Acetonitrile.
Chloroform.
Methanol.
Heptane.
Hazardous Substances Policy - Assessment
CHEMICAL HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT
School of Biosciences
Name of
supervisor
G S Besra
Assessor
D. Lonergan
Assessment Number*
2020
Date of Assessment
30/04/2002
Signature
Signature
Notes
A School COSHH form in Word is available on the School Server.
Available from the Health and Safety Unit.
Guidance on making an assessment is given in Making a Chemical Hazard and Risk Assessment.
Guidance is also available from Guidance on Completing the Chemical Hazard and Risk Assessment Form.
Use a continuation sheet to expand any section of this form in hard copy version.
1
LOCATION OF THE WORK ACTIVITY
2
PERSONS WHO MAY BE AT RISK
Lab E106
List names where possible
D. Lonergan, H. Strating, L. Dover, K. Gibbson, A. Brown, S. Gurcha, M. Akhtar, R. Wilson, J. Redman, M. Guy,
W. Maughan, S. Seniour, I. Daniles, P. Illaranov,
3
ACTIVITY ASSESSED
4
MATERIALS INVOLVED
NAME
Analysis of bacterial extracts using HPLC.
AMOUNT
max/stored
Attach copies of data sheet(s)
HAZARD
RISK PHRASES
TOXIC BY INHALATION, IN
CONTACT WITH SKIN AND IF
SWALLOWED. RISK OF SERIOUS
DAMAGE TO EYES. R11-23/24/25,
S16-27-45
HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED.
IRRITATING TO EYES AND SKIN.
POSSIBLE RISK OF
IRREVERSIBLE EFFECTS.
HARMFUL: DANGER OF SERIOUS
DAMAGE TO HEALTH BY
PROLONGED EXPOSURE
THROUGH INHALATION AND IF
SWALLOWED. POSSIBLE
MUTAGEN. R22-38-40-48/20/22,
S36-37
TOXIC BY INHALATION, IN
CONTACT WITH SKIN AND IF
SWALLOWED. DANGER OF VERY
SERIOUS IRREVERSIBLE
EFFECTS THROUGH
INHALATION, IN CONTACT WITH
SKIN AND IF SWALLOWED.
IRRITATING TO EYES AND SKIN.
R11-23/24/25-39, S7-16-36/37-45
Acetonitrile.
5l
HIGHLY
FLAMMABLE
TOXIC
Chloroform.
5l
HARMFUL
Methanol.
5l
HIGHLY
FLAMMABLE
TOXIC
HAZDAT
NO***
BIOSCIENC
ESNO***
Heptane.
5l
HIGHLY
FLAMMABLE
HARMFUL
Ethyl acetate
5l
HIGHLY
FLAMMABLE
IRRITANT
Dichloromethane
5l
TOXIC
5
IRRITATING TO EYES,
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND
SKIN. VERY TOXIC TO AQUATIC
ORGANISMS, MAY CAUSE LONGTERM ADVERSE EFFECTS IN
THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT.
MAY CAUSE LUNG DAMAGE IF
SWALLOWED. VAPORS MAY
CAUSE DROWSINESS AND
DIZZINESS. R11-38-50/53-65, S916-29-33-60-61-62
IRRITATING TO EYES,
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND
SKIN. REPEATED EXPOSURE
MAY CAUSE SKIN DRYNESS OR
CRACKING. VAPORS MAY
CAUSE DROWSINESS AND
DIZZINESS. R11-36-66-67, S16-2633
HARMFUL BY INHALATION AND
IF SWALLOWED. IRRITATING TO
EYES, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
AND SKIN. MAY CAUSE CANCER.
POSSIBLE RISK OF HARM TO
THE UNBORN CHILD. READILY
ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN.
R40, S23-24/25-36/37
INTENDED USE**
Give brief details and attach protocol/instructions
Bacterial extracts are to be purified by use of High performance liquid chromatograph. This utilises solvents under
high pressures within a closed HPLC system.
6
RISKS to HEALTH and SAFETY from INTENDED USE
From personal exposure or hazardous reactions. Refer to OELs, flash points, etc., as appropriate. Are pregnant women, breast-feeding
mothers especially at risk?
Acetonitrile: FLASHPOINT 2 C (35.6 F). MAY CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION. TOXIC IF ABSORBED THROUGH
SKIN. CAUSES SEVERE EYE IRRITATION. TOXIC IF INHALED. MATERIAL MAY BE IRRITATING TO
MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT. TOXIC IF SWALLOWED. ACETONITRILE IS
METABOLIZED IN THE LIVER TO WATER, FORMIC ACID AND HYDROGEN CYANIDE. THE CYANIDE IS
FURTHER METABOLIZED TO THIOCYANATE. THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS IS GENERALLY DELAYED
PENDING CONVERSION TO CYANIDE. ADVERSE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE NAUSEA, VOMITING,
DIARRHEA, HEADACHE, DIZZINESS, RASHES AND CYANOSIS. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE MENTAL
EXCITEMENT OR DEPRESSION, DROWSINESS, IMPAIRED PERCEPTION, INCOORDINATION, STUPOR,
COMA AND DEATH. INCOMPATIBILITIES: ACIDS, BASES, OXIDIZING AGENTS, REDUCING AGENTS,
ALKALI METALS.
Chloroform. EXPOSURE CAN CAUSE: VOMITING GASTROINTESTINAL DISTURBANCES EXPOSURE TO
AND/OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL MAY INCREASE TOXIC EFFECTS. MAY CAUSE NERVOUS
SYSTEM DISTURBANCES. MAY CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION. MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH
THE SKIN. MAY CAUSE EYE IRRITATION. MATERIAL MAY BE IRRITATING TO MUCOUS MEMBRANES
AND UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT. MAY BE HARMFUL IF INHALED. MAY BE HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED.
Methanol. FLASHPOINT 54F/12.22C, INCOMPATIBILITIES: ACIDS, ACID CHLORIDES, ACID ANHYDRIDES,
OXIDIZING AGENTS, ALKALI METALS, REDUCING AGENTS. CAUSES SKIN IRRITATION. TOXIC IF
ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. CAUSES EYE IRRITATION. TOXIC IF INHALED. MATERIAL MAY BE
IRRITATING TO MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT. TOXIC IF SWALLOWED.
EXPOSURE CAN CAUSE: GASTROINTESTINAL DISTURBANCES, MAY CAUSE CONVULSIONS.
Heptane. FLASHPOINT -1.11C, MAY CAUSE EYE IRRITATION. CAUSES SKIN IRRITATION. MAY BE
HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN. HARMFUL IF INHALED. MAY BE HARMFUL IF
SWALLOWED. VAPOR OR MIST IS IRRITATING TO THE EYES, MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND UPPER
RESPIRATORY TRACT. PROLONGED OR REPEATED EXPOSURE TO SKIN CAUSES DEFATTING AND
DERMATITIS. CNS DEPRESSION NARCOTIC EFFECT. DAMAGE TO THE LUNGS
Ethyl acetate: FLASHPOINT -3C, INCOMPATIBILITIES: STRONG OXIDIZING AGENTS. CAUSES SKIN
IRRITATION. MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN. CAUSES EYE IRRITATION.
MATERIAL IS IRRITATING TO MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT. MAY BE
HARMFUL IF INHALED. MAY BE HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. CAN CAUSE CNS DEPRESSION. EXPOSURE
CAN CAUSE: DROWSINESS NARCOTIC EFFECT ANEMIA.
Dichloromethane INCOMPATIBILITIES: ACIDS, ACID CHLORIDES, ACID ANHYDRIDES, OXIDIZING AGENTS,
ALKALI METALS, REDUCING AGENTS. CAUSES SKIN IRRITATION. TOXIC IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN.
CAUSES EYE IRRITATION. TOXIC IF INHALED. MATERIAL MAY BE IRRITATING TO MUCOUS
MEMBRANES AND UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT. TOXIC IF SWALLOWED. EXPOSURE CAN CAUSE:
GASTROINTESTINAL DISTURBANCES MAY CAUSE CONVULSIONS.
7
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT RISKS
Is level of risk acceptable? Can risk be prevented or reduced by change of substance/procedure? Are control measures necessary?
Acetonitrile. Chloroform. Methanol. Heptane. Ethyl acetate, Dichloromethane: The level of risk is acceptable if the
control procedures are followed. There are no alternative chemicals. Control measures are required, see below.
8
CONTROL MEASURES
Additional to Good Chemical Practice
Acetonitrile. Chloroform. Methanol. Heptane. Ethyl acetate, Dichloromethane USE NONSPARKING TOOLS. USE
POINT SOURCE VENTILATION. DO NOT BREATHE VAPOR. AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND
CLOTHING. AVOID PROLONGED OR REPEATED EXPOSURE. USE COMPATIBLE CHEMICAL-RESISTANT
GLOVES AND CHEMICAL SAFETY GOGGLES. KEEP CONTAINER CLOSED. KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT,
SPARKS, AND OPEN FLAME. ENSURE ALL TUBING, CONNECTIONS AND VALVES OF THE HPLC SYSTEM
IS FREE OF LEEKS AND CONNECTIONS ARE SECURE.
9
INSTRUCTION/TRAINING
Specify course(s) and/or special arrangements.
NEW OPERATORS TO BE TRAINED BY APPROPIATE PERSONNEL
10
MONITORING
Performance of control measures,
NONE
Personal exposure
Health Surveillance
NONE
NONE
11
WASTE DISPOSAL PROCEDURE
See School Server for Approved Procedure Document on specific Chemical Waste Disposal.
Acetonitrile. Chloroform. Methanol. Heptane. Ethyl acetate, Dichloromethane: ALL WASTE IS TO BE
COLLECTED AND DISPOSED OF VIA THE HALOGENATED/NON-HALOGENATED WASTE SOLVENT
ROUTE
12
REVIEW
Enter the date or circumstances for review of assessment (maximum review interval 5 years)
Acetonitrile. Chloroform. Methanol. Heptane. Ethyl acetate Dichloromethane: 30/04/2007
13
EMERGENCY ACTION
TO CONTROL HAZARDS To stabilize situation eg spread absorbent on liquid spill; eliminate sources of ignition, etc.
Acetonitrile. Chloroform. Methanol. Heptane. Ethyl acetate Dichloromethane: COVER WITH SAND OR
VERMICULITE. PLACE IN COVERED CONTAINERS USING NON-SPARKING TOOLS AND TRANSPORT
OUTDOORS. SHUT OFF ALL SOURCES OF IGNITION.
TO PROTECT PERSONNEL Evacuation, protection for personnel involved in clean-up, Special First Aid
Acetonitrile. Chloroform. Methanol. Heptane. Ethyl acetate Dichloromethane: WEAR HEAVY RUBBER GLOVES
AND RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT WITH ORGANIC SOLVENT FILTERS. EVACUATE AREA.
Clean-up/decontamination
TO RENDER SITE OF EMERGENCY SAFE
Acetonitrile. Chloroform. Methanol. Heptane. Ethyl acetate Dichloromethane: VENTILATE AREA AND WASH
SPILL SITE AFTER MATERIAL PICKUP IS COMPLETE.
CONTACT G S Besra
PHONE
58123
10.10.00
*
**
***
Prefix T is used for Teaching Assessment Number.
Please include amount of chemicals used and how.
Hazdat No is the UNICOSHH datasheet report number.
Biosciences No is the Biosciences data sheet number.
UNICOSHH IS A CHEMICAL DATABASE ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY UNIT SERVER.
BIOSCIENCES DATA SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICE.