OHS017
OHS Risk Assessment and
Control Form
Risk assessment completed by: Sinead O’Reilly
Staff/student number:s3244595
Faculty/Division: Medicine
Document number
STGCL.RA.9.1
School/Unit: St George Clinical School
Initial Issue date: 15/09/09
Current version 1.0
Current Version
Issue date: 15/09/09
Next review date: September 2010
For additional information refer to the OHS Risk Assessment and Control Procedure, the OHS Risk Rating Procedure and the Hierarchy of Risk Controls.
Risk Assessment title: Risk Assessment for adding / removing frozen ampoules from Liquid Nitrogen
Step 1: Identify the activity
Describe the activity: Adding or removing ampoules to a tank / dewar containing Liquid Nitrogen.
Describe the location: Rm 3.23, Liquid Nitrogen Lab, Level 3, Research & Education Centre
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Risk Assessment and Control Form
Date Effective: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6, 16/07/2008
Step 2: Identify who may be at risk by the activity
The person adding / removing vials from the Liquid Nitrogen Tank / Vial, Anyone in the area surrounding the Lab, In a serious emergency , everybody on Level 3, Research & Education Centre
Steps 3 to 7: Identify the hazards, risks, and rate the risks
1. An activity may be divided into tasks. For each task identify the hazards and associated risks.
2. List existing risk controls and determine a risk rating using the UNSW Risk Rating Procedure.
3. Additional risk controls may be required to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Re-rate the risk if additional risk controls used.
Tasks
Hazards
Associated risks
(Step 3)
(Step 4)
Risk rating with existing
controls *
Additional risk controls
required
Risk Rating with
additional controls *
(Step 5)
(Step 6)
(Step 7)
Existing risk controls
C
L
R
Dress with long sleeved
top, trousers and solid
closed shoes and wear
appropriate PPE: Face
Mask, Lab Gown,
Neoprene Apron & Heavy
Duty gloves
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Ensuring the Door to the
Liquid Nitrogen Lab
remains open, remove
the lid from the tank.
Slowly and steadily lift the
stack from Liquid
Nitrogen Tank, draining
the excess liquid nitrogen
back into the Tank.
Weight of stacks and
height that stacks have to
be lifted to
Manual Handling injury
Use safety step if tank is
tall to allow for easier
retrieval of racks. Do
Manual Handling Training
3
D
H
Liquid Nitrogen
Death by suffocation
Listen for the Oxygen
meter alarm; Mechanical
Ventilation
5
E
M
Cold Burns / Frost bite
Face Mask, Heavy Duty
Gloves and Neoprene
Apron provided.
2
E
L
(Apply the hierarchy of
risk controls)
C
L
R
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Risk Assessment and Control Form
Date Effective: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6, 16/07/2008
Place the stack on a
stable surface and
withdraw the tray and use
forceps to remove
ampoule/s. Immediately
place the ampoules in the
tray containing 370C
water. Place the lid on
the box which houses the
tray/water/ampoules.
Liquid Nitrogen
Cold Burns / Frost Bite
Face Mask, Heavy Duty
Gloves and Neoprene
Apron provided.
2
E
L
2
C
M
2
E
L
2
C
M
Administrative Control
advising of the
requirement for PPE
Ampoules frozen in
Liquid Nitrogen can
explode
Injury from impact caused
by explosion
/Contamination from lost
sample
Prevent explosion by
using approved cryotubes
for freezing, closing tubes
tightly so that Liquid
Nitrogen cannot enter the
samples. Place
samples removed from
Liquid Nitrogen onto tray
with 37°C water when
removed from the Tank
and place in contained
polystyrene box so that if
the sample explodes, it is
contained.
Wear PPE
Return tray to stack, and
slowly return stack back
into the Liquid Nitrogen
Tank. Replace the lid of
the Liquid Nitrogen Tank
ensuring that it fits
securely.
Liquid Nitrogen
Cold Burns / Frost Bite
Face Mask, Heavy Duty
Gloves and Neoprene
Apron provided.
Administrative Control
advising of the
requirement for PPE
Weight of Stacks and
height that stacks need to
be lifted to
Manual Handling Injury
* C = consequence
Use safety step if tank is
tall to allow for easier
retrieval of racks. Do
Manual Handling Training
L = likelihood
R = risk rating
from the UNSW Risk Rating Procedure
Step 8 Documentation and supervisor approval
Completed by: Sinead O’Reilly (signature)
Authorised by: Prof Michael Grimm (signature)
Date: 15/09/09
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Risk Assessment and Control Form
Date Effective: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6, 16/07/2008
Step 9: Implement the additional risk controls identified
Indicate briefly what additional risk controls from Step 6 above were implemented, when and by whom.
Risk control:
Date:
Implemented by:
Risk control:
Date:
Implemented by:
Risk control:
Date:
Implemented by:
Risk control:
Date:
Implemented by:
Risk control:
Date:
Implemented by:
Step 10: Monitor and review the risk controls
It is important to monitor risk controls and review risk assessments regularly. Review is required when there is a change in the process, relevant legal changes, and where a cause for concern has
arisen. Reviews could be scheduled on an annual basis. If the risk assessment has substantially changed a new risk assessment is warranted.
Review date:
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
Review date:
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
Review date:
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
Review date:
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
Review date:
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
Documentation
It is a requirement that legal and advisory documentation that supports this risk assessment be listed. Such documentation includes Acts, Regulations, Australian Standards and Codes of Practice,
where applicable.

Liquid nitrogen MSDS from supplier

AS 1894 1997 – The storage and handling of non-flammable cryogenic and refrigerated liquids

OHS Regulation 2001
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Risk Assessment and Control Form
Date Effective: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6, 16/07/2008
UNSW Concise OHS Risk Rating Table
OHS697
What you need to do
1. Consider what can go wrong that can hurt someone
2. Determine what the most likely outcome would be - Consequences
3. Determine how likely those consequences are - Likelihood
4. Calculate the risk rating
5. Required action
How severely could someone be hurt
death or permanent disability to one or more persons
hospital admission required
medical treatment required
first aid required
injuries not requiring first aid
CONSEQUENCES:
Severe
Major
Moderate
Minor
Insignificant
How likely are those consequences?
expected to occur in most circumstances
will probably occur in most circumstances
could occur at some time
is not likely to occur in normal circumstances
may occur only in exceptional circumstances
LIKELIHOOD:
Almost certain
Likely
Possible
Unlikely
Rare
CONSEQUENCES
Insignificant
1
Minor
2
Moderate
3
Major
4
Severe
5
M
H
H
VH
VH
M
M
H
H
VH
Possible
C
L
M
H
H
VH
Unlikely
D
L
L
M
M
H
Rare
E
L
L
M
M
M
LIKELIHOOD
Almost
certain
A
Likely
B
Risk level
Very high
High
Medium
Low
Required action
Act immediately:
The proposed task or process activity must not proceed. Steps must be taken to lower the risk level to as
low as reasonably practicable using the hierarchy of risk controls.
Act today:
The proposed activity can only proceed, provided that:
(i) the risk level has been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable using the hierarchy of
risk controls;
(ii) the risk controls must include those identified in legislation, Australian Standards, Codes of
Practice etc.
(iii) the risk assessment has been reviewed and approved by the Supervisor and
(iv) a Safe Working Procedure or Safe Work Method has been prepared.
(v) The supervisor must review and document the effectiveness of the implemented risk
controls.
Act this week:
The proposed task or process can proceed, provided that:
(i) the risk level has been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable using the hierarchy of
risk controls;
(ii) the risk assessment has been reviewed and approved by the Supervisor and
(iii) a Safe Working Procedure or Safe Work Method has been prepared.
Act this month:
Managed by local documented routine procedures which must include application of the hierarchy of
controls.
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Page 5 of 5
UNSW Concise OHS Risk Rating Table
Effective date: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6,16/07/2008