Health and Safety Risk management form
Faculty/Division: Science
School/Unit: School
Initial Issue date 09/09/2013
Document number
Risk Assessment name
Current version
2
of Biological Sciences
Current Version
Issue date
Next review date 10/09/2016
10/09/2013
Glasshouse use
Form completed by
Anne-Laure Markovina
Signature
Date
Responsible supervisor/ authorising officer
Michael Joseph
Signature
Date
Identify the activity and the location of the activity
Identify who may be at risk from the activity:
Description
of activity
Glasshouse work includes the following risks: lifting heavy materials (plants,
pots), tripping, slipping, heat induced conditions, use of secateurs and
exposure to pesticides
This may include fellow workers, visitors, contractors and the public. The types of people may
affect the risk controls needed and the location may affect the number of people at risk
Description
of location
Teaching glasshouses (A13A, A13C, A13D & A13E) are located at the rear
of the Macleay bldg. (A12); the Bosch glasshouse (D16) is located at the
rear of the Bosch bldg.1A (D04) and the First Year Biology glasshouse is
located on the roof of the Carslaw bldg. (F07)
Persons at risk
Undergraduate and postgraduate students, research
and staff
How they were
consulted on the risk
Technical staff is responsible for assessing risk and
updating risk assessments before a task is undertaken.
Technical staff advises supervising and academic staff
of potential risk before practical class. Academics in
charge inform demonstrators and students about the
risks. Up to date risk assessments are posted on the
School’s website and are displayed in the class on the
day of the practical
List legislation, standards, codes of practice, manufacturer’s guidance etc used to determine control measures necessary
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011
Technical instruction in Laboratory Manuals and BlackBoard on-line system – updated annually
Manual Handling Guidelines http://sydney.edu.au/whs/guidelines/manual_handling/index.shtml
Slips, Trips and Falls guidelines http://sydney.edu.au/whs/guidelines/others/slips_trips_falls.shtml
Pesticide Application http://sydney.edu.au/whs/guidelines/chemical/pesticid.shtml
Supplier SDS for pesticides.
Consider the hierarchy of hazard control and record what controls will be used in the short term and longer term
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Elimination
Not possible Eliminate the hazard or task if the risk outweighs the potential benefits.
Substitution
Not possible Substitute the hazard with something less hazardous e.g. less toxic substance.
Isolation
Possible
Isolate the hazard by using barriers or distance.
Engineering
Possible
Look for physical design solutions, controls, safety lockouts or automation to reduce or eliminate risks.
Minimise
Possible
Minimise the size or volume of the hazard or time of exposure to the hazard.
Rearrange Workflow Possible
Rearrange activities to minimise lifting/handling/overuse injuries
Administrative
Possible
Establish Safe Work Practices e.g. restrict access, have Safe Work Practice documentation and procedures for hazardous tasks.
Training and Supervision
Possible Provide training and supervision appropriate to level of expertise of the person(s) involved. Record training in SWP.
Personal Protective Equipment Possible Use only as a secondary measure to supplement other risk controls e.g. gloves, lab coats, safety glasses.
Identify hazards and control the risks.
1. An activity may be divided into tasks. For each task identify the hazards and associated risks. Also list the possible scenarios which could sooner or later cause harm.
2. Determine controls necessary based on legislation, codes of practice, Australian standards, manufacturer’s instructions etc.
3. List existing risk controls and any additional controls that need to be implemented
Task or
Hazard
Associated harm
Existing risk controls
Scenario
Current
risk
Any additional controls required?
Residual
risk
Bend your knees to lift large
plants Hold loads close to the body.
Store loads close to where
they will be used and try to store heavy
items near waist height.
Carrying
plants/pots to
glasshouse
Lifting heavy
weights
Sprain & strain
Trolleys are used to transport heavy
materials to and from the
glasshouses
Medium
to high
Don’t lift, push or pull anything
too heavy – break the load down into
smaller lots.
Medium
Use mechanical aids such as
a trolley or get help when lifting heavy
loads.
Don’t lift heavy items while you're
sitting down
Watering
Tripping over
hose and
slipping on wet
floor
Working in
glasshouse for
extended periods
Heat induced
conditions
Cuts & abrasions
Staff wear non slip shoes and put hose
away after use
Medium
Glasshouse floors are
professionally cleaned once or
twice a year or as required.
Low
Heatstroke and heat
exhaustion
Take regular breaks, let other staff
members that you are working in the
glasshouse
Medium
Avoid dehydration by regularly
moving out of glasshouse and
drinking water
Low
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Task or
Hazard
Associated harm
Existing risk controls
Scenario
Pruning plants
Using secateurs
Spraying plants
with pesticides
(white oil)
considered nonhazardous
substance
Exposure to
non-hazardous
chemicals by
inhalation or
skin adsorption
Spraying plants
with pesticides
considered
hazardous
substance
Exposure to
hazardous
chemicals
Cuts to fingers
Staff wear thick gloves appropriate to
the task at hand. Sharper plant
material may require leather gloves.
Not known so
prevention of exposure
is the aim
Various
Current
risk
Any additional controls required?
Residual
risk
Low
None
Low
Read material data sheet for pesticides
being used.
Follow SWP for the pesticides being
used.
Staff wear appropriate PPE:
Rubber gloves, long sleeves & long
pants, gumboots, goggles, PVC apron,
type A – class 1 respirator
Low
The pest controller is to prominently
display a notice at all entrances to
the treatment area i.e. "Warning:
pesticides being applied in this
area".
Low
Elimination
High
Hazardous pesticide spraying not
allowed without a separate risk
assessment, training etc.
Low
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List emergency procedures and controls
List emergency controls for how to deal with fires, spills or exposure to hazardous substances and/or emergency shutdown procedures
Sprains & strains
 Rest patient and injured part
 Apply ICEPACK (cold compress) wrapped in a wet cloth to the injury for 15 minutes every 2 hours for 24 hours, then for 15 minutes every 4 hours for 24 hours
 Apply COMPRESSION elastic bandage firmly to extend well beyond the injury
 Elevate injured part
Cuts & abrasions
 Control bleeding
 Clean wound and apply dressing
 Seek medical aid if necessary
Heat exhaustion
 Lie patient down in cool area
 Loosen tight clothing
 Sponge with cool water
 Give water to drink if conscious
 If patient vomits, seek medical aid
Heatstroke
 Apply cold packs to groin, armpits & neck
 Cover patient with wet sheet
 Ensure an ambulance has been called (dial 000)
 Give water to drink if conscious
 If patient has a seizure or becomes unconscious, seek medical aid
Chemical poisoning
If patient is unconscious:
 Ensure an ambulance has been called (dial 000)
If patient is conscious:
 Give patient reassurance
 Determine type of poison taken
 Call 13 11 26 for Poison Information Centre
 Send vomit sample (if available) to hospital
http://www.stjohn.org.au/images/stjohn/information/fact_sheets/FS_sprains.pdf
http://www.stjohn.org.au/images/stjohn/information/fact_sheets/FS_bleeding.pdf
http://www.stjohn.org.au/images/stjohn/information/fact_sheets/FS_heat.pdf
http://www.stjohn.org.au/images/stjohn/information/fact_sheets/FS_poison.pdf
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011
Laboratory Safety Guidelines http://sydney.edu.au/whs/guidelines/others/laboratory_safety.shtml
Technical instruction in Laboratory Manuals and BlackBoard on-line system – updated annually
Implementation
Additional control measures needed:
None
Resources required
Responsible person
Date of implementation
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REVIEW
Scheduled review date:
Are all control measures in place?
12 months
2 years
3 years
Are controls eliminating or minimising the risk?
Are there any new problems with the risk?
Review by: (name)
Review date:
Acknowledgement of Understanding
All persons performing these tasks must sign that they have read and understood the risk management.
Note: for activities which are low risk or include a large group of people (e.g. open days, BBQ’s, student classes etc), only the persons undertaking the key activities need to sign below. For all others involved in such
activities, the information can be covered by other methods including for example a safety briefing, induction, and/or safety information sheet (ensure the method of communicating this information is specified here)
Risk management name and version number:
Name
V2
I have read and understand this risk management form
Signature
Date
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