SRC Equipment Risk Assessment 2013
Hazard Identification
Equipment
Hazard
Risks
-80 Freezer
 Frostbite
 Laceration
 Fire
3D Printer
Ashing Furnace
Risk Evaluation
Severity
 Frost burns to
skin and eyes
Likelihood
Risk Controls
Risk
Level
Measures to reduce the risks posed by
hazards
( Lab coat and gloves must be worn at
all times when working in lab )
3
3
9
 Dry cold protection gloves must be worn
 Do not put glassware in the freezer
 Do not store flammable liquids in the
freezer
 The freezer is locked and is accessible
only to authorized lab staff.
3
2
6
 Wear gloves when working around
this area
 Wear gloves when using sharp tools
to remove support materials
 Wear safety goggles to prevent
flying plastic waste get into eyes
3
3
 Fire
 Extruder and
platform are hot
 Burns
 Sharp tools and
support material
 Hand Injury
 ABS plastic waste
 Eye Injury
 Hot surface or
materials
 Explosion by
overheating
 Burns
 Injuries
1
9
 Only to be operated by trained lab staff.
 Thermal gloves must be worn
 Tongs must be used when removing
materials from the furnace
 Do not exceed the max heating limit
 No flammable materials are allowed for
ashing
Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer
 Hazardous radiation
from flame/hollow
cathode/D2 lamp
 Acetylene explode
 Heat from burner head
 Eye damage
 Burns
 Gas leak
3
3
9
 Students must be guided by trained lab
staff
 Never directly view the flame/hollow
cathode/D2 lamp.
 Acetylene gas pressure should not
exceed 15psi
 Perform periodic gas leak test
 If removing burner head ,allow
sufficient time for the burner head to
cool
 Preventive maintenance should be done
yearly
Atomic Force
Microscope
 Laser Radiation
 Eye damage
3
3
9
 Do not stare into the beam or view
directly with optical instruments
(Magnifiers)
 Users must be guided by trained lab
staff
Autoclave
 Heat/Steam
 Contamination with
bio-hazardous
substances
 Explosion
 Burns
3
3
9
 Only to be operated by trained lab staff
 Thermal gloves must be worn
 The chamber lid must be properly closed
before operation.
 Never use autoclave for
explosive/combustible/oxidizing
/flammable substances.
 Daily maintenance is essential.
 Preventive maintenance should be done
annually
 Infections
 Eye/body
injuries
2
Biosafety Cabinet
 Exposure to UV light
 Exposure to
Microorganisms
 Burns
 Infections
3
3
9
 Users must be trained and strictly follow
safety laboratory practices
 Do not stand near when the UV is on.
 Turn off UV before use
 Do not use flammable/combustible/
explosive substances in the unit.
 Preventive maintenance should be done
annually
Bunsen burner
 Heat/Flame
 Gas leak
 Burns
 Fire
3
3
9
Centrifuge
 Samples leaks
 Aerosols,
chemicals and
microorganisms
contamination
 Machine
malfunction
 Eye/body
3
2
6
 Wear thermal gloves if necessary
 If gas is smelt, turn off tap and report
immediately
 Do not have or use
flammable/volatile/explosive substances
near the flame.
 Users must be trained
 Never fill the centrifuge tubes above the
max limit
 Never exceed the max speed
 Centrifuge tubes must be balanced
3
3
9
 Use appropriate protective
shield/mask ( depending on the test
substance) to prevent injury caused
by flying test substance.
 Users must be guided by trained lab
staff
3
3
9
 Always secure the workpiece on the vice
 Wear goggles
 Student must be guided by trained lab
staff
 Samples imbalance
Digital Force Gauge
Drilling Machine
 Flying test
substance
injuries
 Flying Chips
 Eye/body
injuries
3
Electrophoresis System
 Electric shock
 Short-circuiting
 Toxic chemicals used
 Injuries
 Protein gel is
toxic
3
2
6
 Polyacrylamide gel can only be casted
by trained lab staff or to purchase
commercially.
 Metal components should not be
touched.
 Electrodes must be connected to their
respective sockets.
 Student must be guided by trained lab
staff
Fractional
Distillation/Reflux
System/Rotary
Evaporator
 Release of evaporating
content
 Flask falling off or
cracking of glassware
 Inhalation of
toxic fume.
 Injuries
3
3
9
 Student must be guided by trained lab
staff
 Do not operate near flammable vapour
or exposed flame.
 To be done in fume hood with the front
door down
 Heating mantle is used instead of naked
flame.
 The equipment should not be left
unattended when the process is going
on.
 Greater care should be exercised when
handling ignitable or organic substances.
 Check setup before starting the process.
Fume Hood
 flammable liquids
 Fire/Explosion
 Exposure to
hazardous
substances
3
3
9
 Ignition sources to be kept out of fume
hood
 Containers of flammable liquids to be
kept sealed except during decanting.
 Preventive maintenance should be done
annually
 hazardous
fumes/substances
4
Gas Cylinder
(Flammable)
 Gas leak
 Falling Gas cylinder
Heating Mantle
 High temperature
 Fire
 Body injuries
3
3
9
 Store outside the laboratory and well
ventilated place
 Must always be firmly secured with
clamp and never left unsupported.
 No chemicals are allowed to store
together with the gas cylinders
 Proper pressure limits for the
compressed gas system must be
observed to prevent leaks and explosions
 Correct pressure regulator to be used
 Check gas leak regularly
 Always use smaller cylinder if possible
 Risk of burns
due to touching
hot surface
3
2
6
 Do not leave heating mantle switch on
when unattended.
 Do not place near
flammable/volatile/explosive
substances.
 Ensured the apparatus is electrically
checked on regularly.
3
2
6
 Student must be guided by trained lab
staff
 Do not touch metal parts of the setup
 Low risk of
electrocution
due to spillage
of water or
solvents on
heating mantle
High Voltage DC
Power Supply for
Electro-spinning
 High voltage
 Electric Shock
when the equipment is turned on
 Always discharge the load after each
operation
5
Homogenizer
 Contact with rotating
shaft, homogenizer
head
 Irritating noise
 High power
 Cuts/Injuries
 Elevated noise
affect hearing
 Exposure to
hazardous
materials
3
Hot Bead Sterilizers
 Heat
 Burns
2
2
4
 Metal ware must not be left too long in
the hot bead sterilizer.
Hot plate
 High temperature
 Risk of burns
due to touching
of hot plate
 Low risk of fire
due to ignition
of oil or
chemicals being
heated
 Low risk of
electrocution
due to spillage
of water or
solvents on hot
plate.
3
3
9
 Thermal gloves must be worn if
necessary
 Do not leave hot plate switch on when
unattended.
 Do not place the hot plate near
flammable/volatile/explosive
substances.
 Avoid heating oil bath or chemicals to
too high temp
 Ensured the apparatus is electrically
checked on regularly.
6
3
9
 Training in safe operation and guided
by trained lab staff
 Protected goggles must be worn.
 Chamber must be fully closed when in
use.
 Switch off when cleaning.
 Hearing protection is required for longer
time or higher speed.
 Reduce operation time and speed if
possible.
 Hazardous substances
including flammable,
irritant solvents used
and testing materials
 Exposure to
hazardous
substances
Incubator
 Heat
 Danger of fire with
low flash points
chemicals
Infrared Lamp
Laminar Flow
HPLC
3
3
9
 Student must be guided by trained staff
 Awareness of possible exposure to
hazardous substances
 No ignition sources or hot plate near the
equipment.
 Routine maintenance should be done
 Preventive maintenance should be done
annually
 Burns
 Fire
2
2
4
 Do not place incubator near
volatile/flammable/explosive substances
 Thermal gloves should be worn if the
temperature setting is above 45 deg C
 Heat
 Explosive if it contacts
with water as the lamp
tends to be very hot
when in use.
 Burns
 Injuries
3
3
9
 Do not allow contact with water and
place away from the water sources.
 Switches should turn off after use.
 Exposure to UV light
 Microorganisms
 Burns
 Infections
3
3
9
 Users must be trained and strictly follow
safety laboratory practices.
 Do not stand near the hood when UV
light is on
 Turn off UV light before removing the
front covers
 Do not use flammable/volatile/explosive
substances in the unit
 Daily maintenance by lab staff is
essential.
 Preventive maintenance should be done
annually
 Fire can occur
in the present of
ignition sources
7
Laser
 Laser Radiation
 Eye Damage
3
3
9
 Wear laser safety Eye goggles.
 Class 3b laser users to be guided by
licensed lab staff
 The laser apparatus when not in use
should be locked and is accessible only
to authorized lab staff.
Microscopes
 Exposure to
microorganisms
 Broken slides
 Infection
 Cuts
3
2
6
 Users must be trained
 When focusing at high power, only use
fine adjustment. Do not use coarse
adjustment, it may break the coverslips,
slides and lens and cause contaminations
and injuries
Microwave Oven
 Burns
 Leakage of Microwave
radiation
 Burns
 Pose hazard to
health
3
3
9
 Thermal gloves must be worn.
 Bottles/containers should not be closed
tightly.
 Seals to be checked regularly
 Stay at least an arm’s length away from
the front of an operating microwave
oven
Milling Machine
 Hazardous voltages
 Cutters
 Electric Shock
 Injuries
3
2
6
 Student must be guided by trained lab
staff
 Materials to be milled must be held
securely.
 Eye protection must be worn
 After switching off the machine, always
wait at least 5 minutes before removing
the rear cover to access the electrical
panel
8
Optical fibres
 Broken fibres pieces
are sharp and could
penetrate the skin
 Injuries
3
2
6
 Handle optical fibres as glass.
 Fibres should be disposed carefully and
not left lying on the bench.
Optical Tweezers
 Laser Radiation
 Eye Damage
3
3
9
Oven –Dry Heat
 High temp
 Burns
 Fire
3
3
9
 Wear laser safety Eye goggles.
 Student must be guided by trained lab
staff
 Wear thermal gloves when removing hot
items from the oven
 Never use oven to evaporate flammable
or combustible chemicals
 Do not place the oven near
volatile/flammable/explosive
substances.
Pump
 Electric shock
 Injuries
3
2
6
 Strictly follow the instructions.
 Lab staff guided is essential
Scalpels/Blades/Syringe
needles
 Sharp objects
 Cuts
 Puncture
3
3
9
 Lab staff supervision is essential
 To emphasize the danger of sharp
objects to students.
 Used sharps should not be bent or
broken, and must be disposed into sharp
waste container
 Syringe with needle is only allowed to
use when necessary and lab staff
supervision is required
 Issue to students only when necessary
 Only lab staff are accessible to the
storage box.
9
Scroll Saw
 Flying object
eg. sharp chip
Chuck key,
wrenches &
workpiece
 Eye/body
injuries
 Inhale dust
3
3
9
 Student must be guided by trained
lab staff
 Ensure the chuck keys and wrenches
are removed before operating the
machine
 Use clamps or vices to secure
workpiece
 Goggles and mask must be worn
Shaking Incubator
 Spilling of Chemicals
or Microorganisms
 Broken glass
 Chemicals or
microorganism
contamination
 Cuts
3
2
6
 Flasks or bottles should not be overfilled or over-tighten.
 Ensure the flasks or bottles are secured
 Place objects on the platform in a stable
condition
 Do not overload the shaker or exceed the
equipment’s specification.
Soldering irons
 Electric shock
 Heat from melted
component.
 Burns
 Injuries
3
3
Sonicator
 Vibration
 Hearing
impairment
3
2
6
Thermometer
 Mercury vaporized
from broken
thermometer.
 Broken pieces
 Toxic vapor
inhalation from
broken
thermometer
 Cuts
3
3
9
10
9
 Lab staff should ensure the equipment
and cables are maintained in good
conditions
 Suitable eye protection should be worn
 Students are not allowed to operate this
process
 Student must be guided by trained lab
staff
 Minimize sample sonication time
 Perform in fume hood if necessary
 Ear protection if needed
 All breakage, accidents and spillage
must be reported immediately to
teachers or lab staff.
 Follow mercury spillage SOP
UV-Vis
Spectrophotometer
 Exposure to
microorganisms
 Exposure to chemicals
 Exposure to UV
 Infection
3
2
6
 Users must be trained
 The lid must not be open during
operation
 May be hazard
to skin or eyes
 Burns
UV transilluminator
 UV radiation
 Harmful to eyes
 Skin burns
3
3
9
 Lab staff supervision is essential.
 Full face shield should be worn
 UV lamp must be off after use
Vacuum Concentrator
 Toxic or flammable
vapours
 Inhalation of
toxic vapours
 Fire if presence
of ignition
sources.
3
2
6
 The equipment must not be used to
evaporate low flash points substances.
 When evaporating flammable
liquids,volatile liquids or explosive
liquids , a cooling trap should be used to
ensure condensation and separation of
the vapour
 Student must be guided by trained lab
staff
Vacuum Oven
 Heat
 Broken glass
 Toxic volatile
substance
 Implosion
 Burns
 Cut
 Hazardous fume
evolved
 Intoxication
 Explosion
3
3
9
 Lab staff supervision is essential
 Thermal gloves must be worn
 Do not place or dry explosive,
flammable, corrosive and combustible
materials around or in the oven.
 Do not seal the glassware
 Door gasket will degrade at high temp
after some time, check frequently.
 Check Vacuum pump frequently
Vortex mixer
 Samples leak
 Exposure to
hazardous
substances
2
2
4
 Users are to ensured tubes sealed
properly
11
Water-Bath
 Electric shock
 Heat
 Injuries
 Scalding
2
2
4
 Fill the bath with water to the
recommended height.
 “HIGH TEMP, DO NOT TOUCH” sign
should be displayed if the temperature
setting is higher than 60 deg C.
 Off the water-bath if not in use.
 Emergency procedures and first aid kit must be in place.
 Lab users to be aware of where nearest firefighting equipment is located & emergency phone number.
Experiment Risk Assessment
Equipment Chemicals
and Processes
1. Experiments
assessment
Possible
hazardous
 Risks of operating
equipment
2. Use of biohazardous
substances
 Exposure to
infectious
substances
 Acute or chronic
Infections
Risk
Level
Measures to reduce the risks posed by hazards
 Lab coat and gloves must be worn at all times when working in lab
 To modify the experimental procedure if higher risk is involved.
 Students must read and understand the safety rules before doing experiment
 All students users must be trained before commencing of their experiments.
 Proper operation of equipment should be followed.
 Users must always follow safety regulations strictly
 Lab coat and gloves must be worn at all times when working in lab
 Restrict work to the BSL-1 microorganisms. Tissues, blood or body fluids
from human or vertebrates are not allowed to use.
 Microorganisms of unknown pathogenicity or from unknown sources must
not be used
 All used apparatus contaminated with microorganisms and culture media
must be autoclaved after the experiment
 Students must be trained ,strictly follow safety laboratory practices and
guided by trained lab staff
 Associated signs use to demonstrate hazards.
 Work to be done in biosafety cabinet
 Washing of hands after process is completed
 Disposal as per Laboratory Safety Manual.
12
3. Use of Hazardous
chemicals
 Exposure to
hazardous
chemicals
 Acute or chronic
Health effects
from chemical
exposures
 Lab coat and gloves must be worn at all times when working in lab
 Assessment prior to use if this chemical must be used or if a less dangerous
chemical can be substituted.
 Students must be trained and strictly follow safety laboratory practices
 MSDS must be accessed prior to usage
 Associated signs use to demonstrate hazards.
 Prepare chemicals in the appropriate work station e.g. fume hood
 Washing of hands after process is completed
 Disposal as per Laboratory Safety Manual
Prepared by : Lim Cheng Fui ( Senior Manager of SRC)
Vetted and Approved by : Mrs Sow-Peh Yoke Keow (PC of Chemistry Research)
Dr Yip Cheng Wai (Senior Consultant of Biology & Research)
Updated on : 5th March 2013
13
14