Laboratory introduction
All lab-users must be introduced to laboratories at Geoscience i the following way:
- Early on inform the head of Geoscience laboratories Charlotte Rasmussen about your project (requirements, content, timeframe and involved finances).
- Complete online e-learning: "Geoscience laboratory safety course" (AU staff, students and guests that have an AU-ID).
- Participate in a 1:1 introduction to safety and labs (60 minutes) with Charlotte.
- Personal training and supervision in a specific process by laboratory technologist or other technical staff member. Please note that this instruction must always contain information regarding, for example, risk assessment, the nearest escape route, relevant emergency equipment, waste disposal, personal protective equipment and how to act in the event of an error, chemical spill, etc., i.e. the list from the second half of the 1:1 introduction checklist.
The purpose of the 1:1 introduction is to clarify the responsibilities of the laboratory user and the requirements for future instruction.
Teachers and teaching assistants in laboratories have a special responsibility with regards to student safety, e.g. during emergencies, sudden errors or evacuation situations. Students may never work alone without supervision from the responsible teacher, the teaching assistant or a lab technologist during lab courses on any level.
Note that some processes require additional action, i.e. x-rays, epoxy and cleanlab. Anyone who will teach or assist teaching in the laboratories have special responsabilities. See further info below.
Geoscience Online Safety
As a basis, before the 1:1 introduction is carried out with laboratory manager Charlotte Rasmussen, the lab user must complete our online safety course to prepare.
The content of the course has been developed by the local working environment committee, LAMU. Therefore, it takes Danish laws and regulations into account, and contains the guidelines that apply at Geoscience, Aarhus University.
The information is divided into different modules, each module ends with a few questions that you have to answer. It usually takes 2 hours to finish all modules and tests.
To register for the e-learning system, you must send your AU-ID (usually au12345) via e-mail to Charlotte. The system we use for e-learning is supported by Aarhus University, so currently users without an AU-ID are not accepted.
1:1 safety introduction by Charlotte Rasmussen
Before starting laboratory projects all new lab users (employees, students and guests) must receive a basic introduction to work environmental issues at the Department of Geoscience, as well as safety issues related to laboratories.
Head of the Geoscience laboratories, Charlotte Rasmussen, covers the following during the briefing:
- General checklist, including information about insurance etc.
- AU evacuation procedure (i.e. walkthrough the content of an evacuation box).
- Examples of emergency equipment.
- Important phone numbers.
- Escape routes.
- Rules and regulations from the work environment committee (i.e. "Rules and information regarding fieldwork, work in the laboratories and electronic/metal-shops", "Working alone", "Working with HF-acid" and "Pregnant and breastfeeding women").
Lab user signs for receiving the above information. All new lab users are registrated and will recieve mails with information regarding planned maintenance and errors on equipment or infrastructure in the laboratory.
Further instructions must be carried out by a laboratory technologist or other member of our technical staff regarding the specific work process.
Note that students are not allowed to instruct other students.
X-Ray Safety
The department has several instruments which use either x-ray diffraction or x-ray flouroscense and thus contains an x-ray source. All instruments are monitored regularly to ensure that no user is exposed to x-ray radiation.
If you want to work with the handheld Bruker XRF:
Users must be certified to work with x-ray radiation before starting the project. Certification is carried out by discussing radiation safety with the head of the laboratories, Charlotte Rasmussen, and passing a multiple choice test. The material is based on 1 video available on Youtube:
Furthermore it is recommended to watch the following Youtube video https://youtu.be/ml1yzdP9rEs in regards to working with the XRF instrument.
Epoxy
Epoxy basically consists of two components: A base (the "resin") and a hardener (the "accelerator"). When these are mixed it turns into a 2-component glue which is incredibly strong once it is dry. Epoxy is therefore used to make thin sections, or casts of minerals, rocks or other materials.
Epoxy work requires a 2-day Danish safety course provided by many technical colleges in Denmark. Alternatively use a certified laboratory technologist to carry out the job for you.
Cleanlab
The department's cleanlab is metal free and special precautions apply to maintain the high level of cleanliness and safety that is required. Users of the cleanlab must undergo further safety training.
HF-acid
A lot of lab-work at the Department of Geoscience involves concentrated or diluted HF-acid.
When working with HF-acid the department guidelines regarding HF-acid applies.
The department has HF drills on a regular basis for relevant lab-users where the HF emergency kit is scrutinised and we may simulate an accident. All participants are encouraged to try on the full-bodysuit, mask and air tank.
