Guideline for annual control of fume hoods

Norsk versjon

Approved by the University Director 13.04.2023, archive reference 2007/10759.

1.Purpose

The aim of these guidelines is to ensure that employees and students at the University of Bergen (UiB) do not incur injuries or illness when working with hazardous chemicals.

2. Scope

The guidelines apply to fume hoods in the university’s buildings and in rented areas where agreed with the property owner. UiB has a responsibility towards its own users to ensure that this is also carried out in buildings where UiB is a tenant. Microbiological safety cabinets and other sterile benches are considered user equipment and must be looked after by the individual unit

3. Responsibilities

The Estate and Facilities Management division (EiA) is responsible for ensuring that the annual inspection is carried out in a professionally responsible manner and in accordance with these guidelines.

The line manager or line manager’s representative is responsible for facilitating the implementation of annual inspections and ensuring that unapproved fume hoods are rectified.

Employees and students are obliged to follow this guideline and report errors and deficiencies in fume hoods.

4. Implementation

EiA notifies line managers or line managers’ representatives at relevant units well in advance of the inspection being carried out.

The line manager or line manager’s representative at the unit notifies applicable users. A contact person is appointed and reported to EiA before the inspection. The contact person ensures that relevant fume hoods are cleared and prepared for inspection.

Control shall include control of air volumes and air velocities, visual control of the glass in the hatch of the fume hood, the hatch’s raising and lowering function and control of alarms mounted on the facility. The inspection shall be carried out annually.

After completion of the inspection, each fume hood is marked with: Date of inspection, signature of the inspector and approved or not approved, depending on the result of the inspection.

The results of the control are entered in an electronic overview, so that the function of the fume hoods can be monitored over time. This information is stored by EiA, and EiA transmits the necessary information to relevant units. The information must be able to be presented to the internal audit at the university and to external supervisory authorities.

If a fume hood is not approved, it is the line manager’s responsibility, in cooperation with the Estate and Facilities Management division, to ensure that the fume hood is repaired. The Estate and Facilities Management division shall ensure proper functioning and follow up the quality of UiB’s area within available capacity and what is possible within given limits and limitations. Defects in the fume hood itself are the responsibility of the user.

5. References

• The Working Environment Act §§ 2.1 – 2.3, 4.1 (1), 4.5 (1), 4.5 (3)

• Regulations concerning Organisation, Management and Employee Participation, § 10-1, § 10-3, § 11-1

• Regulations concerning the performance of work, use of work equipment and related technical requirements, § 10-5, § 12-2, § 12-3, § 12-8, § 10-15, § 10-18, § 10-20, § 3-8

• Regulations concerning the design and layout of workplaces and work premises, § 7-1, § 7-2, § 3-7, § 3-10

• Laboratory work, Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (NO only)

• Guidelines for reporting and follow up of HSE non conformities

• Norwegian standard: Fume Hood, NS-EN 14175

Prepared by: The Estate and Facilities Management division and the Section work environment and organizational development, Division of Human Resources.

Considered by: The Working Environment Committee 16.02.2023.

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