OHS026
Safe Work Procedure
Faculty/Division
Medicine
Document number
TBA
School/ Divisional Unit
Prince of Wales Clinical School
Initial Issue date
February 2011
Current version
3
Current Version
Issue date
Nov 2011
Next review date
February 2014
The Writing Safe Work Procedures Guideline (OHS027) should be consulted to assist in the completion of this
form.
Safe Work Procedure Title and basic description
Title: Handling cytotoxic compounds and treated animals: cisplatin for intraperitoneal injection into
rodents
Description:
Associated risk assessment title and location: 19_RA_Handling cytotoxic compounds_TB
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Safe Work Procedure
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Describe the activity or process
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Cisplatin is a cytotoxic substance but cisplatin is rapidly metabolized and, in small animals total doses are
substantially lower than in humans (eg 1-2 mg per rat vs 50 to 200mg per human) and concentrations of the
substance within wastes of exposed animals is likely to be low (eg blood 2-3microg/kg (Cone 1985). Nevertheless it,
and wastes from exposed animals must be handled with caution. The experimental operator must wear personal
protective equipment (see below) when handling these compounds, injecting animals and handling wastes from
animals exposed to this substance. A cytotoxic spill kit should be immediately available during these exposures or
during transport.
Storage of Cisplatin
1. To be stored RT in designated locked room
2. MSDS to be available
Withdrawal of cisplatin
1. Is to occur in fume hood.
2. PPE is to be worn, cytotoxic spill kits are to be available, waste and sharps containers must be available to
contain waste.
3. Prepare labels for syringes (animal number, drug, dose, concentration, volume and vehicle/diluents, date and
time). Ensure volume to be drawn/injected is appropriate for the animal/weight.
4. Take a 1mg/mL ampoule tube from the storage area and fill in the log sheet In a fume hood and use a non-sharp
wide bore needle to minimize aerosol, drawing the correct volume of cisplatin into each syringe.
5. Label syringes appropriately with prepared label.
6. Transfer to the inside container and place within the transport container. Samples should be prepared for
immediate transport to and use within the animal handling facility.
Injecting into animals.
1. PPE is to be worn.
2. Ensure cytotoxic waste and sharps container, spill kit, cages, restraining hoods, alcohol wipes, prepared syringes
and spare PPE, are within easy reach.
3. Work within dedicated area and limiting access to required personnel only.
4. Place rats into restraining hoods and using aseptic technique, Inject cisplatin into peritoneal cavity.
5. Any animals inadvertently contaminated should be washed, aiming to minimize aerosol
6. Replace rats into cages marked “Receiving Cytotoxic Drug Therapy”
Handling animal wastes from exposed animals.
i)
Animal cages and door labels are to be marked “Receiving Cytotoxic Drug Therapy”.
ii)
MSDS should be available.
iii)
Standard and metabolic cages are to be kept in dedicated area, including during bedding
changes. During this period PPE should be worn and traffic into this area should be minimized.
iv)
Animal waste is to be treated as cytotoxic for one week following cisplatin. Bedding should be
discarded minimum one week following the date of injection.
v)
At all times urine faeces, vomitus and runoff from washing can be placed into standard sewerage. If this
is not feasible, waste generated in the first week following injection can be placed into cytotoxic waste
bags and marked for appropriate disposal. Exposed equipment should be washed immediately using
strong alkaline detergent with pH>10 and PPE worn.
vi)
Animals euthanased within one week of injection are to be double bagged (cytotoxic waste bag)
and placed in bunting container for freezing. These will be disposed of in cytotoxic waste
stream.
vii)
Review and caging of animals after hours and weekends poses dangers from isolation. These
relate to fire and other emergencies and provision of first aid in the event of scratches or bites,
etc. Investigators must not participate in unauthorised activities.
Cleaning of plastic metabolic cages
i)
PPE is to be worn. Standard washing gloves can be worn over nitrile or double latex gloves if
desired.
ii)
Cages should be washed before each subsequent experimental sample.
iii)
Deconstruct cages to allow each component to be cleaned effectively.
iv)
Wash in copious warm water, using dedicated nylon brush or scourer to remove stubborn debris
(eg faeces), then rinse in copious warm water debris. Note prolonged exposure to hot water will
warp plastics. Plastic components of metabolic cages should not be autoclaved.
v)
Allow metabolic cage components to completely air dry on dedicated and marked racks, in
dedicated area before next use.
vi)
Rinse sink in copious warm water.
vii)
Mop pathway to sink and drying racks, and sink surrounds using dedicated disposable mop
head.
viii)
Store washing brush, gloves, mops in dedicated area to prevent general use. Dispose in
cytotoxic waste stream when expired.
ix)
When metabolic cages completely dry they can be reconstructed for use.
x)
Before removing freezer cubes from dedicated area, experimenters should don new, clean PPE.
Freezer cubes should be then immediately wiped with new, clean disposable toweling to remove
condensate before transfer to freezer.
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Collecting diagnostic samples
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i)
standard PPE should be worn
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Safe
WorktoProcedure
ii) blood
be collected using standard tail vein methods
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ii)
euthanasia
sample collection performed in labelled, designated area
iii)
Blood and urine samples to be labeled and double contained. .Carry on blue ice.
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List all resources required including plant,
chemicals, personal protective clothing and
equipment, etc
Personal Protective Equiment (PPE)

i) impermeable disposable long sleeve gown or ii) long sleeve laboratory gowns with disposable sleeves to
prevent spill contamination (suitable if working in biological safety cabinet,

safety goggles

mask (P2 type), disposable

gloves (nitrile or double latex glove)

booties (in cytotoxic spill kit if unconstrained spill)
Cytotoxic spill kit (order no.)
i)
for transport and handling
ii)
at animal handling facility
includes












gown
overboots (booties)
mask
eyewear
hairnet
gloves x 4
signs
pads/ cloths
alginate bag
water and neutral detergent
scoop/scraper
cytotoxic waste bags
Transport container (labeled outer container enclosing inner container)
Cytotoxic waste disposal bag
Reagents and equipment:
Cisplatin withdrawal

safety room?

Cisplatin (solution)

Normal saline for injection

3mL syringe

sharps container (for ampoule, drawing needle)
Injection

prepared cispatin filled syringes (1mg/mL) and needles for injection (25g)

restraint hoods

alcohol wipes

cytotoxic waste bag and sharps container
Cleaning of animal facilities
Purpose dedicated equipment
Detergent: pH>10
Cleaning of Metabolic cages
Purpose dedicated washing gloves, brush, and drying racks
Spill management
Spillage of cisplatin or wastes form exposed animals should be regarded as cytotoxic spills. The cytotoxic spill kit
should be employed using contained PPE. If a mop is required to complete clean-up a disposable head should be
employed and disposed into cytotoxic waste bags.
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List potential hazards and risk controls including
specific precautions required
Safe storage of cisplatin.
Appropriate area and signage (help)
Spill of cisplatin or wastes from exposed animals
Eye contact: immediately flush eyes with running water for 15 minutes. SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE
Skin contact: wash with soap and water. SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE
Ingestion: do NOT induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel
This should go on door/wall

-
List emergency shutdown instructions
Chemical spill


During transport: or animal handling facility Employ cytotoxic kit as above.
Within laboratory: inform laboratory supervisor and subsequently employ spill management
procedures
List clean up and waste disposal requirements



% ? Ethanol and wipe-down all used surfaces.
All disposables in contact with cisplatin or waste products (i.e. pipette tips, pipettes, plates, eppendorfs,
kimwipes, etc.) must be disposed of in cytotoxic waste containment.
Animal Handling Facility Safe Work Practices apply. Wash hands before leaving the animal handling facility
facility.
List legislation, standards and codes of practice used
in the development of the SWP
(Input welcomed)
NSW OHS Act 2000
NSW OHS Regulation 2001
Australia Dangerous Goods Code
Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances
AS/NZS 2243.2:2006. Safety in laboratories. Part 2: Chemical aspects
AS/NZS 2161.1:2000 Occupational Protective Gloves – Selection, Use and Maintenance
AS/NZS 1336:1997 Recommended Practices for Occupational Eye Protection
UNSW Laboratory Hazardous Waste Disposal Procedure (OHS321)
Safe Work Procedure Form (OHS026)
Handling Cytotoxic Drugs and Related Waste: NSW Standard Operating Procedures: Draft December 2006
Additional Reference
(1) Cone NV et al; National Body-Burden Database Chemicals Identified in Human Biological Media, USEPA-560/584-003, Vol 7 Part 1 NTIS DE 86004687, Springfield, VA (1986)] **PEER REVIEWED**
Supervisory approval, training, and review
Supervisor: P Peake
Signature:
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Plant custodian:
Signature
List competency required – qualifications, certificates, licencing, training - eg course or instruction:
Training as per Training Needs Analysis, Induction to Lab, Training on this SWP
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