When you are new at MMK, you have to 

1. Read the Lab Policy Document handed out by MMKs Caretaker
2. Do the Quiz that has to be signed by the new employee, student or visitor and to be approved and signed by the PI.
3. Fill out and sign the Assurance of Compliance
4. Fill out the Contact Information and the form about Data security that are included in the Lab Policy Document.

The quiz and assurance of compliance are handed over in paper form for archiving to MMKs Lab Safety Manager. The contact information and data security form are handed over in paper form to MMKs Caretaker. When this is completed, you can work in the laboratory.

If you are to work with ionization sources, liquid nitrogen or selected hazards requires training, investigation, permission or medical control before working with them.

Stockholm University Lab Policy

Chemical Handling Procedure SU (92 Kb)

Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se
Caretaker, Christer Degerstedt: christer.degerstedt@mmk.su.se

Before you start an experiment, please make sure you have read the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the chemicals. All chemicals and SDSs of chemicals (English and Swedish) are registered and uploaded to KLARA. KLARA access is granted by MMKs KLARA administrator.

Information about KLARA below

KLARA is the chemical registration system for all chemicals and the risk assessment system at the department. 

Each purchased chemical must be registered in the system and a barcode needs to be attached to the container. This is done by the KLARA inventory officer that each research group has. The PI appoints a person responsible for KLARA. (KLARA Inventory officer). 

In KLARA you can:
Check what chemicals are available in your group or at MMK or other departments at SU

1. For information at MMK go to “start page” and use the “find” function
2. For information at SU use the tab “chemical products“ on the top of the KLARA page 
3. Check the Material Safety Data Sheet information (MSDS) for chemicals/solvents/gases
4. Create/Upload/find risk assessments for experiments. PI needs to approve and sign the risk assessment. The signed hard copy should be found in the lab of the respective experiment. 
5. Find out which substances require an investigation and/or permit or an exemption to use/store!! 

For example: Mercury needs an exemption
The application document page is found in KLARA where the mercury compounds are listed. The official application for the permit is done through KEMI.

Contact the local Laboratory safety coordinator at MMK (by filling the Usage of Mercury form) and KLARA Administrator for further information of how to proceed.

Duties of KLARA inventory officer:

• Register new products purchased in the research group, and add new/updated MSDSs into the system
• Print out barcodes for the new chemicals/solvents/gases 
• Check that the labels on containers are correct, no old pictograms are allowed anymore.
• Unregister discarded products in KLARA
• KLARA inventory of all chemicals in the research group. 
• Answer the questions about KLARA in your research group
• KLARA inventory officer needs to attend a course on the KLARA system. The courses are organized regularly by SU.
• Contact the KLARA local administrator when problems and questions arise 
• Inventory is done annually at the department. The period is January to February every year.

Risk Assessment 

Risks related to a chemical use must be investigated in a risk assessment prior to use in accordance to the Swedish law AFS 2011:19 (Swedish only). Risk assessments are conducted in the risk assessment module that the KLARA system provides. After completion, they are saved in a folder of the respective group in KLARA, and can be archived.

The risk assessment must be approved by the PI, and be available to the employees concerned. At best practice, the risk assessment is available in a folder in the laboratory. In some cases, the risk assessment has to attached to the fume hood or place where the work with strong hazards is conducted, e.g., for equipment that runs with acetylene gas or for work with hydrofluoric acid. If you have any questions in terms of risk assessments, please contact MMKs Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf. For access, contact the KLARA administrator, Mirva Eriksson.

Link to KLARA info 

KLARA administrator, Mirva Eriksson: mirva.eriksson@mmk.su.se
Back-up, KLARA administrator, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se

Pregnancy

For pregnant women, a separate Indivdual risk assessement for pregnant or breast feeding employees (293 Kb) (Swedish) has to be filled out and send to MMKs Lab Safety Manager. Together with the lab safety manager, the safety representative of the unit and the PI, it has to be investigated, if the work environment is safe and what the scope of lab work could be. Find here information (.docx, Swedish) on the establishment of the risk assessment.

Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se

There is the risk at the work environment to become unhealthy due to the work with selected chemicals / products. Thus, the work with these chemicals / products requires medical examinations of the user/s, that is legally required by the Swedish law ASF 2019:3. 

Link to ASF 2019:3 (Swedish only)

There are three types of examinations:

• Medical examination
• Medical examinations with aptitude report
• Medical examination with aptitude report and exposure test

An aptitude report is required when working with ionizing radiation, allergy and fibrosis inducing chemicals, lead, cadmium, and mercury, otherwise the user is not allowed to work with it. Find a detailed list of Chemical Medical Control (275 Kb) . The metals lead, cadmium and mercury require biological exposure controls via blood tests, before working with it and then after starting the work every three years.

The use of these chemicals / products without biological exposure control and aptitude report can result in penalty fees of up to 150 000 SEK. The lack of training and valid certificate is sanctioned with 10 000 SEK per PI and employee.

Investigation steps:

1. The employee(s) responsible for the work with the chemical prepares a method risk assessment for the lab work in KLARA and shares it with the PI, and other relevant information.
2. The PI prepares a  Medical needs form (249 Kb) as provided by the Stockholm University.
3. The medical risk assessment is discussed in a meeting with the employee(s), PI, MMKs Lab Safety Manager and the Safety representative of the unit, and signed by all persons involved. MMKs Lab Safety Manager is archiving the original form and will send a copy to all persons involved. The medical risk assessment has to added to the method risk assessment in KLARA.
4. MMKs Lab Safety Manager orders the medical requirements from the Occupational health care. Examinations are conducted by the healthcare company Avonova (Swedish). MMKs Lab Safety Manager has to be informed about test results.

For the work with some hazards not only a medical check-up is required, the employee(s) and PI also need a valid certificate from training:

• Epoxic plastic components
• Diisocyanates
• Organic acid anhydrides
• Formaldehyde resins and processes that release formaldehyde
• Metgacrylates and acrylates (labeled with H317 or H334)
• Ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate and methyl-2-cyanoacrylate (if used >30 min per week)
• Isocyanate exposure from thermal degradation (e.g., heating of polyurethane foam)

The certificate has to be sent to MMKs Lab Safety Manager.

To be consulted at Avonova, Henrik Strohmayer: henrik.strohmayer@avonova.se
Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se
Back-up, Deputy Head of Department: Ulrika Nilsson: ulrika.nilsson@mmk.su.se

In accordance to the Swedish law AFS 2014:43 (Swedish), the chemicals that are classified as hazard with the following hazard statements / risk phrases in the SDS:
H350  H340  H360  R45  R46  R49  R60  R61
should be phased put, otherwise 

1. An investigation has to be conducted whether the chemical can be substituted by a less harmful chemical. That accounts for all CMR products independent on the quantity. Find the  CMR investigation form (197 Kb) . Send this form to MMKs Lab Safety Manager for assessment and archiving.
2. If there is no alternative to the CMR product, a risk assessment for the handling of the chemical has to be established in KLARA prior to use.

The following information need to be included in the risk assessment:

• Where will the CMR chemical be used?
• What protective measures are necessary to ensure minimal exposure?
•  In what situations is personal protective equipment required?
• How the operation and function of equipment, processes or ventilation shall be monitored in order to detect early deviations?

When CMRs are introduced to a laboratory, the laboratory door sign has to be updated. All cabinets, fridges/freezers, fume hoods and sample holders (flasks, bottles etc.) need to be marked with a sign “CMR”. Best practice is to assign a specific area in the laboratory for the work with CMR.

Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se

Accidental Exposure To CMR Has To Be Documented

MMK has to document accidental exposures to chemicals that have the hazard statements H340 (mutagenic), H350 (carcinogenic) and H360 (reprotoxic, amendment regulation AFS 2022:4, comes into effect: 04-2024) in accordance to the Swedish law AFS 2011:19.

In the case of an accident or incident that results in an accidental exposure, the PI is responsible for reporting it in the SAMIR system and the report has to be sent to MMKs Lab Safety Manager or MMKs Head of Department.

Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se
Back-up, Head of Department, Niklas Hedin: niklas.hedin@mmk.su.se
 

Chemicals with prohibitions (carcinogens, exceptions possible) or permit requirements (carcinogenic, sensitising, allergenic or reprotoxic substances) are listed in the appendix of the Swedish law AFS 2011:19. A summary can be found in this document  Chemicals of Class A and B (301 Kb) .

1. A risk assessment has to be established by the employee and/or PI.
2. The application for permit is established, and must include the chemical for which the permit will apply, working method, purpose, time period, maximum quantity used, the number of persons that will work with it etc., and has to be sent to the Swedish Work Environment Authority by SUs Lab Safety Coordinator.

Find the application form for class A chemicals here and class B chemicals here. Use of restricted chemicals without a valid permit can result in a penalty fee of 150,000 SEK and 400,000 SEK for B and A classified substances, respectively.

For help and to inform, contact MMKs Lab Safety Manager. MMKs Lab Safety Manager has to document its use and the responsible person. The SUs Chemical Compliance Officer who is specialized on permits for chemicals can be contacted for consultation or application.

Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se
SU Chemical Compliance Officer, Hanna Gustavsson: hanna.gustavsson@su.se
SU Lab Safety Coordinator, Mikael Corell: mikael.corell@su.se

A wide variety of organic compounds spontaneously form peroxides by a free radical reaction of the hydrocarbon with molecular oxygen, find a list here. Under normal storage conditions peroxides can accumulate in the chemical container and may explode when subjected to heat, friction or mechanical shock. Many of the organic solvents commonly used in laboratories have the potential to form explosive peroxide crystals as diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran. The risk associated with peroxide formation increases if the peroxide crystallizes or becomes concentrated by evaporation or distillation. Factors that affect the rate of peroxide formation include exposure to air, light and heat, moisture, and contamination from metals. Therefore, it is extremely important that this procedure be followed regarding the identification, handling, storage, and disposal of peroxide-forming chemicals. Inspect the chemical bottles, and all parts (bottom inside, sides inside, cap, outside) regularly and carefully:

• Hard crystal formations in the form of ice like structures, crystals, solid masses or an obscure cloudy medium signify gross contamination. 
• Wisp like structures floating in a clear liquid suspension signify contamination.

Peroxide formation in ppm concentrations may not be visually observable and must be identified through testing procedures. At SU, we use test stripes. Employees should not open any containers that do not pass this evaluation without the proper training. Long-time stored chemicals/samples that might contain peroxides should not be moved, the lab closed for entrance, and a pick up by SEKA scheduled. Commonly, the self-life of category II and III chemicals is 3 months, and with inhibitor 12 months. A few chemicals have a shelf-life of 3 months whether inhibited or not: isopropyl ether, diethyl ether, divinyl ether, potassium metal, potassium amide, sodium amide, sodium ethoxyacetylide, and vinylidene chloride. Consult MMKs Lab Safety Manager for further guidance.

Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se
 

Drugs With Prescriptions

Drugs that would need prescription from a medical doctor, and are used in research (e.g., as reference standard), need to be ordered by the Head of Department. Drugs that are hazardous to health need permit (Swedish law SFS 1999:58) from the Folkhälsomyndigheten with a few exceptions.

The application form, goods hazardous to health (265 Kb) (Swedish) needs to be filled out and sent in by SUs Lab Safety Coordinator to Folkhälsomyndigheten. For help and to inform, contact MMKs Lab Safety Manager. MMKs Lab Safety Manager has to document its use and the responsible person. The work with these chemicals requires an extended documentation by the PI, including: a journal of every use and order, containing the substance name and amount, date and a signature. Risk assessments need to be in place.

Head of Department, Niklas Hedin: niklas.hedin@mmk.su.se
SU Lab Safety Coordinator, Mikael Corell: mikael.corell@su.se
Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se

Purchase Declarations

Purchase declarations can be required at the purchase of selected hazardous chemicals as hydrogen peroxide (30%). These declarations are signed by the Head of Department.
Head of Department, Niklas Hedin: niklas.hedin@mmk.su.se

Ethanol Purchase / Access

The Head of Department and Administration, are responsible for granting access.

How to get access: Go to kontohantering.su.se, find the person that shall grant the access in the Search field, go to System rights (Systemrättigheter), Ethanol permission (Etanoltillstånd), Edit (Redigera), choose Purchase (Köpa) and then the associated institution, save through pressing the assign button (”tilldela-knappen”).

Head of Department, Niklas Hedin: niklas.hedin@mmk.su.se
Temporary Head of Administration: Daniel Emanuelsson-Paulson: daniel.emanuelsson-paulson@mmk.su.se
 

1. Training for the handling of liquid nitrogen (LN2) is mandatory when you need access to the storage room, and is held by Björn Röstlund (SU Butik), alternatively by selected MMK employees.
2. A document has to be filled out and signed by the student, handed out by the trainer. The document has to be then signed by MMKs Lab Safety Manager or alternatively by the Head of Department and is archived by the Lab Safety Manager.
3. The Lab Safety Manager will inform MMKs Caretaker for card access (LN2 room at SU butik, Back-up: MMKs environmental coordinator).

Dates for training are published here

SU Butik, Björn Röstlund: bjorn.rostlund@su.se
Trainer back-up, Kjell Jansson: kjell.jansson@mmk.su.se
Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se
Caretaker, Christer Degerstedt: christer.degerstedt@mmk.su.se
Access back-up, Environmental coordinator, Baltzar Stevensson: baltzar.stevensson@mmk.su.se
 

The waste management procedures are intended to give you guidance about how waste is handled at Stockholm University. They cover all waste generated in university activities.

All information related to waste managment is published on the central SU webpages. 

University’s waste management procedures for office waste

University’s waste management procedures for laboratory waste

Recycling stations and centres

Work-life balance implies the ability to separate personal life from work and sufficient amount of time off to rest and recover. A good work-life balance requires self-, time, and stress management as well as an acceptable workload and reasonable deadlines. The responsibility should be shared between the employee and the work place.  

By clicking the link you will find a useful summary of the work environemnet workshop held in August 2023.

A summary from the Work Environment Workshop Aug 23, 2023

Work environment day (6262 Kb)

MMK offers a rest room at KÖL (M330), if you feel sick, are pregnant or injured or for any reason you would need to rest / lay down for a specific time. Please contact the student office to get the key and leave a few information.
Student office: chemistry@su.se

If you feel sick, are pregnant or for any reasons you need a public rest room, there are two in the Frescati Södra in house A at floor 5 or in house B at floor 4. The rest rooms may be used for a maximum of 2 hours/occasion and only by one person at a time, during the Service Center's opening hours.

There exist also a rest and breastfeeding room at the Studenthuset, Universitetsvägen 2, house Alfa and room 321. For access, contact the Infocenter, on floor 2 during the Infocenter's opening hours. The request to borrow a rest room is made on the spot, it is not possible to book in advance. The room may be used for a maximum of 2 hours/occasion and only by one person at a time.

Risks, incidents and accidents of any kind have to be reported in the SAMIR system, by the affected person or the supervisor, the supervisor has to be informed. SAMIR is the university´s reporting system for safety, work environment and environment. The safety representatives, head of department and lab safety manager will be informed by SU when the incident or accident is reported in SAMIR. Please contact the MMKs Lab Safety Manager or MMKs Head of Department, if you have any questions or need help.
Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se
Head of Department, Niklas Hedin: niklas.hedin@mmk.su.se

Defibrillators

Defibrillators are distributed over the campus, find a list of locations and information here. Before you start CPR on a person, call 112 and send another person out to meet the ambulance. Defibrillators in the Arrhenius houses are to be found in the entrances of house C, D, E, O and P, and KÖL (close to Magneliesalen).

In the event of a death

Find procedures here for the event of the death of an employee or student.

Threats, Violence and Harassment

Find information here (English) and procedures here (English) for the event of a threat, of violence or harassment of an employee or student.

The Department has to investigate victimization, whereas the Student Service (Student) and Human Resource Office (Employee) investigates harassment and sexual harassment. Read more here (English). Please report the issue in SAMIR.

Student Service
Coordinator for Equal Treatment
+46 (0) 8 16 2559
jamlikhet@su.se
 

The work or storage of concentrated infectious agents of class 2 or higher have to be reported according to Swedish law 29 § AFS 2018:4. If an organism that needs to be ordered is categorized at biosafety level (BSL) 2 or higher,

1. A Biorisk assessment (311 Kb) has to be conducted. The document has to be sent to the MMKs Lab Safety Manager for potential adjustments and archiving.
2. A form from the Work environment agency (Arbetsmiljöverket) has to be filled out for Risk class 2 (838 Kb) , Risk class 3 (838 Kb)  and Risk class 4 (838 Kb) . This document needs to contain the contact data of the SUs Lab Safety Coordinator who will be the contact person for the Work environment agency (“Uppgifter om kontaktperson för anmälan”).
3. All documents together with a map of the location where the work will be performed have to be sent to the Work environment agency by SUs Lab Safety Coordinator. The SUs Biosafety Coordinator can be consulted when seeking for advice on legislation, documentation and local adjustments. The biorisk assessment and an emergency protocol have to be attached to the LAF. Mark the LAF, lab areas, and the door, where the group works with the microorganisms, with a biohazard sign.

SU Lab Safety Coordinator, Mikael Corell: mikael.corell@su.se
SU Biosafety Coordinator, Ann-Kristin Iréne Östlund Farrants: anki.ostlund@su.se
MMK, Lab Safety Manager, Ulrike Schimpf: ulrike.schimpf@mmk.su.se
 

The waste management procedures are intended to give you guidance about how waste is handled at Stockholm University. They cover all waste generated in university activities.

All information related to waste managment is published on the central SU webpages. 

University’s waste management procedures for office waste

University’s waste management procedures for laboratory waste

Recycling stations and centres

SU offers several courses available to staff, such as

• Laboratory safety for managers (will be announced per e-mail)
• General fire safety course (SU webpage)
• Director flammable goods (SU webpage)
• Director of fire safety (SU webpage)
• Fire safety controller (SU webpage)
• Evacuation leader (SU webpage)
• Radiation safety (will be announced per e-mail)
• First aid and HRL (SU webpage)
• Biosafety (will be announced per e-mail)
• Gas handling (will be announced per e-mail)

Fire safety training