Mohammed Salam Unit 4: Laboratory Techniques and their Application
Healthy and safety in science organisations
Pfizer
Pfizer is a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, a company that produces
vaccines for diseases. Pfizer has set of regulations, and it must be followed because it keeps the
workplace a safe environment which gives safety to both employees and employers, here are the
following relevant regulations which are followed in the company:
Health and safety at work act 1974 – This act is the main legislation for a workplace for
health and safety in UK. At Pfizer, both employees and employers have their own
responsibilities which may benefit them and others as this is to ensure that there is safe
working environment at Pfizer.
The management of Health and safety at work regulations 1999 – this has similar roles with
health and safety, but it takes further step both employees and employers still have own
responsibilities to maintain a safe working environment, this act ensures that Pfizer reviews
and makes a risk assessment when it is needed.
Control of substances Hazardous to Health regulations 2002 – puts obligatory duties on
employers to protect the people who work at laboratory in Pfizer from the risks of exposure
of dangerous substances. So, symbols are used called COSHH symbols as they show the
potential dangers when using the materials and equipment.
Dangerous substances and Explosive Atmosphere regulations 2002 – or DSEAR in
abbreviated, this regulation is very important role because it protects people who work in
Pfizer as this act is designed to protect the people from explosive substance.
Fire precautions (workplace) regulations 1999 – this act protects the people who work at
Pfizer as it is designed to abstain the employee from being harmed by the fire. Puts
necessary duties upon both employers and employees as they should be aware of fire and
how it can be dealt. Employers should create a plan of fire risk assessments and procedures.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 – This is an act which means any transporting
or supporting of a load includes lifting, placing down, pushing, pulling, or carrying the load
around in the workplace. It is reasonably practicable when handling load in a correct way in
workplace, this regulation prevents employers and employees to experience serious injury at
work.
Noise at work 1989 – this act ensures that employee’s hearing is protected from the
excessive noise from work. If colleagues from Pfizer receives more than 85 decibels daily,
they are more likely to suffer from a condition called Tinnitus.
Personal Protective Equipment at work regulations 1992 – working at Pfizer all employees at
Pfizer and employers must gain access to PPE must wear Personal Protective Equipment or
PPE when they are handling substance that can cause contamination.
Main hazards at Pfizer
Here are following of main hazards at Pfizer:
Machinery equipment
Slip hazard
1
,Mohammed Salam Unit 4: Laboratory Techniques and their Application
Trip
Biological hazard – like bacteria which is enough to cause infections and diseases in the lab if
the employees are exposed to them.
Noise – Noise is measured in decibels (dB) as it determines the amplitude of sound. So, if
employees who are exposed with 85 dB daily are more likely to suffer from tinnitus.
Chemicals – exposure to some chemicals may be dangerous to humans.
Electrical hazards – sockets, cut wires
Cuts – Glass shards
Explosion
Pfizer’s Environment, Health safety (EHS)
Ensuring the health of the colleagues are monitored when managing exposure in workplace. The
employers should have procedures and controls when they are trying to protect the employees from
the exposure of dangerous chemicals. Pfizer employees should be trained to work safe, and they
should be aware of the risks. For example, if a fire alarm operates employees must be aware about
the procedure how to evacuate the building safely.
The managers at Pfizer are responsible to ensure that all employees are aware of Health and safety
policy, practices and procedures.
The health and safety will be reviewed and revised regularly and checked annually.
Employees should also need to follow the health and safety advice given.
Employees should take their own responsibility and take care for others.
Ensure that new employees are trained and are aware of the Health and safety.
Ensure that Risk assessments are used in the labs in accordance with the legislations (the
management of Health and safety at work regulations 1999)
Accidents, incidents and near misses (RIDDOR):
All accidents, incidents and near misses should be reported and to be investigated by the employers.
Use of PPE:
All employees must wear the appropriate wear of PPE when handling the chemicals or substances.
Report of there are any damaged PPE.
COSHH on site:
The employees are responsible to perform. Their duties when handling the substance, disposal and
using the chemicals or substance with accordance to COSHH regulations.
Ensure that the data sheets are up to date and are readily available.
Spills:
In the laboratories, if there are any spills use absorbent which contains materials that can soak up
the liquid.
Normal spills can be dealt by using paper towel or damp clothes.
2
,Mohammed Salam Unit 4: Laboratory Techniques and their Application
Risk assessment:
Risk assessment is useful as allows to identify and analyse any potentials events or substances that
may harm people at workplace. Risk assessment evaluates any risk that are present in the industry,
and it determines if any event or substances may require to be changed or removed. Risk
assessment is part of the management of Health and safety at work Regulations 1999 legislation.
Below is a procedure how to perform risk assessments:
Identify any potential hazards by observing the area. Look up for any dangers based on the
EHS standards.
Identify who may be at risk of any dangers.
Take an action when the risk is detected and suggest how the hazard should be dealt. In a
legal way, remove the risk minimising or through elimination.
Theses risks should be recorded and documented explaining how the risk is been dealt. For
future references, the assessment should be detailed of how the hazard has been
addressed.
After completion of creating a risk assessment, the risk assessment must be kept and
reviewed at least annually to ensure that safety measures are maintained in the workplace.
Audits:
The goal of Pfizer's Global EHS Audit program is to give unbiased assessment of the adequacy of EHS
risk management at the site level.
Value in Pfizer’s EHS adds by:
Prioritise on the compliance EHS standards in Pfizer
Making a summary about the Pfizer’s EHS performance by mentioning the areas where it
may require strengths and any areas that they need for improvement.
Suggesting solutions to reduce the risk when it is identified while audit takes place.
“Identifying ‘best practices and model programs’ that other sites can replicate”. (Pfizer.com,
2015)
The program is risk-based, with more audit activity focused on increased risk operations within the
Pfizer network of sites. The audit methods used vary according to the audit objectives and the
feasibility of transportation to sites. On-site audits, remote audits permitted by technology, and or
hybrid approaches combining on-site, and remote audit techniques are examples of audit methods.
The Global EHS Audit program also includes a review of site Self Audit program, which are carried
out by the sites and are required to assess the site level according to the regulatory and Pfizer EHS
standard specifications.
Safety measures at Pfizer
At Pfizer safety measures takes place as it to ensure that the workplace is safe for employees. Here
are examples of risk and how they are controlled:
Risks Control measures
Chemicals According to COSHH Engineering controls – like
3
, Mohammed Salam Unit 4: Laboratory Techniques and their Application
regulations if the chemical is ventilation.
labelled as:
Corrosive – may cause Hygiene – This is effective because
severe skin burns and cleaning out and disposing the
damage to the eye and chemical will reduce the
corrosive chemicals contamination.
can eat through
metals. Use of PPE – Relevant personal
Toxic – can be fatal if protective equipment should be
inhaled, contact with provided to the employees when
the skin, or ingested. handling the chemicals as this also
Irritant – can give skin minimises the contamination. PPE
irritations, eye, includes like protective clothing,
respiratory irritant. visor, gloves, masks, goggles, high
Highly flammable – visibility clothing and safety
any state of matter like footwear and respiratory protective
solid, liquid and gas equipment.
when they come
contact with fire, they Training employee – the workers
will end up causing are involved for handling the
more fire. dangerous chemicals, but they will
Long term health be put in a specific training set by
hazards – carcinogen is the employer. This act is followed
an agent it has from the management of health and
suspected that it can safety at work regulations 1999.
increase the risk of
cancer, carcinogen The use of the chemicals should be
affects the fertility of used in the lowest dosage as
unborn child also it possible to avoid the danger.
can cause genetic
mutations. Sensitivity Use the emergency shower if
of respiratory can required before starting, remove
cause allergic reaction, the contaminated lab clothing or
asthma or breathing any clothes that have been exposed
difficulties. to the dangerous chemicals should
Explosive – any be thrown away. The shower is not
chemicals like organic a general shower usage like at home
peroxides or substance this type of shower is used for
that have ability to emergency purpose only and it
react itself can cause decontaminates.
explosion.
Oxidising – any state
of matter like solid,
liquid and gas which
has capable of
intensifying the fire or
cause explosion.
Glass ware If the glass is broken into Clean the site as soon as possible
smaller pieces, it can be with a vacuum cleaner if the glass is
dangerous as it can cut not contaminated by biological
through the skin and eye substances.
4
Healthy and safety in science organisations
Pfizer
Pfizer is a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, a company that produces
vaccines for diseases. Pfizer has set of regulations, and it must be followed because it keeps the
workplace a safe environment which gives safety to both employees and employers, here are the
following relevant regulations which are followed in the company:
Health and safety at work act 1974 – This act is the main legislation for a workplace for
health and safety in UK. At Pfizer, both employees and employers have their own
responsibilities which may benefit them and others as this is to ensure that there is safe
working environment at Pfizer.
The management of Health and safety at work regulations 1999 – this has similar roles with
health and safety, but it takes further step both employees and employers still have own
responsibilities to maintain a safe working environment, this act ensures that Pfizer reviews
and makes a risk assessment when it is needed.
Control of substances Hazardous to Health regulations 2002 – puts obligatory duties on
employers to protect the people who work at laboratory in Pfizer from the risks of exposure
of dangerous substances. So, symbols are used called COSHH symbols as they show the
potential dangers when using the materials and equipment.
Dangerous substances and Explosive Atmosphere regulations 2002 – or DSEAR in
abbreviated, this regulation is very important role because it protects people who work in
Pfizer as this act is designed to protect the people from explosive substance.
Fire precautions (workplace) regulations 1999 – this act protects the people who work at
Pfizer as it is designed to abstain the employee from being harmed by the fire. Puts
necessary duties upon both employers and employees as they should be aware of fire and
how it can be dealt. Employers should create a plan of fire risk assessments and procedures.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 – This is an act which means any transporting
or supporting of a load includes lifting, placing down, pushing, pulling, or carrying the load
around in the workplace. It is reasonably practicable when handling load in a correct way in
workplace, this regulation prevents employers and employees to experience serious injury at
work.
Noise at work 1989 – this act ensures that employee’s hearing is protected from the
excessive noise from work. If colleagues from Pfizer receives more than 85 decibels daily,
they are more likely to suffer from a condition called Tinnitus.
Personal Protective Equipment at work regulations 1992 – working at Pfizer all employees at
Pfizer and employers must gain access to PPE must wear Personal Protective Equipment or
PPE when they are handling substance that can cause contamination.
Main hazards at Pfizer
Here are following of main hazards at Pfizer:
Machinery equipment
Slip hazard
1
,Mohammed Salam Unit 4: Laboratory Techniques and their Application
Trip
Biological hazard – like bacteria which is enough to cause infections and diseases in the lab if
the employees are exposed to them.
Noise – Noise is measured in decibels (dB) as it determines the amplitude of sound. So, if
employees who are exposed with 85 dB daily are more likely to suffer from tinnitus.
Chemicals – exposure to some chemicals may be dangerous to humans.
Electrical hazards – sockets, cut wires
Cuts – Glass shards
Explosion
Pfizer’s Environment, Health safety (EHS)
Ensuring the health of the colleagues are monitored when managing exposure in workplace. The
employers should have procedures and controls when they are trying to protect the employees from
the exposure of dangerous chemicals. Pfizer employees should be trained to work safe, and they
should be aware of the risks. For example, if a fire alarm operates employees must be aware about
the procedure how to evacuate the building safely.
The managers at Pfizer are responsible to ensure that all employees are aware of Health and safety
policy, practices and procedures.
The health and safety will be reviewed and revised regularly and checked annually.
Employees should also need to follow the health and safety advice given.
Employees should take their own responsibility and take care for others.
Ensure that new employees are trained and are aware of the Health and safety.
Ensure that Risk assessments are used in the labs in accordance with the legislations (the
management of Health and safety at work regulations 1999)
Accidents, incidents and near misses (RIDDOR):
All accidents, incidents and near misses should be reported and to be investigated by the employers.
Use of PPE:
All employees must wear the appropriate wear of PPE when handling the chemicals or substances.
Report of there are any damaged PPE.
COSHH on site:
The employees are responsible to perform. Their duties when handling the substance, disposal and
using the chemicals or substance with accordance to COSHH regulations.
Ensure that the data sheets are up to date and are readily available.
Spills:
In the laboratories, if there are any spills use absorbent which contains materials that can soak up
the liquid.
Normal spills can be dealt by using paper towel or damp clothes.
2
,Mohammed Salam Unit 4: Laboratory Techniques and their Application
Risk assessment:
Risk assessment is useful as allows to identify and analyse any potentials events or substances that
may harm people at workplace. Risk assessment evaluates any risk that are present in the industry,
and it determines if any event or substances may require to be changed or removed. Risk
assessment is part of the management of Health and safety at work Regulations 1999 legislation.
Below is a procedure how to perform risk assessments:
Identify any potential hazards by observing the area. Look up for any dangers based on the
EHS standards.
Identify who may be at risk of any dangers.
Take an action when the risk is detected and suggest how the hazard should be dealt. In a
legal way, remove the risk minimising or through elimination.
Theses risks should be recorded and documented explaining how the risk is been dealt. For
future references, the assessment should be detailed of how the hazard has been
addressed.
After completion of creating a risk assessment, the risk assessment must be kept and
reviewed at least annually to ensure that safety measures are maintained in the workplace.
Audits:
The goal of Pfizer's Global EHS Audit program is to give unbiased assessment of the adequacy of EHS
risk management at the site level.
Value in Pfizer’s EHS adds by:
Prioritise on the compliance EHS standards in Pfizer
Making a summary about the Pfizer’s EHS performance by mentioning the areas where it
may require strengths and any areas that they need for improvement.
Suggesting solutions to reduce the risk when it is identified while audit takes place.
“Identifying ‘best practices and model programs’ that other sites can replicate”. (Pfizer.com,
2015)
The program is risk-based, with more audit activity focused on increased risk operations within the
Pfizer network of sites. The audit methods used vary according to the audit objectives and the
feasibility of transportation to sites. On-site audits, remote audits permitted by technology, and or
hybrid approaches combining on-site, and remote audit techniques are examples of audit methods.
The Global EHS Audit program also includes a review of site Self Audit program, which are carried
out by the sites and are required to assess the site level according to the regulatory and Pfizer EHS
standard specifications.
Safety measures at Pfizer
At Pfizer safety measures takes place as it to ensure that the workplace is safe for employees. Here
are examples of risk and how they are controlled:
Risks Control measures
Chemicals According to COSHH Engineering controls – like
3
, Mohammed Salam Unit 4: Laboratory Techniques and their Application
regulations if the chemical is ventilation.
labelled as:
Corrosive – may cause Hygiene – This is effective because
severe skin burns and cleaning out and disposing the
damage to the eye and chemical will reduce the
corrosive chemicals contamination.
can eat through
metals. Use of PPE – Relevant personal
Toxic – can be fatal if protective equipment should be
inhaled, contact with provided to the employees when
the skin, or ingested. handling the chemicals as this also
Irritant – can give skin minimises the contamination. PPE
irritations, eye, includes like protective clothing,
respiratory irritant. visor, gloves, masks, goggles, high
Highly flammable – visibility clothing and safety
any state of matter like footwear and respiratory protective
solid, liquid and gas equipment.
when they come
contact with fire, they Training employee – the workers
will end up causing are involved for handling the
more fire. dangerous chemicals, but they will
Long term health be put in a specific training set by
hazards – carcinogen is the employer. This act is followed
an agent it has from the management of health and
suspected that it can safety at work regulations 1999.
increase the risk of
cancer, carcinogen The use of the chemicals should be
affects the fertility of used in the lowest dosage as
unborn child also it possible to avoid the danger.
can cause genetic
mutations. Sensitivity Use the emergency shower if
of respiratory can required before starting, remove
cause allergic reaction, the contaminated lab clothing or
asthma or breathing any clothes that have been exposed
difficulties. to the dangerous chemicals should
Explosive – any be thrown away. The shower is not
chemicals like organic a general shower usage like at home
peroxides or substance this type of shower is used for
that have ability to emergency purpose only and it
react itself can cause decontaminates.
explosion.
Oxidising – any state
of matter like solid,
liquid and gas which
has capable of
intensifying the fire or
cause explosion.
Glass ware If the glass is broken into Clean the site as soon as possible
smaller pieces, it can be with a vacuum cleaner if the glass is
dangerous as it can cut not contaminated by biological
through the skin and eye substances.
4
