Department of Biology
Relevant legislation
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require every employer to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the risks to health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed while at work. The Regulations also stipulate a requirement for the provision of adequate information, instruction and training and for procedures for dealing with serious and imminent danger. The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 require employers to provide suitable protective equipment where risk cannot be adequately controlled by other means which are equally or more effective.
The Confined Space Regulations 1997 may also apply where unventilated or poorly ventilated areas are concerned.
In addition to the above, the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 apply to all systems containing liquefied gas operating at a pressure greater than 0.5 bar (approx. 7 psi) above atmospheric. These Regulations require users to ensure that systems are properly maintained, periodically examined (and adequate records of examination kept) and are operated within established safe operating limits.
Note: the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations do not apply to the use of liquid nitrogen as it is not classified as a substance hazardous to health but as an asphyxiant.