Bio MedicalSciencesLabRiskAssessment 000

(College / School / Department): College of Natural Sciences, School of Biological Sciences
RISK ASSESSMENT TITLE: Use of Bio Medical Science Laboratory
Location / Building /
Area:
Brambell Building, C4
Activity
(Summary):
Date of Assessment:
14th October 2009
Name of Assessor:
What are the dangers/hazards?
Slips / Trips and Falls
Who might
be harmed
and how?
Staff and
students
General use of Bio Medical Sciences Laboratory by staff and students. This
assessment does not cover the use of hazardous substances or equipment not
listed below. Additional assessments may be required as indicated on this
Risk Assessment Form.
John Latchford / Suzanne Barnes / Louise Thurlow
What are you already doing to prevent harm?
What further action is necessary?
Action by
whom
Floor in good condition

Bags and coats stored in lockers
Power points desk mounted to remove risk of
trailing leads
Adequate storage is provided
Academic Supervisor regularly undertakes
inspections
All spillages to be reported immediately and

cleared in accordance with Information Sheet CS5
- Emergency Spill Procedure
Regular monitoring is undertaken
Staff and
students
Electrical Hazards
Staff and
students
All equipment PAT Tested

User checks carried out see Information Sheet
LS2 - Electrical Safety
All defects to be reported to Technical Staff

immediately
Staff and
students
Personal Contamination
Staff and
students
COSHH Assessments are undertaken

Good laboratory practices are implemented
Howie lab coats worn. Lab coats folded inside out
for storage
Suitable footwear worn
Hair tied back
Appropriate PPE worn eg gloves as directed
No eating, drinking or application of cosmetics
allowed in Lab
Laboratory benches sanitized after use
Hands washed in designated sink regularly and
prior to leaving Laboratory
All suspected contamination to be reported

immediately to Supervisor. Do not leave the
laboratory until authorised to do so
Lab coats regularly laundered by specialist
contractor
Staff and
students
Sharps eg needles, scalpels and

broken glass
Staff and
students
Care taken when using scalpels, especially when

changing blades
All sharps disposed of in sharps container
All breakages reported immediately
Sharps containers to be closed when full and

disposed of promptly via specialist Waste
Contractor
Broken glass to be disposed of in designated bins
All sharps injuries must be reported
Staff and
students
Manual Handling
Staff and
students
Team lifting for heavy items

Equipment stored appropriately eg heavy items
and glassware stored below shoulder height
Identify need for manual handling training and risk

assessment and provide if required
Appropriate access equipment to be provided
H&S
Officer
Emergency procedures eg fire and

first aid
Staff and
students
All personnel receive H&S Induction before working

in Laboratory
Action to Take signs displayed in laboratory
Appropriate fire fighting equipment eg
extinguishers provided
Regular fire drills undertaken
PEEPs undertaken where required
Check first aid provision

Ensure staff and students aware of 333 number
H&S
Officer
Spills of hazardous substances
Staff and
students
All personnel receive H&S Induction before working

in Laboratory including emergency spill procedure
Spills cleared promptly
Appropriate equipment provided eg spill kits
Materials used to clean spills placed in specific bins
and disposed of by Specialist Waste Contractor
All spillages to be reported immediately and

cleared in accordance with Information Sheet CS5
- Emergency Spill Procedure
Staff and
students
Fire
Staff,
students
and the
Emergency
Services
Flammable chemicals and activities kept to a

minimum
Local fire fighting equipment provided
Combustible materials kept to a minimum
Good level of fire safety awareness amongst staff
Fire alarm system installed
Fire drills regularly undertaken
Fire and smoke detection within the building
Liaison with Emergency Services regarding building
fire risk takes place
Undertake specific Risk Assessment if a process

may introduce a heightened fire risk
Staff and
students
Exposure to hazardous substances

chemical and biological
Staff and
students
Reference to specific COSHH Assessments as

required
Ensure specific COSHH Assessments are

undertaken for the use of all hazardous agents
Ensure safe storage of all chemicals see
Information Sheet CS3 - Chemical Storage
Academic
Supervisors
Autoclave to be serviced annually

Vessel to be inspected according to Pressure
Systems Safety Regulations 2000
Ensure details of autoclave notified to Insurers
All defects to be reported immediately to
Laboratory Manager
Chief
Technician
Laboratory
Manager
EQUIPMENT SAFETY refer to Electrical Hazards above

Autoclaves
burns,
manual
handling,
chemical
and
biological
hazards
Staff and
students
Microwave Oven burns,

chemical and biological hazards
Staff and
students
Microwave operated in accordance with

Information Sheet LS3 Safe Use of Microwaves
required

Laboratory Manager
Staff and
students
Staff and
students
Fumehoods potential
exposure to hazardous vapours,
gases and particulates and fire
Staff and
students
Fumehood operated in accordance with

Information Sheet LS6 Safe Use of Fume Hoods
required
Fume hoods to be tested annually
Estates

Laboratory Manager
Staff and
students
Use restricted to authorized trained personnel

Autoclave operated in accordance with
Information Sheet LS4 Safe Use of Autoclaves
required
Item is regularly inspected for electrical safety
Insurance
Officer
H&S
Officer
Micro and Midi Centrifuges

mechanical injuries, chemical
and biological hazards
Staff and
students
Micro Centrifuge operated in accordance with

Information Sheet LS5 Safe Use of Micro
Centrifuges
required

Laboratory Manager
Staff and
students
PCR Machine exposure to

hazardous substances and burns
Staff and
students

required
Care taken not to touch hot parts of machine
Warning notices displayed

Laboratory Manager
Staff and
students
Microscopes frequent
prolonged use can lead to eye
strain, headaches and upper
limb disorders. Risk of exposure
to hazardous substances
Staff and
students
Users trained in the correct set up and use of

microscopes
Height adjustable chairs supplied
required
Regular breaks taken
If liquid spilt on microscope isolate power

immediately and notify Laboratory Manager
Laboratory Manager
Consider use of monitor if microscope is to be
used regularly for extensive periods of time
Staff and
students
Heating Blocks and Hot Plates

burns, contact with sharps if
containers break, fire if
incorrect container used or
substances heated
inappropriately, exposure to
hazardous substances
Staff and
students
Warning notices displayed

Care taken to avoid hot parts of machinery
Heat resistant gloves worn as appropriate
required
Appropriate heat and chemical resistant containers
used
Materials never left unattended on hot plate
If a spillage occurs, isolate power immediately and

notify Laboratory Manager
Laboratory Manager
Ensure equipment is electrically isolated after use
Staff and
students
Balances and Ph Meters

exposure to hazardous
substances
Staff and
students

required
Balances cleaned after use
If liquid is spilt on a balance, isolate power

immediately and notify Laboratory Manager
Laboratory Manager
Staff and
students
UVP
Illuminator
burns to skin
and eyes from
UV light,
exposure to
ethidium
bromide
Staff and
students
Reference made to ethidium bromide COSHH

Assessment
UV light source interlocked with operation of the
door
NItrile gloves worn when handling gels containing
ethidium bromide
Interlock to be checked by Laboratory Manager

regularly
All defects to be reported to Laboratory Manager
Laboratory
Manager
Electrophoresis equipment and

power supplies electric shock
and exposure to hazardous
chemicals, particularly ethidium
bromide when handling agarose
gel electrophoresis equipment
Staff and
students

required
Nitrile gloves worn when handling agarose gel
electrophoresis equipment
Gel tanks examined for cracks, leaks, exposed wires
Gel tank lids firmly closed before switching on the
electrical supply
If leaks occur during electrophoresis isolate

equipment immediately and inform Laboratory
Manager
Staff and
students
Spectrophotometers electrical
hazards, exposure to hazardous
chemicals, manual handling
Staff and
students

required
Care taken when lifting and moving. Team lifting
used if required
Investigate the use of lighter equipment to reduce

manual handling issues
H&S
Officer
Staff and
students

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(College / School / Department): College of Natural Sciences, School of Biological Sciences

RISK ASSESSMENT TITLE: Use of Bio Medical Science Laboratory

14th October 2009

What are the dangers/hazards?

Slips / Trips and Falls

What are you already doing to prevent harm?

What further action is necessary?

Floor in good condition

All spillages to be reported immediately and

All equipment PAT Tested

All defects to be reported to Technical Staff

COSHH Assessments are undertaken

All suspected contamination to be reported

Sharps eg needles, scalpels and

Care taken when using scalpels, especially when

Sharps containers to be closed when full and

Team lifting for heavy items

Identify need for manual handling training and risk

Emergency procedures eg fire and

All personnel receive H&S Induction before working

Check first aid provision

Spills of hazardous substances

All personnel receive H&S Induction before working

All spillages to be reported immediately and

Flammable chemicals and activities kept to a

Undertake specific Risk Assessment if a process

Exposure to hazardous substances

Reference to specific COSHH Assessments as

Ensure specific COSHH Assessments are

Autoclave to be serviced annually

EQUIPMENT SAFETY refer to Electrical Hazards above

Microwave Oven burns,

Microwave operated in accordance with

All defects to be reported immediately to

Fumehood operated in accordance with

Fume hoods to be tested annually

All defects to be reported immediately to

Use restricted to authorized trained personnel

Micro and Midi Centrifuges

Micro Centrifuge operated in accordance with

All defects to be reported immediately to

PCR Machine exposure to

Reference to specific COSHH Assessments as

All defects to be reported immediately to

Users trained in the correct set up and use of

If liquid spilt on microscope isolate power

Heating Blocks and Hot Plates

Warning notices displayed

If a spillage occurs, isolate power immediately and

Balances and Ph Meters

Reference to specific COSHH Assessments as

If liquid is spilt on a balance, isolate power

Reference made to ethidium bromide COSHH

Interlock to be checked by Laboratory Manager

Electrophoresis equipment and

Reference to specific COSHH Assessments as

If leaks occur during electrophoresis isolate

Reference to specific COSHH Assessments as

Investigate the use of lighter equipment to reduce