HSPOL15 V5 Liquid Nitrogen Policy v6 by Provide Community

Liquid Nitrogen Policy

Version: V6

Ratified by: Finance and Investment Committee (FIC)

Date ratified: 25/05/2022

Job Title of author:

Health, Safety, Fire and Security Manager –Estates and Facilities

Reviewed by Committee or Expert Group Property Health and Steering Group

Equality Impact Assessed by:

1. Introduction

This policy has been updated in line with changes in the legislation on liquid nitrogen use, storage and transportation.

Provides recognises its responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

By implementation of these Regulations, as a minimum standard, the organisation aims to provide a safe working environment, taking regard of the health, safety and welfare of staff, patients and visitors.

2. Purpose

This document specifies safe procedures in respect of liquid nitrogen use, storage and transportation. The aim of these guidelines is to inform all personnel who have to handle liquid nitrogen of the hazards associated with low temperatures, liquefied gases and the simple precautions that must be taken in order to ensure that it is handled safety.

Liquid nitrogen is a colourless odourless liquid used in some laboratory and clinical processes. Because of its extremely low temperature (-196 ºC) it is stored in Dewar (vacuum) flasks, which are vented to the atmosphere to release the nitrogen gas. Dewar flasks must be properly labelled in accordance with the British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) Code of Practice.

3. Definitions

Dry Ice

Solid Carbon Dioxide

Dewar

A specific cryogenic container

PPE

Personnel Protective Equipment

SOP

Standard Operating Procedure

4. Duties Board

The Board is ultimately responsible for fulfilling all Health and Safety duties as an employer, including all statute Health and Safety Law requirements.

Group Chief Executive

The Group Chief Executive has overall responsibility to the Board for ensuring that appropriate and effective health and safety management systems are in place.

Group Chief Officers

The Group Chief Officers delegates responsibility for Health and Safety to the Group Chief Nurse & Operating Officer and the Group Chief Medical Officer They deal with matters of health and safety in close association with other Group Chief Officers, Directors, Assistant Directors, senior managers and the Health, Safety, Fire and Security Manager

Directors

Assistant Directors are responsible for ensuring that day-to day activities of the service are conducted in a safe and suitable manner and this policy is effectively and correctly employed within their own teams (where necessary)

Heads of Service

Managers should establish local procedural guidelines specific to their own departments. Managers should ensure that COSHH and risk assessments are in place.

All Staff

All employees are expected to take reasonable care to ensure the safety of themselves, their colleagues, patients and members of the public. Staff are responsible for complying with all COSHH/Risk assessments and policies.

All personnel involved in the filling, handling, use or transportation of liquid nitrogen Dewar’s shall:

• Be aware of, and trained in, the hazards of liquid nitrogen

• Wear appropriate hand, eye, feet and body protection when handling full or empty Dewar’s

• Not fill, use or transport any Dewar with a damaged neck, wall trunnion support, base support or wheels

• Ensure that Dewar’s are correctly and clearly labelled for nitrogen service before filling

• Only use Dewar’s which are correctly and clearly labelled

• Only transport Dewar’s which are correctly labelled for transport

• Be adequately trained in the handling of liquid nitrogen Dewar’s

• Know what actions to take in the event of a liquid spillage

Know what actions to take if in incident results in a cold burn or asphyxiation

5. Consultation and Communication

All services that use or store any Cryogenic gas or solids

6. Monitoring

Monitoring will be services that store or use liquid nitrogen and audits of risk assessments, users understanding the policy and audit if Datix,

7. General Information

All services that use or store any Cryogenic gas or solids should carry out a risk assessment. All staff that use liquid nitrogen / cryogenic gases must receive appropriate training in its safe handling and use. Cryogenic gases / solids are only to be used in well-ventilated areas where this is not possible static Oxygen depletion monitors must be present.

8. Hazards

The hazards arising from the use of nitrogen in the form of low temperature liquefied gas are as follows:

• Asphyxiation in oxygen deficient atmosphere - a very large change in volume accompanies the vaporisation of liquid into gas (typically, an 800 fold increase)

• Cold burns, frostbite and hypothermia from the intense cold

• Explosion and fire hazards

Asphyxia

Degrees of asphyxia will occur when the oxygen content of any specified gas is less than 20% by volume. If enough gas were to evaporate in an unventilated area, such as an enclosed room, the oxygen content may become dangerously low. The principal danger of working in an oxygen- reduced atmosphere lies in the fact that a victim may be totally unaware that anything is wrong. Gradual asphyxiation occurs with a gradual reduction in oxygen content.

Inhalation of pure gas results in immediate unconsciousness

First symptoms of a slight reduction of oxygen are an increase in breathing and pulse rates with impaired judgment and disturbed muscular co- ordination. With further reduction,this isfollowed by rapid fatigue with emotions easily roused, possibly nausea and vomiting.

Dizziness and loss of consciousness while working with cryogenic liquids must be treated by moving the casualty immediately to a well-ventilated area. If necessary, apply artificial respiration.

It must be emphasised however, that the very first symptom of asphyxiation could be the inability to stand or even to crawl. This will often be too late. A victim may realise he is dying but be apathetic and not care.

Brief exposure produces some discomfort in breathing.

Longer time inhalation may lead to serious lung damage.

Burns

The effect of extreme cold on tissue is to destroy it, a similar end result to that of heat exposure, and in like fashion the amount of cold and the duration of contact is crucial.

THE DESTRUCTION OF TISSUE IS NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS as in the case of burns, since pain is absent in the frozen stage, and the tissue, although rigid, keeps its normal shape and is not obviously destroyed.

• Pain and destruction become more apparent as thawing occurs. Those who have had mild frostbite of fingers and toes will have some idea of the pain on re- warming

• Damage to delicate tissue (e.g. the eyes) may result from exposure to cold gases which are too brief to affect other exposed parts of the body

• Prevention of contact with very cold liquids is quite vital, and those who work with liquid nitrogen must be aware of the hazard

Hypothermia

• If there has been massive exposure to the super-cooled material so that the general body temperature is depressed, the patient must be wrapped in blankets and moved to a warm place – seek immediate medical attention.

• Alcoholic beverages and smoking decrease blood flow to the frozen tissue and are not advised.

Explosion and Fire Hazards

• The surface temperature of containers of liquid nitrogen may be sufficiently low to condense oxygen or oxygen-enriched air. This condensed liquid in contact with flammable substances, can be sensitive and violently explosive.

• Cryogenic liquids remain at a constant temperature even when contained in an insulated vessel. This temperature is the boiling point of the liquid and any heat gain vaporises a proportion of that liquid. Hence, liquids gradually vaporise with an accompanying large change in volume. It is, therefore, dangerous for a container to be completely closed since this would result in a large increase in pressure, and present an explosion hazard.

• It is extremely important that the Emergency Services are informed of the presence of Liquid Nitrogen in any fire situation.

Use of Lifts

There is a small risk that should a person remain in a closed lift for a prolonged time any venting gases may reduce the oxygen levels sufficiently to cause harm. However to eliminate these risks the following practice should be followed when transporting Dewar’s.

• No one should accompany the Dewar inside a lift.

• One person should send the Dewar and another should be waiting to receive the Dewar from the lift.

• Use controlled goods lifts whenever possible. Do not use public use lifts.

9. Storage

The location for the storage and use of liquid nitrogen must be chosen in the following order of preference:

• In a ventilated room sealed from other areas of normal occupancy

• At, or above, ground level adjacent to an outside wall as far as possible from normal workstations

• At above, ground level, as far as possible from normal workstations

Liquid nitrogen must not be stored or used below ground level or in corridors. All pipe-work and valves must be labelled or marked for functions. All vessels and equipment must be commissioned and handed over by a competent person.

Workplace

All vessels, work equipment, furniture and other items must be organised in such a way as to allow staff, and other users of the space, adequate means of access and egress.

Storage of Dewar’s in Rooms

Storing single Dewar’s of up to 25L in rooms is considered acceptable with adequate ventilation. However the storage of large numbers of small Dewar’s or Dewar’s over 25 litre capacity may require additional precautions to be taken.

In these circumstances consideration should be given to:

• the size of the room

• the storage conditions

• ventilation levels

• the possible use of low oxygen level alarms

Dewar’s must not be stored in sealed rooms (e.g. Walk in refrigerated rooms) because the reduced ventilation may be inadequate to mitigate against spillage and general evaporation.

Containers

Use only containers designed for low-temperature liquids. Cryogenic containers (e.g. Dewar flasks) are specifically designed and made of materials that can withstand the rapid changes and extreme temperature differences encountered in working with liquid nitrogen. Even so, these special containers should be filled slowly to minimise the internal stresses that occur when any material is cooled.

• Do not cover or plug the entrance opening of any liquid nitrogen refrigerator or Dewar

• Do not use any stopper or other device that would interfere with venting gas

Cryogenic liquid containers are generally designed to operate with little or no internal pressure inadequate venting can result in excessive gas pressure which could damage or burst the container. Check the unit periodically to be sure that the venting is not restricted by accumulated ice or frost.

10.Labelling

Liquid nitrogen Dewar’s shall be clearly and adequately labelled. The label includes:

• Basic safety information

• Transport labelling information

• Gas supplier contacts

11.Maintenance of Equipment

All large capacitystorage equipment (25 litres or larger) should be subject to annual maintenance checks. Smaller Dewar’s should be visually inspected.

12.Protective Clothing

When using or decanting liquid nitrogen a face visor must be worn

Always wear appropriate gloves when handling anything that is, or may have been, in immediate contact with liquid nitrogen. Use tongs to withdraw objects immersed in the liquid, and handle the object carefully.

Never put hands (even in the best gloves) into liquid nitrogen

Appropriate gloves are thermal protective gloves which are specifically designed for cryogenic use, with close fitting ribbed cuffs to prevent liquid nitrogen from spilling inside the glove

When decanting liquid nitrogen, a splash resistant apron may be appropriate

13.Transporting

When transporting Dewar’s in clinical settings of in vehicles, ensure that:

• Only use closed ‘onion’ Dewar’s and transport Dewar’s when moving liquid nitrogen

• When transporting large quantities of liquid nitrogen / solid carbon dioxide and when using lifts this task should be undertaken by 2 members of staff

• Keep the unit upright at all times

• Tipping the container or laying it on its side can cause spillage of liquid nitrogen. It may also damage the container and any materials stored in it

• Rough handling can cause serious damage to Dewar’s

• Dropping the container allowing it to fall over on its side, or subjecting it to sharp impact or severe vibration can result in partial or complete loss of vacuum

• To protect the vacuum insulation system, handle containers carefully

• Do not ‘walk’, roll or drag Dewar’s across a floor

• Large units are heavy enough to cause personal injury or damage to equipment if proper lifting and handling techniques are not used

• Avoid transport on vehicles where the load space is not separated from the driver’s compartment

• Ensure vehicle driver is aware of the potential hazards of the load and knows what to do in the event of an accident or an emergency

• Before transporting product containers, ensure that they are firmly secured

14.Disposal

Never dispose of cryogenic liquids down the drain. Ordinary materials may not be able to withstand cryogenic temperatures without failure. Laboratory plumbing is a common example. Allow waste liquid nitrogen to evaporate naturally in a fume hood or, preferably, pour the liquid slowly on gravel or bare earth, from which other people are excluded, where it can evaporate without causing damage. Do not pour the liquid on the pavement.

15.First Aid

Skin / Eye Contact

Immediately flush thoroughly with copious quantities of tepid water (the water must not be hotter than 44C).

• DO NOT apply any form of direct heat

• DO NOT rub affected parts either before or after warming

• Move patient to a warm place (220C)

The aim is to slowly raise the temperature of the affected area back to normal. For minor injuries make the injured person comfortable and loosen any clothing that may restrict blood circulation. Do not pull clothes away from burned or frozen area.

Use a sterile burn dressing to protect the injury and to get the patient to the Hospital casualty department.

DO NOT permit smoking or alcohol consumption or give analgesics (aspirin, paracetamol etc).

Anoxia

If a person seems to become dizzy or loses consciousness while working with liquid nitrogen, move to a well-ventilated area immediately. In contained areas self-contained breathing apparatus should be worn unless atmosphere is proved to be safe.

16.Dry Ice: Carbon Dioxide (Solid) CO2

Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide (CO2). It is denser and colder than traditional ice. In addition, Dry Ice does not melt-it sublimates. Sublimation is the process of going directly from a solid to a gas.

Hazards

Contact with product may cause cold burns or frostbite. In high concentrations sublimed vapour may cause asphyxiation.

General Precautions

All staff who use Dry Ice must receive appropriate training in its safe handling and use.

Handling and Use Precautions

• Do not handle Dry Ice with bare hands always wear suitable insulated gloves.

• Use only specified equipment which is suitable for the storage or transportation of Dry Ice.

First aid Measures

• Immediately flush eyes thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes

• In case of cold burns/frost bite, apply a sterile dressing and seek medical assistance

17.Summary of Recommendations

• Carry out a risk-assessment in accordance with the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations and, where necessary, the confined Spaces Regulations

• Ensure that all employees are adequately trained in the handling of Dewar’s and are aware of the hazards of liquid nitrogen and that proper operating procedures are in place

• Ensure that adequate ventilation is provided in areas Dewar’s are used or stored

• Ensure that adequate procedures are in place for the transportation of Dewar’s within the premises particularly in respect to the use of lifts and stairs

• Ensure that manual handling assessments have been carried out on all activities involving Dewar’s

• Ensure that labelling meets all regulatory requirements

• Ensure that Dewar’s are adequately maintained and that they are in good condition

• Ensure that adequate emergency procedures are in place in the event of a liquid spillage

• Ensure that a sufficient number of personnel are trained in the treatment of asphyxia and cold burns

• Carry out actions resulting from risk assessments

18.Training

Training will be facilitated by the competent member of staff and be accessible to all employees.

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE: Stage 1: ‘Screening’

Name of project/policy/strategy (hereafter referred to as “initiative”):

Liquid Nitrogen Policy

Provide a brief summary (bullet points) of the aims of the initiative and main activities:

Procedure and storage guidelines of liquid nitrogen

Project/Policy Manager: Health, Safety, Fire and Security Manager Date: May 2022

This stage establishes whether a proposed initiative will have an impact from an equality perspective on any particular group of people or community – i.e. on the grounds of race (incl. religion/faith), gender (incl. sexual orientation), age, disability, or whether it is “equality neutral” (i.e. have no effect either positive or negative). In the case of gender, consider whether men and women are affected differently.

Q1. Who will benefit from this initiative? Is there likely to be a positive impact on specific groups/communities (whether or not they are the intended beneficiaries), and if so, how? Or is it clear at this stage that it will be equality “neutral”? i.e. will have no particular effect on any group.

Neutral

Q2. Is there likely to be an adverse impact on one or more minority/under-represented or community groups as a result of this initiative? If so, who may be affected and why? Or is it clear at this stage that it will be equality “neutral”?

Neutral

Q3. Is the impact of the initiative – whether positive or negative - significant enough to warrant a more detailed assessment (Stage 2 – see guidance)? If not, will there be monitoring and review to assess the impact over a period time? Briefly (bullet points) give reasons for your answer and any steps you are taking to address particular issues, including any consultation with staff or external groups/agencies.

Neutral

Guidelines: Things to consider

Equality impact assessments at Provide take account of relevant equality legislation and include age, (i.e. young and old,); race and ethnicity, gender, disability, religion and faith, and sexual orientation.

The initiative may have a positive, negative or neutral impact, i.e. have no particular effect on the group/community.

Where a negative (i.e. adverse) impact is identified, it may be appropriate to make a more detailed EIA (see Stage 2), or, as important, take early action to redress this – e.g. by abandoning or modifying the initiative. NB: If the initiative contravenes equality legislation, it must be abandoned or modified.

Where an initiative has a positive impact on groups/community relations, the EIA should make this explicit, to enable the outcomes to be monitored over its lifespan.

Where there is a positive impact on particular groups does this mean there could be an adverse impact on others, and if so can this be justified? - e.g. are there other existing or planned initiatives which redress this?

It may not be possible to provide detailed answers to some of these questions at the start of the initiative. The EIA may identify a lack of relevant data, and that data-gathering is a specific action required to inform the initiative as it develops, and also to form part of a continuing evaluation and review process.

It is envisaged that it will be relatively rare for full impact assessments to be carried out at Provide. Usually, where there are particular problems identified in the screening stage, it is envisaged that the approach will be amended at this stage, and/or setting up a monitoring/evaluation system to review a policy’s impact over time.

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE: Stage 2:

(To be used where the ‘screening phase has identified a substantial problem/concern)

This stage examines the initiative in more detail in order to obtain further information where required about its potential adverse or positive impact from an equality perspective. It will help inform whether any action needs to be taken and may form part of a continuing assessment framework as the initiative develops.

Q1. What data/information is there on the target beneficiary groups/communities? Are any of these groups under- or over-represented? Do they have access to the same resources? What are your sources of data and are there any gaps?

N/A

Q2. Is there a potential for this initiative to have a positive impact, such as tackling discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and good community relations? If yes, how? Which are the main groups it will have an impact on?

N/A

Q3. Will the initiative have an adverse impact on any particular group or community/community relations? If yes, in what way? Will the impact be different for different groups – e.g. men and women?

Q4. Has there been consultation/is consultation planned with stakeholders/ beneficiaries/ staff who will be affected by the initiative? Summarise (bullet points) any important issues arising from the consultation.

N/A

Q5. Given your answers to the previous questions, how will your plans be revised to reduce/eliminate negative impact or enhance positive impact? Are there specific factors which need to be taken into account?

N/A

Q6. How will the initiative continue to be monitored and evaluated, including its impact on particular groups/ improving community relations? Where appropriate, identify any additional data that will be required.

Guidelines: Things to consider

An initiative may have a positive impact on some sectors of the community but leave others excluded or feeling they are excluded. Consideration should be given to how this can be tackled or minimised. It is important to ensure that relevant groups/communities are identified who should be consulted. This may require taking positive action to engage with those groups who are traditionally less likely to respond to consultations, and could form a specific part of the initiative. The consultation process should form a meaningful part of the initiative as it develops, and help inform any future action.

If the EIA shows an adverse impact, is this because it contravenes any equality legislation? If so, the initiative must be modified or abandoned. There may be another way to meet the objective(s) of the initiative.

Further information:

Useful Websites www.equalityhumanrights.com Website for new Equality agency www.employers-forum.co.uk – Employers forum on disability www.disabilitynow.org.uk – online disability related newspaper www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk – Gender issues in more depth www.opportunitynow.org.uk - Employer member organisation (gender) www.efa.org.uk – Employers forum on age www.agepositive.gov.uk – Age issues in more depth

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE: Stage One: ‘Screening’