OHS017
OHS Risk Assessment and
Control Form
Risk assessment completed by: P Peake
Faculty/Division: Medicine
Document number
TBA
School/Unit: Prince of Wales Clinical School
Initial Issue date
6.5.13
Current version
1.0
Current Version
Issue date
6.5.13
Next review date
-2016
For additional information refer to the OHS Risk Assessment and Control Procedure, the OHS Risk Rating Procedure and the Hierarchy of Risk Controls.
Risk Assessment title: Handling and injecting colchicine into rodents
Step 1: Identify the activity
IMPORTANT: colchicine is used therapeutically to treat gout at 0.5 to 1 mg per dose. Rats will receive up to ~ 5 mg in total. The
concentrated substance is toxic to blood, kidneys, lungs, the nervous system, the reproductive system, liver, and mucous
membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated exposure of the eyes
to a low level of dust can produce eye irritation. Repeated skin exposure can produce local skin destruction, or dermatitis. Wastes
including faeces and urine from exposed animals must be handled with caution. The experimental operator must wear personal
protective equipment (impermeable disposable lab gown or laboratory gowns with disposable sleeves, gloves (nitrile or double latex
gloving), masks when handling these compounds, injecting animals and handling wastes from animals exposed to this substance.
It is rapidly metabolized and sequestered in tissues, so that concentrations in urine and faeces in exposed animals are likely to be
small.
i) Transport of compounds between departments (pharmacy, laboratory, animal handling facility)
ii) Preparing compounds.
iii) Injection/gavage into animals.
iv) Handling of animal waste from exposed animals.
v) Processing diagnostic urine samples and blood samples from exposed animals.
v) Spill management
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Risk Assessment and Control Form
Date Effective: 6.3.13
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Describe the location: Wallace Wurth Building, Level 6
Step 2: Identify who may be at risk by the activity
A number of people may be at risk from any activity. This may affect the risk controls needed. These people may include fellow workers, visitors, contractors and the public. The location of the activity
may affect the number of people at risk.
Experimental operator: Staff member, student
Other laboratory staff/students
Animal handling facility members
Visitor/contractor
Bystanders to spills
Steps 3 to 7: Identify the hazards, risks, and rate the risks
1. An activity may be divided into tasks. For each task identify the hazards and associated risks.
2. List existing risk controls and determine a risk rating using the UNSW Risk Rating Procedure.
3. Additional risk controls may be required to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Re-rate the risk if additional risk controls used.
Tasks
Hazards
Associated risks
(Step 3)
(Step 4)
Risk rating with existing
controls *
Additional risk controls
required
Risk Rating with
additional controls *
(Step 5)
(Step 6)
(Step 7)
Existing risk controls
C
Preparing/ injecting
solution
colchicine
Ingestion, skin
or eye contact;
inadvertent
injection
PPE; Preparation/ injection within
fume hood; use sharps
containers; all personnel to
demonstrate competency with
injection /gavage before using
substance; two handlers to
minimize risk.; all disposables
discarded in yellow waste
3?
L
C
R
(Apply the hierarchy of
risk controls)
C
L
R
M
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colchicine
Spill of colchicine in
transport
Spill of or inhalation of
wastes, litter from
exposed animals
colchicine
Laundering of gowns
colchicine
Ingestion, vapor
inhalation, skin
or eye contact
Spill/ breakage resistant, double
layer transport container; spill kit
incl.PPE
3?
D
M
Ingestion, vapor
inhalation, skin
or eye contact
Signage of cages of affected
animals; Personal protective
equipment used; use of spill kit
2
C
M
Skin
contamination
Use of disposable gowns or
sleeve covers to prevent sleeve
contamination
2
D
L
* C = consequence
L = likelihood
R = risk rating
from the UNSW Risk Rating Procedure
Step 8 Documentation and supervisor approval
Completed by: P Peake
(signature)
Authorised by: P Peake
(signature)
Date:Jun09
Step 9: Implement the additional risk controls
identified
Indicate briefly what additional risk controls from Step 6 above were implemented, when and by whom.
Risk control:
Date:
Implemented by:
Risk control:
Date:
Implemented by:
Risk control:
Date:
Implemented by:
Risk control:
Date:
Implemented by:
Step 10: Monitor and review the risk controls
It is important to monitor risk controls and review risk assessments regularly. Review is required when there is a change in the process, relevant legal changes, and where a cause for concern has
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arisen. Reviews could be scheduled on an annual basis. If the risk assessment has substantially changed a new risk assessment is warranted.
Review date:
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
Review date:
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
Review date:
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
Review date:
Reviewed by:
Authorised by:
Documentation
It is a requirement that legal and advisory documentation that supports this risk assessment be listed. Such documentation includes Acts, Regulations, Australian Standards and Codes of Practice,
where applicable.
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)
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UNSW Concise OHS Risk Rating Table
OHS697
What you need to do
1. Consider what can go wrong that can hurt someone
2. Determine what the most likely outcome would be - Consequences
3. Determine how likely those consequences are - Likelihood
4. Calculate the risk rating
5. Required action
How severely could someone be hurt
death or permanent disability to one or more persons
hospital admission required
medical treatment required
first aid required
injuries not requiring first aid
CONSEQUENCES:
Severe
Major
Moderate
Minor
Insignificant
How likely are those consequences?
expected to occur in most circumstances
will probably occur in most circumstances
could occur at some time
is not likely to occur in normal circumstances
may occur only in exceptional circumstances
LIKELIHOOD:
Almost certain
Likely
Possible
Unlikely
Rare
CONSEQUENCES
Insignificant
1
Minor
2
Moderate
3
Major
4
Severe
5
M
H
H
VH
VH
M
M
H
H
VH
Possible
C
L
M
H
H
VH
Unlikely
D
L
L
M
M
H
Rare
E
L
L
M
M
M
LIKELIHOOD
Almost
certain
A
Likely
B
Risk level
Very high
High
Medium
Low
Required action
Act immediately:
The proposed task or process activity must not proceed. Steps must be taken to lower the risk level to as
low as reasonably practicable using the hierarchy of risk controls.
Act today:
The proposed activity can only proceed, provided that:
(i) the risk level has been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable using the hierarchy of
risk controls;
(ii) the risk controls must include those identified in legislation, Australian Standards, Codes of
Practice etc.
(iii) the risk assessment has been reviewed and approved by the Supervisor and
(iv) a Safe Working Procedure or Safe Work Method has been prepared.
(v) The supervisor must review and document the effectiveness of the implemented risk
controls.
Act this week:
The proposed task or process can proceed, provided that:
(i) the risk level has been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable using the hierarchy of
risk controls;
(ii) the risk assessment has been reviewed and approved by the Supervisor and
(iii) a Safe Working Procedure or Safe Work Method has been prepared.
Act this month:
Managed by local documented routine procedures which must include application of the hierarchy of
controls.
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UNSW Concise OHS Risk Rating Table
Effective date: 30.302011
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 1