Laboratory, workshop and machines

Journeys with automated (autonomous) vehicles as part of events on the ETH site must be registered in good time with the permitsoffice of the 365ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø_365ÌåÓý±¸Óá¾ÊÖ»úÔÚÏß¡¿ Services department. All necessary official permits must be available.
The provisions of the Road Traffic Act (SVG) and the Ordinance on the Technical Requirements for Road Vehicles (VTS) apply to journeys. In such cases, a permit from the competent cantonal road traffic office is required. external page The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) is the central point of contact for questions relating to the licensing and operation of automated vehicles.

Do you work with hydrofluoric acid, nanomaterials, ethidium bromide, an acutely or chronically toxic chemical, a corrosive chemical, a flammable solvent or a chemical that is new to you and have questions about safe handling, the necessary personal protective equipment, storage, etc.? You want to install a new gas in your laboratory and don't know whether it needs gas monitoring? You are working with a 3D printer and are not sure whether it needs a vent? You are the GSR for your laboratory and have read the safety data sheet of a chemical, but still have questions about it? If you have any of these questions, or if you have any other questions about a chemical, a test setup, technical measures or safety in your laboratory, please contact .
Cytostatics are drugs that inhibit cell growth. Their main target are all tumour cell fractions that are in the process of cell division. Mutagenic, reprotoxic and carcinogenic side effects are possible upon exposure. Depending on the classification, hormones, monoclonal antibodies and other substances are also categorised as cytostatics. Special requirements apply when working with cytostatics. Contact
Lab coats must be washed regularly, but not in a private washing machine. ETH Zurich offers a Laundry Service for Lab Coats in co-operation with the laundry Triotex GmbH.

Anyone wishing to fly or operate a drone at ETH must comply with the legal requirements of the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA).

Registration:
Drone operators must register with the FOCA (Federal Office of Civil Aviation). After successful registration, a UAS operator number is issued, which must be clearly visible on the drone.

external page FOCA drone registration in dLIS

Pilot training:
A drone certificate is required to fly a drone. This requires training and the passing of an examination. This does not apply to persons operating drones weighing less than 250g.

Drone classification:
Drones must be CE-marked and have a valid classification in accordance with EU drone regulations (open category). Drones without classification may not be flown in the open category.

Special categories requiring authorisation:
A licence from the FOCA is required for drones in the special category or those subject to authorisation.

Insurance:
Proof of insurance with a minimum cover of at least CHF 1 million is mandatory for the operation of a drone.

Contact person for proof of insurance:
VP Finance & Controlling:

Mandatory reporting:
Accidents involving drones must be reported to the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB). Other incidents and special occurrences that affect or may affect flight safety must be reported to the FOCA.

As a Group Safety Representative (GSR), you support your supervisor in implementing the necessary safety requirements in your research group and coordinate the required measures. You are also the point of contact for other group members with questions about occupational safety, as well as the contact person for the SSHE department.
Below you will find all the important information, which is also summarised in the Download Specifications (PDF, 98 KB).

Do you operate a class 3B or 4 laser? Then you have to appoint a Laser Safety Officer with a corresponding specification and report this to the SSHE department. The legal requirements for laser protection in Switzerland can be found in the Suva brochure ".

Work with ionising radiation, e.g. with radioactive substances above a certain activity and/or with X-ray equipment, is subject to authorisation. In addition, a radiation protection expert must be appointed who has training recognised by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
If you wish to apply for a licence, carry out a temporary research activity abroad and are only occupationally exposed to radiation there, or have general questions about radiation protection, please contact

Dissolution/handover of radiation protection laboratory

The dissolution of a laboratory authorised to handle open radioactivity takes a long time: All materials (laboratory utensils, scientific equipment, refrigerators, consumables, etc.) must be measured and taken to another laboratory. A decision must be made on the transfer or disposal of radioactive substances still present, all radioactive waste must be disposed of and the entire laboratory must be measured (walls, floor, ceiling, washbasin, etc.). Finally, the laboratory must be approved by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). Please contact in good time to plan this process.
If a laboratory or X-ray facility authorised to handle open radioactivity is to be handed over to a subsequent person, for example in the course of retirement, or if you are to leave ETH Zurich as a Radiation Protection Expert and another person is to take over this task, please contact in good time to initiate the corresponding changes with the FOPH.

Do you need to process an unusual material and don't know whether you can do it safely in your workshop? Do you find that your workshop is a bit noisy and sometimes dusty? Have you retrofitted your old machine and would like to know whether it now complies with the Machinery Directive? You are to carry out new welding work - do the same regulations apply as for soldering work? If you have any of these questions, or if you have any other questions about a material, a work process, technical measures or safety in your workshop, please contact .

In accordance with Article 8 of the Ordinance on the Prevention of Accidents and Occupational Diseases (VUV), the employer may only assign work involving special hazards to employees who have received the appropriate training. In addition, the employer must have an employee supervised if he or she carries out dangerous work alone. Principle: Working alone is not permitted if the work could lead to an injury requiring the immediate assistance of a second person. This applies in particular in the following cases (non-exhaustive list):

Work requiring constant supervision by a second person (regardless of the time of day):

• Working on energised electrical installations
• Working on flowing waters
• Working in heating systems, tall chimneys and connecting ducts
• Working in containers and confined spaces
• Working in shafts, pipelines, pits and sewers
• Entering and working in silos
• Working in underground structures and in rock strata containing natural gas
• Working with radiation sources outside of irradiation rooms
• Working under compressed air and respiratory protection
• Dismantling or demolition work
• Working on a suspended rope
• Working with rope protection (fall arrest system)
• Forestry work with special hazards, e.g. chainsaw work, work on steep terrain, logging, climbing trees
• Working on railway tracks
• Working on electricity pylons

Work that may only be carried out within sight and calling distance of other persons (regardless of the time of day):

• Working on technical systems in special operation, e.g. setting up, rectifying faults, maintenance work
• Working in the area of usually inaccessible and unsecured danger spots
• Working with the risk of being caught by rotating parts and tools
• Working with chemicals or laboratory glassware
• Climbing higher than 3 m

Requirements for persons working alone: You have to

• be mentally and intellectually (hazard awareness!) suitable for working alone.
• be physically suitable for working alone
• be of legal age

At ETH Zurich, there are opportunities to come into contact with sources of danger at various workplaces. As it cannot always be assumed that a second person will be within sight or calling distance outside normal working hours, the requirements for lone workers must be complied with accordingly. This means that without the presence of another person or a suitable means of raising the alarm, no work with a higher hazard potential that is prohibited according to the above list may be carried out. Routine work whose exact sequence is known or work processes with hazardous substances or with equipment in which personal injury is prevented by appropriate technical or structural measures may also be carried out alone. The relevant guidelines must therefore be laid down in writing for all workplaces or even for specific workplaces.

The principle applies that protective measures must be taken for potential fall heights of more than two metres. Even a ladder that allows you to climb to over two metres makes you a high-altitude worker.
Wherever possible, collective fall protection measures are used. These include scaffolding, railings, aerial work platforms and safety nets. It is not always possible to install these devices during repair, installation or maintenance work. In these cases, personal fall protection equipment (PPE) must be used.
Working with rope protection falls under "Work with special hazards". PFPE may only be used by persons who have been demonstrably trained and instructed. The training must last at least one day. Work at height must never be carried out alone.

The most important tasks and responsibilities when working at height are the so-called "8 vital rules" of SUVA:

• You only use rope protection if collective protective measures such as safety nets or side protection are not technically possible
• You only work with rope protection if you feel able to do so and are trained to do so
• You inspect your PFPE for obvious damage before and after each use
• You discuss with the responsible person (e.g. lecturer, internship/excursion manager, supervisor) which safety system is suitable for the work assignment and always use your PFPE correctly
• You secure yourself exclusively at anchor points that the person responsible (e.g. lecturer, internship/excursion manager, supervisor) has determined in advance
• You adapt the harness and helmet to your body and ensure that they fit perfectly
• You only use fixed ladders with arrester systems if you are specifically trained and equipped for this and always use the appropriate slide/runner for the arrester system
• You never work alone when securing yourself with PFPE. Before starting work, you discuss the rescue concept with the person responsible (e.g. lecturer, internship/excursion manager, supervisor)