GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT
SECTION 1 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
Department
CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
Date of Assessment
11th March 2003
Area/Plant/Equipment
Microscope Rooms,
Name and Signature of Assessor (or team)
Margaret Blount
Task/Activity/Operation
Task Reference No.
8
Fluorescent and confocal microscopy-UV light
emissions
HAZARD
WHO COULD BE
HARMED(e.g.
public, operator)***
Operator
Observers
Numbers of people
likely to be harmed
Nature of Harm
1-3
Exposure to
mercury vapour
UV emissions
Operator
Observers
1-3
Damage to eyes
8b
Electrical faults
Operator (mainly)
Others in the area
1
50 (potentially most
of the department in
case of serious fire)
Electric shock
Burns to body
Fire
8c
Hazard from
untidy cables
Operator
Others in the area
1
<10
Injury
8d
Implosion
***SEE SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS ,SECTION 3
Hazard
Reference
No.
8a
SECTION 2 – RISK EVALUATION
Note: Section 2 must be completed for each hazard identified in Section 1
Hazard from section 1
Implosion
Reference No.
8a
Make an assessment without taking into account current control measures (subjective)
RISK = Probability of Harm X
hurt)
PROBABILITY
1 X
2
X
3
Most Likely Severity (will increase if large numbers will be
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
SEVERITY OF HARM
1 X
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
=
RISK LEVEL
10 X
20
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
30
CURRENT CONTROL MEASURES
Type
Control at
Engineering
source
controls
(intrinsic)
(guards, local
exhaust ventIllation etc.
Description
Burner to be
installed and
centered by
trained
operator only.
Procedural
Personal
controls
protective
(inc. training
equipment
and
supervision)
Use according
to
manufacturer’s
directions
Are they
Adequate
Additional
Measures
Required
Yes
Yes
By who &
When
Operator
Operator
Other
In the unlikely
event of
implosion,
switch off
controls,
evacuate
room for 30
min, inform
lab
management.
Operator
SECTION 2 – RISK EVALUATION
Note: Section 2 must be completed for each hazard identified in Section 1
Hazard from section 1
UV emissions
Reference No.
8b
Make an assessment without taking into account current control measures (subjective)
RISK = Probability of Harm X
hurt)
PROBABILITY
1
2
X
3
Most Likely Severity (will increase if large numbers will be
4 X
5
6
7
8
9
10
SEVERITY OF HARM
1
2
3
4 X
5
6
7
8
9
10
=
RISK LEVEL
10 X
20
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
30
CURRENT CONTROL MEASURES
Type
Control at
Engineering
source
controls
(intrinsic)
(guards, local
exhaust ventIllation etc.
Operate
Description
according to
manufacturer’s
instructions,
check that
correct filters
are in place
Procedural
controls
(inc. training
and
supervision)
Personal
protective
equipment
Other
Disconnect
from mains
before
replacing
burner or bulb
Never observe
fluorescence or
burner without
appropriate
barrier filter.
Are they
Adequate
Additional
Measures
Required
Yes
Yes
Yes
By who &
When
Operator
Operator
Operator
Observers
SECTION 2 – RISK EVALUATION
Note: Section 2 must be completed for each hazard identified in Section 1
Hazard from section 1
Electrical
Reference No.
8c Also see Risk Assessment #40
Make an assessment without taking into account current control measures (subjective)
RISK = Probability of Harm X
hurt)
PROBABILITY
1 X
2
X
3
Most Likely Severity (will increase if large numbers will be
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
SEVERITY OF HARM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 X
8
9
10
=
RISK LEVEL
10 X
20
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
30
CURRENT CONTROL MEASURES
Type
Control at
Engineering
source
controls
(intrinsic)
(guards, local
exhaust ventIllation etc.
Before use,
Disconnect
Description
Procedural
controls
(inc. training
and
supervision)
visually inspect
equipment
especially
cable. If it
appears faultydo not use, put
on an ‘OUT OF
ORDER’ sign &
tell lab
management.
from mains
power before
changing bulbs
or burner
Trained
operator-only
follow
manufacture’s
instructions
Are they
Adequate
Additional
Measures
Required
Yes
Yes
*Equipment
should be PAT
tested
periodically and
date label
affixed,
Yes
By who &
When
Operator
Operator
*Qualified
personnel
Personal
protective
equipment
Other
Defective equipment
should be replaced or
repaired by engineers
Yes
Engineers
Hazard from section 1
Untidy cables
Reference No.
8d
Make an assessment without taking into account current control measures (subjective)
RISK = Probability of Harm X
hurt)
PROBABILITY
1
2
X
3
Most Likely Severity (will increase if large numbers will be
4 X
5
6
7
8
9
10
SEVERITY OF HARM
1
2
3
4 X
5
6
7
8
9
10
=
RISK LEVEL
10 X
20
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
30
CURRENT CONTROL MEASURES
Type
Control at
Engineering
source
controls
(intrinsic)
(guards, local
exhaust ventillation etc.
Keep leads
Description
Are they
Adequate
Additional
Measures
Required
By who &
When
and
connections
tidy, but do not
coil them too
tightly (to
prevent
overheating).
Yes
Operator
Procedural
controls
(inc. training
and
supervision)
Personal
protective
equipment
Other
SECTION 3,SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
1. After carrying out the assessment and assuming adequate training, is this task one that
can be carried out by a lone worker?
This decision is one made by a group leader, please state their name and answer.
Group leader name : Prof. S. O’Rahilly
Answer: YES
Answer:
2. Are there any special considerations for other groups of workers e.g Pregnant and new
mothers, young people, cleaners etc. that you have not considered in your main
assessment? If so, please make a comment below.
SECTION 4- REVIEW
Circumstances for Review
Default Date review
12 Rules for Electrical Safety
(University Health and Safety Division 2001)
Electricity has the power to kill. Do a quick check of anything electrical before you use it: include the plug, lead,
connections and the equipment.
The University inspects and tests all electrical equipment regularly. Portable Appliance Testing (or PAT
testing) is carried out to ensure that all electrical equipment is properly maintained.
On each item of equipment there should be a 'Tested for Electrical Safety' label which will show a retest date.
NEVER USE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A CURRENT 'LATEST' LABEL.
If the retest date has been passed, please contact the technician responsible for PAT testing and do not use
the equipment.
In the UK each year there are about 1,000 accidents at work involving electric shock or burns. Around 30 of
these are fatal. Even non-fatal shocks can cause severe and permanent injury. In a serious incident in
Cambridge in 2000, a student received an electric shock and at another University a student was electrocuted
and died due to a badly wired mains plug.
So here are your rules
1.
Do not touch terminals to "see" if they are live.
2.
Do not modify or work on "live" equipment. There are strict laws governing live working. No equipment
should have exposed live terminals.
3.
Do not obstruct plugs or other means of turning off the power in an emergency. A simple sign or label
'Please turn off in an emergency' may be useful.
4.
Do not interfere with any University electrical installations or attempt to repair or alter them in any way.
5.
If you make or adapt equipment in any way, it must be assessed by the person in your Department who
is nominated as competent to do so. Never build or adapt equipment without their approval.
6.
*
*
*
Take action on faulty or damaged equipment
switch off and unplug from the supply
label to identify that it must not be used
report it to the technician responsible.
4.
Do not use extension leads unless you have to, never overload and never use where liquids are present.
5.
Multiplug adaptors are banned in most departments. They mechanically strain the socket and when
overloaded can cause fires.
6.
Using an RCD (residual current device) detects some, but not all, faults in the electrical systems and
rapidly switches the supply off.
7.
Never disconnect an earth wire.
8.
Always use the correct fuse.
9.
Work safely. Make sure that you have read the instructions for the equipment. Even simple tasks such
as wiring a plug can lead to danger - ensure you know what you are doing before you start. Help and
advice are available so:
Find out who is responsible for electrical safety in your Department.
Need advice?
First ask:
Your Departmental Safety Officer or
The University Health and Safety Division.
An information leaflet for students and office staff, prepared by the University Safety Office with help from Tim Goldrein and Jane Blunt,
Department of Physics.
This leaflet forms part of the University Safety Policy
July 2001
University Health and Safety Division