Risk Assessment

The DownloadETH Zurich biosafety concept (PDF, 574 KB)vertical_align_bottom contains detailed information on the regulation of Biosafety levels (BSL) 1, 2 and 3 activities at ETH Zurich.

Are you planning work with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), pathogens, invasive/foreign organisms and/or with samples of human origin such as blood or cell cultures?
The activities mentioned (BSL1 and 2) must be reported to the federal authorities in accordance with the Swiss Ordinance on the Contained Use of Organisms (ESV); without official notification, such activities may not be carried out at ETH Zurich. To register in the database, please contact . In addition, a biosafety officer (BSO) must be appointed and a during the planning phase.
Work with samples of human origin (usually BSL2) must be assessed by the ETH Zurich Ethics Commission. For such activities, we recommend that you be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Please note that, for safety reasons, it is forbidden to use your own blood; likewise, taking blood samples from other members of the same working group should be avoided if possible. It is best to use tested blood from the blood bank.
For biosafety-relevant work with plants, special regulations and safety measures apply in some cases, which are defined in official enforcement aids. Analogous regulations also exist for corresponding work with animals; here, the animal welfare officers of ETH Zurich must also be consulted.
ETH Zurich does not have a general import licence for biological materials it is not needed for most human pathogenic and genetically modified substances. If you do require an import licence, e.g., because the supplier insists on it, because the substances fall under the Goods Control Ordinance or are considered biological weapons under the War Material Act, you must apply for it yourself to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) or the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO). As the applicant, you bear the costs of issuing the document. The regulations and forms applicable to the import of animal pathogenic substances and material of animal origin can be found on the FSVO website.

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You work with hydrofluoric acid, with nanomaterials, with ethidium bromide, with a chemical with acute or chronic toxicity, with a caustic chemical, a flammable solvent or with a chemical that is new to you? You have questions about the safe handling, about the required personal protective equipment, about storage etc.? You want to install a new gas in your lab and do not know if gas detection is required? You work with a 3D printer and are not sure if ventilation is necessary? You are the safety officer for your lab and have read the safety datasheet for a chemical but still have questions?
For any of these or other questions about a chemical, a test setup, technical measures, or safety in your lab, contact .
Cytostatics are medications that inhibit cell growth, the main target being all tumor cell fractions that are in cell division. In case of exposure, mutagenic, reproduction toxic and carcinogenic side effects are possible. Depending on the classification, hormones, monoclonal antibodies and other substances are counted among the cytostatics.
There are special requirements for working with cytostatics. Contact for more information .
Lab coats need to be washed periodically, but not in a normal washing machine. ETH Zurich offers a Downloadlaundry service for lab coats (PDF, 180 KB)vertical_align_bottom in cooperation with Herrera Laundry.

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Do you work with a class 3B or 4 laser? Then you must appoint a laser safety officer with the respective duties and report this to the section Operational Environmental and Radiation Protection (BUSS). The legal requirements pertaining to laser protection in Switzerland can be found in the brochure ¡±, the section BUSS is glad to assist you.

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Machinery may be placed on the market and operated only if, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, it does not present any or only a minor risk to the safety and health of users and third parties. The work and operating equipment must comply with the basic health and safety requirements.

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The supply of narcotics in Switzerland is regulated by the Narcotics Act (BetmG) and the Narcotics Control Ordinance (BetmKV). Institutions involved in scientific research may be granted a licence by the relevant cantonal authority to cultivate, acquire, store and use narcotics to the extent required for their own needs. Within ETH Zurich, a separate licence is required for each organisational unit (research group, platform, etc.). The organisational units shall appoint a person in charge of the controlled substances and entrust him/her with the following tasks:

• Ordering
  
• Internal organisation
  
• Storage
  
• Issuance
  
• Control

Compliance with these legal provisions is essential for the organisational units of ETH Zurich that want to obtain narcotics. Both those who already work with narcotics and those who are new to it are required to appoint a person in charge and obtain the necessary licence. A licence for scientific institutions is generally valid for 5 years and costs CHF 250. These costs are borne by the respective organisational unit. For logical reasons, the respective executive of the organisational unit is usually appointed as the person in charge, as this is the person who bears the responsibility.

These are the most important tasks and responsibilities regarding work with narcotics for professors and supervisors (at ETH Zurich, this means in particular every workshop supervisor, institute director, department head, office director, et al.):

• Taking note of the legal basis and acting accordingly
  
• Appointing a person in charge of narcotics for the organisational unit
  
• Applying to the Cantonal Office for Therapeutic Product Control for a licence. Work with narcotics is only permitted after a licence has been issued
  
• Informing SSHE about the appointment or change of the person in charge within the institute/area. Please send this notification by e-mail to

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The employer provides personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever required for an activity at a study or workplace. The use of PPE is mandatory and an important element of preventive healthcare.
PPE includes:

• Gas masks and particle filter masks
  
• Gloves
  
• Head protection
  
• Hearing protection
  
• Protective clothing
  
• Protective footwear
  
• Rope fastening
  
• Safety goggles

Would you like advice on the subject of PPE or do you need support in selecting suitable PPE products? We are happy to help.

• Do you wear glasses, will you be you employed at ETH Zurich for at least one year and do you need prescription safety goggles? Fill out the Downloadonline form (PDF, 263 KB)vertical_align_bottom now.
  
• Do you need assistance to get a quote for laser safety goggles? Fill out Downloadthis form (PDF, 73 KB)vertical_align_bottom and we will contact you.

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Working with ionizing radiation, e.g. with radioactive materials of a particular activity and/or X-ray instruments, is subject to authorization. In addition, a radiation protection officer who has received training approved by the Swiss Federal Department of Public Health (FOPH) must be appointed.
To apply for a permit, temporarily carry out research with radiation exposure abroad or if you have any general questions about radiation protection, please contact Dr. Silke Kiesewetter.

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In accordance with Article 8 of the Verordnung ¨¹ber die Verh¨¹tung von Unf?llen und Berufskrankheiten, VUV (Ordinance on the Prevention of Accidents and Occupational Diseases), employers can only assign tasks that involve special hazards to employees who are appropriately trained. In addition, employers must arrange for an employee to be supervised if the employee is performing hazardous tasks alone. The basic principle is that working alone is not permissible if the work can lead to an injury that requires the immediate assistance of a second person. This applies in particular in the following cases (the list is not exhaustive):

Work where constant supervision by a second person is mandatory (regardless of the time of day):

• Work on live electrical installations
  
• Work involving running bodies of water
  
• Work in thermotechnical installations, tall chimneys and connecting ducts
  
• Work in containers and confined spaces
  
• Work in shafts, pipelines, pits and sewers
  
• When entering and working in silos
  
• Work in underground mining structures, in rock strata containing natural gas
  
• Work with radiation sources outside irradiation areas
  
• Work with compressed air and respiratory protection
  
• Deconstruction or demolition work
  
• Rope access work
  
• Work with rope protection (fall arrest system)
  
• Forestry work with special hazards, e.g., work with chainsaws, work in steep terrain, logging, climbing trees
  
• Work on train tracks
  
• Work on electrical towers

Work that may only be carried out within eyeshot and earshot of other people (regardless of the time of day):

• Work on technical systems in special operation, e.g., installing, rectifying faults, maintenance work
  
• Work in usually inaccessible and unsecured hazard areas
  
• Work with a risk of being caught by rotating parts and tools
  
• Work with chemicals or laboratory glassware
  
• Climbing higher than 3 m

Requirements for persons working alone: they must be

• Mentally and intellectually suited to working alone (danger awareness!)
  
• Physically suited to working alone
  
• Of age

At ETH Zurich, there is the possibility of coming into contact with hazards at various study and work spaces. Since it cannot always be assumed that a second person is within eyeshot or earshot outside normal working hours, the requirements for working alone must be complied with accordingly. This means that without the presence of another person or a suitable alarm system, none of the work which has a higher risk potential and which is prohibited according to the above list may be carried out on principle. Routine work where the exact procedure is known or work processes involving hazardous substances or equipment where personal injury is prevented by appropriate technical or structural measures may be carried out alone. The corresponding guidelines must therefore be specified in writing, either in general or specific to the study or work space. To assess the need for monitoring persons working alone and to determine the appropriate monitoring system, please contact

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You need to work on an unusual material and are not sure if you can do this safely in your workshop? You find it somewhat loud in your workshop and sometimes also rather dusty? You have retrofitted your old machine and would like to know if it meets machine regulations? You need to perform some welding for the first time and want to know if the guidelines are the same as for soldering? Should you have any of these or other questions on a material, a work process, technical measures, or safety in your workshop, please contact us.

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