Cryoservice And Medical Research Council Put Safety First In Definitive Publication On Liquid Nitrogen, UK
August 11th, 2008 | by admin |Two leading UK organisations have joined forces to develop and launch a ground-breaking new publication which is set to provide a benchmark for safety and operating practices associated with liquid nitrogen.
Worcester-based CryoService, the leading UK provider of cryogenic gases and gas storage solutions, and the Medical Research Council (MRC), a world-renowned human health research organisation, have developed the 44-page publication, entitled “Standards for Liquid Nitrogen Supply”.
ENCE APPLICATIONSLiquid nitrogen is widely used worldwide for its cryogenic properties which allow the safe long-term storage of biological samples. Storing items such as blood, tissues, stem cells and viruses in liquid nitrogen helps ensure their long-term viability, supporting not only medical research but procedures such as IVF and blood transfusion.
In general, liquid nitrogen is a safe product; however, the very nature of its extreme cold properties - it is stored in liquid form at -196oC - and the fact that it expands dramatically upon evaporation, and so can displace air, poses unique safety challenges.
With their extensive joint experience in liquid nitrogen supply and use of, CryoService and the MRC decided to develop a definitive safety and usage guide that could not only be applied across the MRC as best practice, but could also provide helpful guidance to general users to optimise their use and handling of liquid nitrogen.
The document references all key industry codes of practice and includes clearly explained guidelines on:
?Hazards and risks associated with using liquid nitrogen
?Risk assessment, including model calculations for oxygen depletion
?Storage tanks and equipment
?Best practice for new cryogenic installations
?Development of safe systems of work
?Emergency procedures and first aid
The document will be invaluable to both experienced and new users of liquid nitrogen, and those designing or planning a new cryostorage facility.
Noor Ali, Sales & Marketing Manager for CryoService, commented: “While standards for use and safe handling of liquid nitrogen are generally high, this publication for the first time brings together every aspect of best practice in this area and will ensure that users get the most from their investment in this product.
“It will also help reassure those new to working with liquid nitrogen about the benefits it can bring and the relatively simple safety procedures required for safe handling.”
Paul Jackett, Regional Coordinator, Health, Safety and Security, at the Medical Research Council, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with CryoService, a market leader in liquid nitrogen supply, on this publication, which shows the clear commitment among both organisations to best practice in liquid nitrogen supply and usage.”
“Standards for Liquid Nitrogen Supply” is available for purchase at http://www.cryoservice.co.uk for just ￡29.95 plus postage and packing.
About CryoService
CryoService is one of the leading providers of cryogenic gases and gas storage systems in the UK. Established in 1970, CryoService provides cryogenic gases to leading scientific, medical and research users across the UK and has extensive experience in life-critical applications.
About the Medical Research Council
The Medical Research Council supports the best scientific research to improve human health. Its work ranges from molecular level science to public health medicine and has led to pioneering discoveries in our understanding of the human body and the diseases which affect us all.
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