See Instructions in EMV´s HMS-page
Risk Assessment of
Coomassie Blue Staining
Department
Group
Date
EMV
Muscle Biology
2013-05-13
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Tasks included in the risk assessment
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Prepare solutions
Handle polyacrylamide gels
Precipitate protein from gel with fixing solution
Cover gel with Coomassie staining solution
Rinse gel with fixing solution
Cover gel with methanol/acetic acid destaining solution
Sample preparation is not included in this risk assessment.
For SDS-PAGE see separate risk assessment: SDS-PAGE according to the standard Laemmli gel method.
Included chemicals, mixtures and solutions
Chemical, mixture or solution
CAS Number
Amount
Fixing solution for Coomassie blue and silver staining,
50% methanol and 10% acetic acid
500 ml
Methanol
250 ml
67-56-1
Indication of danger (hazard statement and limit value)
H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
H301 Toxic if swallowed.
H311 Toxic in contact with skin.
H331 Toxic if inhaled.
H370 Causes damage to organs
Level limit value
Ceiling limit
value
Short-term value
Total
dust
Respirable
dust
[ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [mg/m3] [mg/m3]
200
250
250
350
Remark H: Skin penetrating substance according to The Swedish Work Environment Authority's
provisions and on occupational exposure limit values, AFS 2011:18
Chemical, mixture or solution
CAS Number
Amount
Indication of danger (hazard statement and limit value)
Acetic acid, conc
64-19-7
50 ml
H226 Flammable liquid and vapour.
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Level limit value
Ceiling limit
value
Short-term value
Total
dust
Respirable
dust
[ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [mg/m3] [mg/m3]
5
13
10
Coomassie blue staining solution, 50% methanol,
0,05% Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 and 10% acetic acid
500 ml
Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250
6104-59-2
0.25 g
Not classified
Methanol
67-56-1
250 ml
H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
H301 Toxic if swallowed.
H311 Toxic in contact with skin.
H331 Toxic if inhaled.
H370 Causes damage to organs
Level limit value
Ceiling limit
value
25
Short-term value
Total
dust
Respirable
dust
[ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [mg/m3] [mg/m3]
200
250
250
350
Remark H: Skin penetrating substance according to The Swedish Work Environment Authority's
provisions and on occupational exposure limit values, AFS 2011:18
Acetic acid, conc
64-19-7
50 ml
H226 Flammable liquid and vapour.
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Level limit value
Ceiling limit
value
Short-term value
Total
dust
Respirable
dust
[ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [mg/m3] [mg/m3]
5
Methanol/acetic acid destaining solution,
5% methanol and 7% acetic acid
500 ml
13
10
25
Chemical, mixture or solution
CAS Number
Amount
Indication of danger (hazard statement and limit value)
Methanol
67-56-1
25 ml
H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
H301 Toxic if swallowed.
H311 Toxic in contact with skin.
H331 Toxic if inhaled.
H370 Causes damage to organs
Level limit value
Ceiling limit
value
Short-term value
Total
dust
Respirable
dust
[ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [mg/m3] [mg/m3]
200
250
250
350
Remark H: Skin penetrating substance according to The Swedish Work Environment Authority's
provisions and on occupational exposure limit values, AFS 2011:18
Acetic acid, conc
64-19-7
35 ml
H226 Flammable liquid and vapour.
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Level limit value
Ceiling limit
value
Short-term value
Total
dust
Respirable
dust
[ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [ppm] [mg/m3] [mg/m3] [mg/m3]
5
13
10
25
Identification of risks of accident or ill-health, assessment of risks and suggestion of preventive measures
Task
Prepare solutions
Identified risk/problem
Potential for exposure via
inhalation and direct contact
with eyes and skin.
Potential for exposure to
highly corrosive vapours, and
for direct contact of corrosive
solution with eyes and skin
Potential fire hazard
Assessment of risk, see risk matrix
Consequence
Probability
Serious
Possible
Preventive measures
Estimated
risk after
preventive
measure
Use labcoat, safety goggles and disposable nitrile gloves.
Work in fume hood or on ventilated bench with Plexiglas
hood. Write in handling and safety instruction.
The limit values for methanol and acetic acid are not exceeded
at any occasion.
All staff participate in mandatory fire training every 5 years..
Labs are equipped with fire extinguishers.
Low risk
Assessed
Risk
Very high
risk
Task
Identified risk/problem
Assessment of risk, see risk matrix
Consequence
Probability
Preventive measures
Estimated
risk after
preventive
measure
Assessed
Risk
Handle acrylamide gels
Small amount of
unpolymerised acrylamide
potential for exposure via
direct contact with skin.
Serious
Possible
Very high
risk
Use labcoat, safety goggles and double, disposable nitrile
gloves. Work in fume hood or on ventilated bench with
Plexiglas hood. Write in handling and safety instruction.
Low risk
Precipitate protein from gel
by cover with fixing solution
Potential for exposure via
inhalation and direct contact
with eyes and skin.
Potential fire hazard.
Serious
Possible
Very high
risk
Use labcoat, safety goggles and disposable nitrile gloves.
Work in fume hood or on ventilated bench with Plexiglas
hood. Write in handling and safety instruction.
The limit values for methanol and acetic acid are not exceeded
at any occasion.
All staff participate in mandatory fire training every 5 years..
Labs are equipped with fire extinguishers.
Low risk
Stain gel by cover with
Coomassie staining solution
Potential for exposure via
inhalation and direct contact
with eyes and skin.
Potential fire hazard.
Serious
Possible
Very high
risk
Use labcoat, safety goggles and disposable nitrile gloves.
Change gloves frequently, especially if you suspect
contamination. Remove gloves carefully without touching
skin.
Work in fume hood. Write in handling and safety instruction.
The limit values for acetic acid is not exceeded at any
occasion.
All staff participate in mandatory fire training every 5 years..
Labs are equipped with fire extinguishers.
Low risk
Rinse gel with fixing solution
Potential for exposure via
inhalation and direct contact
with eyes and skin.
Potential fire hazard.
Serious
Possible
Very high
risk
Use labcoat, safety goggles and disposable nitrile gloves.
Work in fume hood or on ventilated bench with Plexiglas
hood. Write in handling and safety instruction.
The limit values for methanol and acetic acid are not exceeded
at any occasion.
All staff participate in mandatory fire training every 5 years..
Labs are equipped with fire extinguishers.
Low risk
Task
Identified risk/problem
Assessment of risk, see risk matrix
Consequence
Probability
Preventive measures
Estimated
risk after
preventive
measure
Assessed
Risk
Destain gel by cover with
destaining solution
Potential for exposure via
inhalation and direct contact
with eyes and skin.
Potential fire hazard.
Serious
Possible
Very high
risk
Use labcoat, safety goggles and disposable nitrile gloves.
Work in fume hood or on ventilated bench with Plexiglas
hood. Write in handling and safety instruction.
The limit values for methanol and acetic acid are not exceeded
at any occasion.
All staff participate in mandatory fire training every 5 years..
Labs are equipped with fire extinguishers.
Low risk
Clean and take care of waste
Potential for exposure via
inhalation and direct contact
with eyes and skin
Potential fire hazard.
Potential environmental risk.
Serious
Possible
Very high
risk
Same personal protective equipment as during the task
Dispose of as chemical waste.
Low risk
At power failure or
evacuation
Fumes evaporate to lab.
Potential for exposure via
inhalation.
Potential fire hazard.
Serious
Possible
Very high
risk
Close containers and close fume hood. Write in handling and
safety instruction.
Low risk
Cleaners
Potential for exposure via
direct contact with eyes and
skin.
Serious
Possible
Moderate
risk
Before sending glass ware to be washed it must be properly
rinsed. Write in handling and safety instruction.
Cleaning must only be performed in free areas and cleaners
must not wipe spill. Write in instruction for cleaners.
Low risk
Have hazardous tasks been defined and rules for working alone been considered?
Yes
Have risks during power/water failure etc or because of evacuation been considered?
Yes
Do you have preparedness in case of spillage, eg first aid, absorption material?
Yes, a spillage kit will be available in the chemical storage room
Do you have a written handling and safety instruction for this work?
Yes
Do you have a written instruction for cleaners and other maintenance personal?
Task in the Improvement plan for EMV 2013
References
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Protocol for Coomassie Blue Staining
SDS for all chemicals
LU´s Handling Regulations for Management of hazardous waste
EMV:s HMS-webpage
Participants: Katarina Johansson and Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt
Reviewed by: Åsa Gustavson, Hans Hovenberg and Kristin Holmberg
Approved by Research Group Leader
Name in printing
Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt