2015/2016
FACULTY OF COMPUTING, ENGINEERING & SCIENCES – SCHOOL OF SCIENCES RISK
ASSESSMENT FORM
Procedure:




Academics complete Risk Assessment for all practical classes/activities, Technical team for
all support aspects and forward to Faculty Health & Safety Advisor, this is then reviewed on
an annual basis
Experimenters complete Risk Assessment in consultation with project advisor and technical
staff as appropriate
No laboratory work is to commence without a suitable and sufficient risk assessment being
signed off by the Faculty Health & Safety advisor or for experimenters by the project advisor
and Faculty Health & Safety Advisor/nominated individual
Experimenters to keep copies of Risk Assessments when working in the laboratories
Notes:


The risk assessment must be reviewed when any changes are made to the equipment,
materials, procedure or personnel
Technical staff can stop experimental work if no risk assessment is in place, or if, in their
opinion, there is a risk to safety
□ Biology
□
Forensics & Crime Science □ Geography
Student: Name & email address:
Ref No: SOP 27
Project advisor:
STAFF: Mishele Barrigas
Ethical consideration: N/A
Date submitted/passed
Title of project/module (include module number):
General Standard of Practice/ Research Purposes ONLY
Description of experimental procedure/practical session:
Amplification and Processing of Human DNA Samples for Genetic Analysis
using the NGM SElect™ PCR Amplification Kit (Life Technologies).
A mix containing NGM primer set and NGM Mastermix to be prepared for all
samples to be amplified, 7.5 µl distributed into PCR tubes along with 5 µl of DNA,
Loaded into a thermal cycler and run using the set cycling parameters.
Post amplification - samples are processed using a mixture of Hidi formamide and
LIZ size standard mix followed by a 3 minute incubation at 95oC and a 3 minute cold
treatment (on ICE). Samples are then transferred to a 3500 96-well plate and plate
briefly centrifuged before either storing at -20oC or loaded onto the 3500 genetic
analyser.
Hazards inherent in the work, record details and
possibility of risk/harm:
(Equipment, procedures, invertebrate work, body
fluid sampling etc.)
Record precautions which will be taken:
(e.g. Any standard operating procedures to
follow, SAF codes, faculty policies)
Electrical Hazards: Microfuge, vortex,
thermal cycler, heating block.
All equipment will be checked prior to
use to ensure electrical testing has
taken place and that no loose or
exposed wires are visible.
Possible personal harm from reagents. Hidi
Formamide is toxic
All reagents are used in very small
volumes. Caution when handling Hidi
Formamide - gloves always worn and
small volumes used. All other reagents
used in these processes are listed as
“Non-hazardous”.
All processes, and their hazards, leading
up to this procedure.
See SOP 11, SOP 14.
For the preparation and running of the
3500, and associated hazards – SPECIALLY
TRAINED STAFF ONLY.
See SOP 9.
COSSH assessment (harmful substances)
Minimum handling precautions
Hazardous to the
Aquatic Environment
(W)
Acute Toxicity (T+)
Gases Under
Pressure (G)
Fume cupboard (F)
Safety glasses (SG)
Microbiological cabinet (Cab)
Laminar flow cabinets (LF)
Gloves (GL)
Face mask (M)
Respirator (R)
Other
All INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND WITHIN
MSDS (MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS)
ON THE INTERNET, SCIENCES CHEMICAL
DATABASE ON-LINE OR WITHIN EACH OF
THE LABORATORIES
Corrosive (C)
Caution (H, I)
Explosive (E)
Flammable (F)
Longer Term Health
Hazards (M)
Oxidising (O)
Chemicals involved
(including Products):
COSHH information
as above:
Minimum handling
precautions:
NGM SElect Mastermix
-
Gl
Quantity to be
used: ml/g/%
solution/M
PER REACTION
5 µl
2
NGM Select Primer set
Allelic ladder
LIZ size standard
PCR Water
Microorganisms:
Classification:
Gl
2.5 µl
Gl
1 µl
Gl
0.5 µl
Gl
5 µl
Minimum handling precautions:
Other Materials:
Hazards:
Minimum handling
precautions:
007 control DNA
Sample DNA
-
Gl
Gl
Quantity to be
used:
PER REACTION
-
5 µl
5 µl
Do any of the above substances have a workplace
exposure limit (WEL) please state value and
precautions:
No
Disposal information (How will all reactants/products be disposed of?)

All waste volumes are minimal and can to be disposed of, contained within
either 0.2ml, 1.5mlor 96 well plates, in the waste hazard bags and autoclaved
before disposal.

Hidi formamide waste, however small, is to be stored as hazardous waste until
collection by a chemical disposal company.
Have you checked all materials used are not hazardous to the environment? YES
Any special conditions specified as part of the permission to carry out the work/procedure and
actions needed to minimise risk e.g. adherence to HTA or body fluid policy 1.52, completion of
fieldwork risk assessment etc.
Project advisor/Academic comments:
(Any disability issues to be aware of?)
Staff/Project advisor- What level of risk do you assign with this work?
High
Medium
Low
Date: 16 November. 2015
Faculty H&S approval: Audra Jones
Date: 17.11.2015
Date of Review
3
4