide and liquid Nitrogen. |
Chemicals |
Mercury |
Glassware |
Test tubes, measuring cylinders etc. |
Pressure Explosion |
2 Litre plastic (PET) bottle. Balloons. |
Crowding |
Accidents caused by junior audiences moving around. |
Audience |
Children aged from five to thirteen. Adults. |
Participating Audience |
Children aged from five to thirteen and/or adults selected from audience. |
Participating Staff |
Trained adults and/or children over 13 |
Public Access |
Under certain circumstances public access could conflict with the outdoor plastic bottle pressure explosion experiment. |
A Spill Zone of approximately two metres is laid down between the audience and the podium. Children are only permitted to enter this spill zone strictly by invitation. When liquid nitrogen is being poured absorbent material is laid down to protect shiny floors.
Eye protection, laboratory coats etc. are used when and where appropriate.
Since we at SciTech believe that safety is an active part of all experiements/demonstrations rather than an imposition on them, the implementation of safety standards and procedures are not only practised but passed on to the junior audiences. As safety equipment is used the reasons as to why it is necessary to use such equipment are often discussed with the children first.
Temperature |
Both the liquid nitrogen and the frozen carbon dioxide are stored in vented containers and only used in small quantities. Access to both is controlled at all times. Finger rings are removed or taped over for reasons of safety. The spill zone is sufficiently large to allow the liquid nitrogen to boil off. After careful consideration, it has been decided not use gloves during liquid nitrogen procedures as they hamper dexterity and therefore tend to only increase the probability of a spill occurring. Furthermore, a frozen glove could become a hazard in itself. The small amount of liquid nitrogen used in experiments boils off before any injury can occur. |
Chemicals |
Mercury is kept in a strong sealed test tube which is never opened. Flowers of Sulphur are carried to control the hazard in case of inadvertant spillage. |
Glassware |
It is more than likely that should any breakage of glassware occur it will happen within the spill zone. This will be thoroughly cleaned up and made safe before continuing further with the lecture. Suitable disposal containers are carried to deal with such instances to cover the eventuality that suitable facilities for dealing with sharp and/or broken objects are not available on site or we are not satisfied that the broken glass can be disposed safely on site. |
Pressure Explosion |
Balloons are exploded indoors intentionally as part of the lecture, however, at times this does happen spontaneously and totally unplanned. Some children can find the experience of sudden and/or unexpected noise very distressing. Provided it is brought to our attention that there are children for whom the eventuality is indeed likely to be distressing, we can modify the experience by use of warnings etc. When a PET bottle is exploded outdoors the children remain at least 70 metres (90 metres for recyclable bottles) from the bottle at all times. Where public access into the explosion zone is possible, such as parents coming to school to collect children, staff are tasked with controlling access to the area. After the demonstration is complete the explosion area is made safe by treading the remaining frozen carbon dioxide into the ground before the audience is permitted to disperse. |
Crowding |
To prevent children from injuring themselves and/or others and to prevent uncontrolled access to the lecture equipment, lectures are not undertaken if there is insufficient supervisory control. If behaviour subsequently proves to be a problem, additional controls are sought or the lecture is terminated. |
At the time of writing, all hazards have been identified and procedures are in place to ensure safe operation.
Complacency can often compromise good safety procedures and familiarity can sometimes bring about a blindness to potential hazards. For this reason we welcome safety suggestions from any observers
This document forms a record of the assessments of hazards and
risks associated with the delivery of the 'States of Matter' lecture.
It has been drawn up in accordance with guidelines set out by the
UK Health and Safety Executive.