Green Project Proposal

MORE SAFE; LESS POWER from our use of Fume Cupboards

School of Agriculture, Food & Wine

School of Agriculture, Food & Wine

Variable Air Volume (VAV) fume cupboards (90% of our cabinets) already achieve power savings while providing the correct face velocity required for safety….• can we increase this benefit?• Do users understand how a fume cupboard

protects them? • Do users know how a VAV fume cupboard can

reduce our energy demands?

MORE SAFE; LESS POWER from our use of Fume Cupboards

School of Agriculture, Food & Wine

• In 2012/2013 unsafe practices in a fume cupboard have been the prime cause of a number of injuries and near misses.

• Reviewed risk assessments and safe operating procedures remind at the time of review but it is the on-going change to practices and habits that can be most effective (and hardest to achieve).

MORE SAFE; LESS POWER from our use of Fume Cupboards

School of Agriculture, Food & Wine

• Legislated requirement for provision of on-going instruction and training for workers.

• These stickers do not impede visibility but provide a constant reminder of what is SAFE and EFFICIENT

MORE SAFE; LESS POWER from our use of Fume Cupboards

School of Agriculture, Food & Wine

This Project :• Determines existing attitudes and practices• Provides an awareness programme • Follows up to assess the residual awareness and

engagement • Determine energy savings• Report findings to all stakeholders and staff and

students

MORE SAFE; LESS POWER from our use of Fume Cupboards

School of Agriculture, Food & Wine

Savings are expected to be:• power use reduction both from fan speeds

and conditioned air being extracted.• Noise reduction• Improved safety – fewer exposures

MORE SAFE; LESS POWER from our use of Fume Cupboards

School of Agriculture, Food & Wine

Other benefits• Achieving best practice• Improving awareness and involvement in

safety and sustainable behaviours• Optimising the use of our infrastructure• Meeting our legislated responsibilities

MORE SAFE; LESS POWER from our use of Fume Cupboards

School of Agriculture, Food & Wine

Further applications of initiative?• The School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

alone has 90 VAV fume cupboards around which we can survey and conduct the project. Other Schools and teaching facilities could benefit from a similar project.

MORE SAFE; LESS POWER from our use of Fume Cupboards