UNIT 4A : Laboratory techniques and their application
Introduction to report
I will investigate a pharmaceutical company and report on health and safety. Where the product is being
developed in the synthetic chemistry lab will also be looked at along with the research site for the org. I will also
inspect an educational laboratory and compare my findings of these two and how well they can prevent hazards
and the management of health and safety. The pharmaceutical lab that I am investigating is Pfizer which is known
globally as an exceptional synthetic lab. The educational lab I am investigating is Arden academy which is a
secondary school which also ha post 16 education.
Risk Safety measures Why are the safety measures legislation
there
Eliminate ignition source Many of the safety measures regulatory reform fire
when working with are there to prevent fire and safety act (RRFSA)
combust liquids explosion and minimize the
Flammable risk to environment
Compressed gas Do not store gas cylinders The hazards of compressed Occupational Safety
near any heat sources gas are explosion due to mass and Health
which may compromise release of gas Administration
their structural integrity (OSHA)
Use handle and store Oxidization can cause a great Control of substances
oxidizing material in well chance of fire so it must be hazards to health
ventilated areas away handled with care. They are (COSHH)
from other materials not themselves combustible,
Oxidizing
which would react easily but they can increase
combustion rates greatly
Never store corrosive Corrosive substances can Control of substances
materials above eye level cause considerable damage to hazards to health
always add bases or acids your body if exposed to It. It (COSHH)
Corrosive to water. Acids must be can also destroy containers
segregated with important equipment
Main activities of Pfizer
The pharmaceutical industry creates, develops, and discovers for use of medication to be prescribed to patients who
need it. Pfizer is one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, discovering, developing, and
providing over 170 different medicines and vaccines healthcare products to help improve the life of millions of
people in the UK and around the world every year. Pfizer. (2020)” about us.” URL: https://www.pfizer.co.uk/about-
us#:~:text=In%20the%20UK%2C%20we%20have,manufacturing%2C%20packaging%20and%20distribution%20opera
tions. Date visited: September 1st 2021
Potential hazards of Pfizer and health and safety measures used
,UNIT 4A : Laboratory techniques and their application
. Flammable is a potential hazard when working in a pharmaceutical laboratory like Pfizer because substances can
catch on fire causing bodily harm or harm to the environment if not put under control quickly. c. Also use the
smallest amount of flammable liquid needed so that if there is a fire it is much more controllable.
. Corrosive is another potential hazard for Pfizer as it can chemically destroy your exposed body tissues on contact,
it can also destroy equipment or metals in the Labotory. The safety measures Pfizer uses are to store and handle
corrosive materials well and never store corrosive liquids above eye level. Acids and bases need to be
segregated in different storage places so there is no chance of reaction between them. Pfizer makes sure that all
employees use personal protective equipment when handing corrosive substances to reduce chances of injury.
. A hazard related to pharmaceutical industry is chemicals, chemicals cause a risk of being flammable the safety
measures taken for this is to maintain organised and orderly facility and to minimize the amount of flammable
chemicals or other combust materials.
How does health and safety management improve health and safety and allows the company to comply with
legislation
Complying with the appropriate legislation decreased the risk of legal action against Pfizer. By complying it also
causes fewer accidents because the company Is safer and has clear instructions and risk assessments. Complying
also benefits the employers because a safer Enviromint will increase productivity which is more likely for them to
get a promotion and pay rise.
. Pfizer safety management of flammable substances Allines with the legislation regulatory reform fire safety act
(RRFSA) which states provide general fire precautions to deal with any risk and to ensure where flammable
substances are stored that appropriate fire safety is being carried out.
. The regulation for the control of substances hazardous to health regulations (COSHH). This legislation applies to
corrosive substances as if the corrosive substance is not controlled and managed safety it can drastically improve
the chances of injury to employees or the environment. This legislation improves the health and safety of
employees by planning for emergencies and providing monitoring.
. These ensure workers safety because if the workspace Is organised and orderly there is less chance of accidents
to occur because of things being misplaced, also the safety measure to minimize the amount of flammable
chemicals is there so that if there is fire, it is controllable. The main legislation for flammable chemicals is the
regulatory reform (fire safety) order 2005 this is means that anyone who has any level of control in the premises
much take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire this is to make sure that fire does not damage the
environment or burn people.
Regulation Description pharmaceutical educational
Control of substances it is the law that yes yes
hazardous to health requires employers to
regulation 2002 (COSHH) control these
substances. Under the
Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health
Regulations (COSHH,
2002) employers are
required to either
prevent, reduce or at
the very least, control
, UNIT 4A : Laboratory techniques and their application
exposure to hazardous
substances to prevent
ill health to their
workers.
Dangerous substances The dangerous yes no
and explosive substances and
atmosphere regulations explosives are protection
2002 against explosives and
fire
Fire precaution This requires employers yes Yes
(workplace) regulation to identify risks and take
1999 steps to remove them
Health and safety (Display Makes employers protect yes yes
screen equipment) workers who use DSE
regulation 1999 e.g., computers laptops
Electricity at work To prevent death or Yes no
regulation injury caused by
electricity to a person
while working
Ionizing radiation The regulations aim to yes yes
regulation 1999 make sure that it is
used safely to protect
patients from the risk of
harm when being
exposed to ionizing
radiation
Personal protective Personal Protective yes yes
equipment at work Equipment (PPE) is
regulation 1992 (PPE) defined in the
regulations as "all
equipment (including
clothing affording
protection against the
weather) which is
intended to be worn or
held by a person at
work which
Introduction to report
I will investigate a pharmaceutical company and report on health and safety. Where the product is being
developed in the synthetic chemistry lab will also be looked at along with the research site for the org. I will also
inspect an educational laboratory and compare my findings of these two and how well they can prevent hazards
and the management of health and safety. The pharmaceutical lab that I am investigating is Pfizer which is known
globally as an exceptional synthetic lab. The educational lab I am investigating is Arden academy which is a
secondary school which also ha post 16 education.
Risk Safety measures Why are the safety measures legislation
there
Eliminate ignition source Many of the safety measures regulatory reform fire
when working with are there to prevent fire and safety act (RRFSA)
combust liquids explosion and minimize the
Flammable risk to environment
Compressed gas Do not store gas cylinders The hazards of compressed Occupational Safety
near any heat sources gas are explosion due to mass and Health
which may compromise release of gas Administration
their structural integrity (OSHA)
Use handle and store Oxidization can cause a great Control of substances
oxidizing material in well chance of fire so it must be hazards to health
ventilated areas away handled with care. They are (COSHH)
from other materials not themselves combustible,
Oxidizing
which would react easily but they can increase
combustion rates greatly
Never store corrosive Corrosive substances can Control of substances
materials above eye level cause considerable damage to hazards to health
always add bases or acids your body if exposed to It. It (COSHH)
Corrosive to water. Acids must be can also destroy containers
segregated with important equipment
Main activities of Pfizer
The pharmaceutical industry creates, develops, and discovers for use of medication to be prescribed to patients who
need it. Pfizer is one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, discovering, developing, and
providing over 170 different medicines and vaccines healthcare products to help improve the life of millions of
people in the UK and around the world every year. Pfizer. (2020)” about us.” URL: https://www.pfizer.co.uk/about-
us#:~:text=In%20the%20UK%2C%20we%20have,manufacturing%2C%20packaging%20and%20distribution%20opera
tions. Date visited: September 1st 2021
Potential hazards of Pfizer and health and safety measures used
,UNIT 4A : Laboratory techniques and their application
. Flammable is a potential hazard when working in a pharmaceutical laboratory like Pfizer because substances can
catch on fire causing bodily harm or harm to the environment if not put under control quickly. c. Also use the
smallest amount of flammable liquid needed so that if there is a fire it is much more controllable.
. Corrosive is another potential hazard for Pfizer as it can chemically destroy your exposed body tissues on contact,
it can also destroy equipment or metals in the Labotory. The safety measures Pfizer uses are to store and handle
corrosive materials well and never store corrosive liquids above eye level. Acids and bases need to be
segregated in different storage places so there is no chance of reaction between them. Pfizer makes sure that all
employees use personal protective equipment when handing corrosive substances to reduce chances of injury.
. A hazard related to pharmaceutical industry is chemicals, chemicals cause a risk of being flammable the safety
measures taken for this is to maintain organised and orderly facility and to minimize the amount of flammable
chemicals or other combust materials.
How does health and safety management improve health and safety and allows the company to comply with
legislation
Complying with the appropriate legislation decreased the risk of legal action against Pfizer. By complying it also
causes fewer accidents because the company Is safer and has clear instructions and risk assessments. Complying
also benefits the employers because a safer Enviromint will increase productivity which is more likely for them to
get a promotion and pay rise.
. Pfizer safety management of flammable substances Allines with the legislation regulatory reform fire safety act
(RRFSA) which states provide general fire precautions to deal with any risk and to ensure where flammable
substances are stored that appropriate fire safety is being carried out.
. The regulation for the control of substances hazardous to health regulations (COSHH). This legislation applies to
corrosive substances as if the corrosive substance is not controlled and managed safety it can drastically improve
the chances of injury to employees or the environment. This legislation improves the health and safety of
employees by planning for emergencies and providing monitoring.
. These ensure workers safety because if the workspace Is organised and orderly there is less chance of accidents
to occur because of things being misplaced, also the safety measure to minimize the amount of flammable
chemicals is there so that if there is fire, it is controllable. The main legislation for flammable chemicals is the
regulatory reform (fire safety) order 2005 this is means that anyone who has any level of control in the premises
much take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire this is to make sure that fire does not damage the
environment or burn people.
Regulation Description pharmaceutical educational
Control of substances it is the law that yes yes
hazardous to health requires employers to
regulation 2002 (COSHH) control these
substances. Under the
Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health
Regulations (COSHH,
2002) employers are
required to either
prevent, reduce or at
the very least, control
, UNIT 4A : Laboratory techniques and their application
exposure to hazardous
substances to prevent
ill health to their
workers.
Dangerous substances The dangerous yes no
and explosive substances and
atmosphere regulations explosives are protection
2002 against explosives and
fire
Fire precaution This requires employers yes Yes
(workplace) regulation to identify risks and take
1999 steps to remove them
Health and safety (Display Makes employers protect yes yes
screen equipment) workers who use DSE
regulation 1999 e.g., computers laptops
Electricity at work To prevent death or Yes no
regulation injury caused by
electricity to a person
while working
Ionizing radiation The regulations aim to yes yes
regulation 1999 make sure that it is
used safely to protect
patients from the risk of
harm when being
exposed to ionizing
radiation
Personal protective Personal Protective yes yes
equipment at work Equipment (PPE) is
regulation 1992 (PPE) defined in the
regulations as "all
equipment (including
clothing affording
protection against the
weather) which is
intended to be worn or
held by a person at
work which
