Nick Coleman. List of Legislation, Code of Practice, Australian Standards, Guidance Materials used to determine control measures

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1 Use this form to assist you to complete risk assessments for hazardous activities and processes. Any serious or ongoing hazards should be reported via RiskWare to ensure that appropriate corrective actions are tracked and completed. Faculty/School: Faculty of Science / School of Molecular Bioscience Risk Assessment Reference Number: SMB022 Initial Issue Date: Oct 2015 Next Review Date: Oct 2016 Risk Assessment Name: Northern blotting and P32 probe hybridisation Prepared by: Nick Coleman Responsible supervisor/s: Markus Hofer (Chair WHS committee) & Dianne Fisher (Safety Officer) Identify the activity and the location Activity or process: Using radioactive isotope (P32) for Northern Blotting procedure (detection of specific RNA sequences) Location: Radioactive work areas in SMB (rooms 647, 648, 736, 739, 744, 775, 776) Identify who may be at risk This may include fellow workers, students, visitors, contractors and the public Persons at risk: Research staff and research students Risk assessment team (Who was consulted?): WHS committee at SMB List of Legislation, Code of Practice, Australian Standards, Guidance Materials used to determine control measures Safe work procedure SMB SWP#022, Radiation Control Act 1990, Radiation Control Amendment Act 2010 & Radiation Control Regulation 2013 (these documents from NSW Environment Protection Authority), Safety data sheets for formaldehyde, formamide, ethidium bromide, P32 Risk Assessment Methodology Assessing the risk is a brainstorming exercise, which is most effectively carried out in a team environment with the people required to complete the activity or process. Most activities or processes are broken down into a variety of separate tasks. For each task, consider the hazards, the potential harm or negative outcomes and the conditions required for those negative outcomes to occur. Whenever assessing the health and safety risks associated with a task, always consider the following primary risk factors. The physical activities required to complete the task e.g. repetitive movement, high force, physical exertion, awkward posture The work environment e.g. lighting, work layout, traffic, thermal comfort, working in isolation The nature of the hazard itself e.g. working with chemicals, microorganisms, radiation, machinery, potentially violent clients The individual workers involved, e.g. level of training, skills, experience, health, age, physical capacity The information gathered from the risk assessment process must be used to develop a Safe Work Procedure (SWP).

2 Task or scenario Hazard/s Associated harm, e.g. what could go wrong? RNA sample preparation and visualization Ethidium bromide Contact with skin or eyes, ingestion or inhalation poses a cancer risk since ethidium bromide is a possible mutagen (DNA-damaging agent). Existing Risk Controls. Current risk rating Use the Risk Matrix Any additional controls are required? 1 Residual risk rating Use the Risk Matrix Low No Low Heating agarose in microwave Burns or explosion Hot molten agarose can potentially cause significant burn injuries to eyes or skin. Microwaving of cloned containers can cause explosion PPE: lab coat, heat-resistant gloves, safety glasses/ goggles RNA gel casting, RNA electrophoresis, RNA sample prep. Formaldehyde Potential for the inhalation of toxic fumes and direct contact with eyes and skin. May result in burns and permanent tissue damage. Formaldehyde is a confirmed human carcinogen (IARC-G1) and has acute toxic effects Work in fume hood RNA sample prep Formamide Potential for the inhalation of toxic vapours and direct contact with eyes and skin. May cause poisoning, severe burns and blistering. Symptoms of exposure may not be immediately painful or visible. Work in fume hood 1 Always consider whether or not it is possible to eliminated the hazard or hazardous task altogether. If this is not possible, refer to the hierarchy of risk controls.

3 RNA electrophoresis Electric shock Potential for serious electrical shock or electrocution due to leaking chamber, faulty or corroded electrode cables, or faulty power supply. Good maintenance of lab equipment Low No Visualisation of RNA via transilluminator Fixation of nucleic acids with UV crosslinker UV light Potential for UV-C exposure to skin and eyes. May cause tissue burns after a few seconds. May cause blindness upon prolonged exposure to eyes. Symptoms of exposure may not be immediately painful or visible. PPE: UV-resistant face-shield, lab coat (sleeves rolled down), nitrile gloves. Preparing SDS detergent solution SDS Potential for inhalation, which may cause pulmonary sensitization, or direct contact with eyes and skin, which may cause pain and redness. Low No Low Handling P32 labelled probe P32 isotope Potential for radiation exposure. May cause tissue damage, radiation poisoning or cancer. (see Risk Assessment Working with P32/P33 radioactive isotopes SMB #022) Work in designated radioactive work area. Work behind Perspex shield Minimise amount of isotope used and exposure time Wear a personal dosimeter badge (this badge should only be in the radioactive work room when you are wearing it) Routinely monitor work area (before and after work) using Geiger counter Page 3

4 Use log book to report work in radioactive work room. Spill involving P32- labelled probe or related solutions P32 isotope Potential for radiation exposure. May cause tissue damage, radiation poisoning or cancer. (see SWP SMB #022) Work in designated radioactive work area. Work behind Perspex shield Minimise amount of isotope used and exposure time Wear a personal dosimeter badge (this badge should only be in the radioactive work room when you are wearing it) Routinely monitor work area (before and after work) using Geiger counter Use log book to report work in radioactive work room. Page 4

5 Implementation of Additional Risk Controls Additional controls needed Resources required Responsible person Date of implementation RiskWare Reference Safe Work Procedure (SWP) DONE WHS committee N/A Train workers to complete process in accordance with SWP Time supervisor and workers Supervisor N/A University and local WHS training Time Supervisor N/A List emergency controls for how to deal with fires, spills or exposure to hazardous substances and/or emergency shutdown procedures Follow general emergency and spill procedures. See SMB SWP#004 and SWP#043. Any spills must be cleaned up immediately, and the spill absorbent disposed of as hazardous waste. A typical 32P cleanup procedure would involve putting on two pairs of gloves, and using first dry paper towel to mop up the spill, and then moist paper towel to thoroughly clean the area. Ensure contaminated gloves and paper towel are disposed of immediately as hazardous waste. Effectiveness of spill cleanup must be assessed using a Geiger Counter (see manual for Geiger counter) Multiple rounds of spill cleanup and Geiger testing may be required to remove all P32, until count is no higher than background in the area where the spill occurred. Large spills of radioactive material (approx >1 MBq) or any spills involving human contact need to be reported as formal incidents on the RiskWare system. Consult your supervisor and the Radiation Safety Officer ASAP. REVIEW Scheduled review date 1 year 2 years 3 years Are control measures in place (YES/NO) Are controls eliminating or minimizing the risk (YES/NO) Are there any new problems with the risk (YES/NO) Reviewed by: Actual Review date:

6 Risk Matrix. RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

7 In signing this section the assessor agrees that the following persons are competent in following this Risk Assessment. Name Signature Date Competent Name Assessor/Authoriser of Assessor/Authoriser signature Page 7