At CatSci, we operate a hierarchical system of Safety, Health and Environment controls with a matrix of risk assessment and mitigation at all levels including site, project, task and experimental operations. We have a strong culture of safety reporting and have recorded no major accidents or incidents in 10 years of operation.

  • We operate a risk assessment programme to underpin our approach to site operations and chemistry. This risk assessment programme is reviewed annually to ensure that it is perfect-for-purpose.
  • Our comprehensive set of SOPs is regularly reviewed, and our overarching site operations assessment is reviewed annually.
  • We have monthly management audits supported by our operational support team.
  • We have accident and incident reporting that includes near misses and safety concerns to promote both bottom-up and top-down safety culture. This ensures that staff of all levels are involved in the management of health and safety.
  • We have an overarching Emergency Response document for the facility detailing the response to credible scenarios both during the working day and out of hours.
  • We have a UK Home Office Controlled Drugs licence and mandating operating procedures, which include locked safe, access, key personnel, documentation, etc.
  • We have dedicated PPE and occupational hygiene control procedures to protect our staff from the hazards of working with potent materials.
  • We have been independently audited by Safebridge.
  • We have procedures in place to ensure the safe storage of goods in segregated areas.
  • All waste on site is segregated before disposal to support our comprehensive recycling programme wherever possible.
  • We have a fit-for-purpose supplier approval process and documentation.
  • Hazardous waste is collected under permit by a registered waste contractor for reprocessing and reuse or ultimate disposal. Our operational support team have conducted ‘duty of care’ audits of our waste contractor to ensure permit compliance and records are kept for the statutory period required by CatSci.

CatSci is committed to providing customers with environmentally sustainable solutions. This commitment is illustrated by the use of the principles of green chemistry and engineering as part of our process research and development strategies and our evaluation of partnerships.  More specifically:

  • Our in-depth process chemistry knowledge is applied to every stage of synthesis and work-up, with the aim to choosing the processing option that leaves the lightest footprint on the environment.
  • Regular application of DoE to maximise yield and quality and minimise reagent and solvent use to reduce environmental burden.
  • Routine investigation as standard to attempt to replace toxic platinum group elements with lower toxicity base metals in all processes where possible.
  • Consideration to replace synthetic chemistry steps with bio-catalysis steps where commercial considerations allow.
  • Use of our own in-house ligand selection tool when optimising catalytic reactions for efficiency in a holistic sense.
  • We are members of the ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundtable, a leading champion of the adoption of novel and environmentally sustainable technologies in the pharmaceutical industry.
  • CatSci has partnered with The Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies (CSCT) at the University of Bath on catch and release catalysis for recycling PGM metal complexes.
  • We collaborate with the UK Catalysis Hub, and the Institute of Process Research and Development at the University of Leeds.