Health and safety regulations for the Physics Teaching Laboratory (Dydaktyczne Laboratorium Fizyczne)

I. General rules.

According to decree Nr 24/R/98 by the Rector of UG on 24.09.98, students are required:

1. To participate in the briefing before the start of classes and to read the safety rules and regulations in force in the teaching laboratory of the University of Gdańsk.
2. Observe the health and safety instructions of the Physics Teaching Laboratory (DLF).
3. Attend classes in a manner consistent with the health and safety rules and regulations and, in this regard, respect the guidance and instructions of the teachers.
4. To take due care concerning the technical condition of DLF facilities and equipment and maintain order in the rooms of the DLF.
5. Report to the laboratory supervisor concerning any threat to health or life or any accident that you may witness..
6. Immediately follow the instructions in the event an evacuation is ordered of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics or the DLF facilities.

According to decree Nr 4/R/95 by the Rector of UG it is forbidden to consume food or drink near any workstations with computers, microscopes, chemicals and other agents harmful to health. Such a ban is also in force for all areas of the Physics Teaching Laboratory.

II. Electrical equipment.

1. Powering on any electrical systems is permitted only in the presence of the laboratory supervisor.
2. Any connecting of cables between equipment components may be done after disconnecting the apparatus from the power grid.
3. If you notice malfunctions and abnormalities in the operation of any device (characteristic smell of overheated insulation, smoke, sparks, flame), immediately disconnect the device from the power grid and mark it with a notice reading: “Warning, malfunctioning device” and report the fault to the laboratory supervisor.
4. Students may not in any way try to repair appliances or equipment themselves.
5. In case of fire, immediately turn off the power supply to any DLF room in which there is fire and notify the laboratory staff.

III.  Chemical substances.

1. All work with hazardous chemical reagents (pouring, filling measuring containers, washing, etc.) should be carried out over the sink or cuvettes protecting against spills in room 148.
2. Do not perform any work not within the scope of the official exercises without the knowledge of the instructor supervising the experiments.
3. Before using a chemical, carefully read the label on the jar or bottle.
4. Chemicals may not be tasted or swallowed because of the danger of poisoning.
5. You should wear protective aprons and gloves when working with certain reagents, if such a recommendation is issued by the laboratory supervisor.
6. Inform the laboratory supervisor about any spillage or leakage of a chemical.
7. The specifications of all chemicals used in the DLF, drawn up by the Central Institute for Labour Protection (Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy – CIOP), are available for students in room 149 and also on the website dlf.ug.edu.pl.
8. Chemical reagents should be poured into the appropriate bottles labelled with the name of the reagent used.
9. When removing containers from a laboratory oven, ensure that they are no longer hot.

IV. Ultraviolet, infrared and laser radiation.

1. The aforementioned radiation is harmful to the eyes.
2. You should never look directly into laser light. Doing so may damage your eyes.
3. For all DLF experimental stations involving laser light sources, appropriate safety goggles are provided for students.

High-frequency electromagnetic fields.

1. In DLF room 152 there is a microwave bridge (Experiment 3) which generates electromagnetic waves with frequencies of up to 10 GHz. Recent field strength readings (from 30.05.2011) showed that the device is shielded and that the whole of room 152 with the bridge is a microwave safe zone.

X-rays.

1. Three X-ray module sets can be found in laboratory room 152.
   They meet all the high standards of the EU member states for devices that emit electromagnetic radiation as well as X-ray equipment approved for education, such as: Electromagnetic Compatibility 2004/108/EC , Directive 2006/95/EC and TE 01: 1998 -01.
2. Laboratory room 147 contains an electron microscope and experimental sets 13 and 15 each include an electron gun. All of these devices meet the highest international standards for occupational health and safety and the operation of these sets is completely safe.