Assessment No.
074
CSMM
Cell Signalling Section
COSHH Process Safety Assessment
Name of Process
PROTEIN BIOCHEMISTRY
Brief Description
Techniques involving the Iso-electric focusing, identification and extraction of proteins not covered
by Western blotting.
Locations used
RKCSB: 335, 341
Hazards Involved
1 Amido Black
2 Industrial Methylated spirits (IMS)
3 Ammonium hydrogen carbonate
4 Boric acid
5 β-Mercaptoethanol
6 Bromophenol Blue
7 Urea
8 Ninhydrin
9 Sodium salicylate
10 Trichloroacetic acid
Code Red
Code Red
Code Red
Code Red
Code Red
Code Red
Code Red
Code Red
Code Red
Code Red
Nature of Hazards
1. Amido Black:
a) Irritant
b) Irritating to eyes, skin and respiratory system
c) May be harmful by inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption
d) R 36/37/38
S 26
2 IMS:
a) Highly flammable - Flash Point 12⁰C
b) Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed
c) LC50 83 mg/l inh rat
3
d) OES 260mg/m (long-term, 8 hour TWA)
e) LD50 7060mg/kg oral rat.
f) R 11, 20/22
S 7, 16
3 Ammonium hydrogen carbonate:
a) Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin
b) May be harmful by inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption
c) LD50 IVN-MUS 245mg/kg
d) R 22
4 Boric acid:
a) Causes irritation
b) Harmful if swallowed or absorbed through skin
c) LD50 oral, rat 2660mg/kg
5 β-Mercaptoethanol:
a) Harmful if swallowed
b) Toxic in contact with skin
c) Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin
d) Evidence of mutagenic effects
e) LD50 244mg/kg oral, rat
f) R 20/22 – 24 – 34 – 51/53
S 26 – 36/37/39 – 45 – 61
6 Bromophenol Blue:
a) May be harmful by ingestion
b) Stains
c) May be irritating to eyes or if inhaled as dust
d) S 22 – 24/25
7 Urea:
a) Harmful
b) Possible risk of irreversible effects
c) Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin
d) May be harmful if absorbed through skin
8 Ninhydrin:
a) harmful by inhalation, skin contact and if swallowed
b) Irritating to eyes, skin and respiratory system
d) Causes reddening of skin with possible inflammation
e) R 22 – 36/37/38
S 26
9 Sodium salicylate:
a) May be harmful if swallowed
b) May cause irritation
c) LD50 oral, rat 1600mg/kg
d) R 22
10 Trichloroacetic acid:
a) Corrosive
b) Causes severe burns
c) Vesicant
d) Causes blisters on contact with skin
e) May be harmful if absorbed through skin, inhaled or swallowed
f) Causes severe eye irritation
g) OEL 1ppm (5mg/m3)
h) R 35 – 50/53
S 26 – 36/37/39 – 45 – 60 – 61
Precautions Required
All of the above chemicals are weighed out wearing gloves, face mask and eye protection.
Stock solutions of β-Mercaptoethanol and Trichloroacetic acid are handled in the fume hood.
Gloves must be worn throughout the procedure.
Monitoring
Gauges on fume hoods are used as indicators of airflow.
Fume hoods are serviced once a year.
Spillage Handling and Emergency Procedures
Worse case spill of Amido Black would be 25g. All spills can be mopped up with dampened tissues,
which are then sent for autoclaving.
IMS spills are mopped up and tissues disposed of in a waste bag in the fume hood. Any residue is
allowed to evaporate under the fume hood.
Worse case spill of Ammonium hydrogen carbonate would be 1kg. Collect all spills in a bag, seal
and send for autoclaving.
Worse case spill of Boric acid would be 500g. Collect all spills in a bag, seal and send for
autoclaving.
Worse case spill of β-Mercaptoethanol would be 100ml while preparing buffer. For spills of more
than 20ml, use an absorbent blanket from the hazardous spill kit. Place in a bag and send for
autoclaving. Smaller spills can be mopped up with tissues and sent for autoclaving.
Worse case spill of Bromophenol Blue powder would be 10g. Wipe all spills up with dampened
tissues over a wide area around the spill, place in a bag, seal and send for autoclaving.
Worse case spill of Urea would be 500g. Collect all spills in a bag, seal and send for autoclaving.
Worse case spill of Ninhydrin would be 25g. Collect all spills in a bag, seal and send for
autoclaving.
Worse case spill of Sodium salicylate would be 500g. Collect all spills in a bag, seal and send for
autoclaving.
Worse case spill of Trichloroacetic acid would be 1kg. For spills of more than 50g, evacuate the
laboratory of personnel. Obtain a respirator, rubber gloves and boots from the hazardous spill kit.
Sweep the spillage into an appropriate container and send for specialist disposal. For spills of less
than 50g, wipe up with dampened tissues (wearing rubber gloves), place in a bag and send for
autoclaving.
After any spill, wash the area down thoroughly with water.
Disposal of Waste Materials
All tips, tubes, gloves, etc are placed in an autoclave bag.
Stock crystals of Trichloroacetic acid should be disposed of via specialist contractor.
Waste solutions can be washed down the sink with copious amounts of water.
Local Exhaust Ventilation Used
Fume hoods in room 335 and 341
Documentation Issued
SOPs
Laboratory Safety book
MSDS
THE ASSESSMENT
In the opinion of the Assessor, taking into account the toxic nature of the substances and
the way they are used and controlled does a risk to health occur?
If yes describe how, where and what improvements are required to minimise those hazards
or to achieve satisfactory control,
Taking into account the hazards of the substances and the way they are used and controlled, a risk to
health does not occur.
ASSESSOR:
Name
A Gillies
Position
Signature
Date
Is the work likely to change significantly in
the foreseeable future?
If yes, give date for reassessment
No
Section Safety Officer
09.12.2009