ohsrm PART B
School of Molecular Bioscience
Hazardous procedure: Gas Chromatography
Step 3. Assess the risk
Ref. #
1
List & describe the hazards and hazardous jobs
Priority
3
4
If damaged, gas cylinders can explode, act as projectiles, or
cause suffocation
If using hydrogen as a carrier gas, risk of explosion exists if leaks
are present, or if carrier gas is flowing but FID detector is not lit
Sharps risk (needlestick injury) due to use of syringes for injecting
samples
Burns from GC oven, or hot injector and detector ports
5
Possible toxic hazard or biohazard from GC samples
5
6
Electrical faults could lead to electrocution or fire
5
7
If GC is fitted with an Electron Capture Detector (ECD), this
contains a small amount of radioactive isotope (Nickel-63, a betaemitter), and thus poses a radiation risk
6
2
3
4
5
5
What makes it hazardous? Consult with the workers to find out which factors are relevant:
X The nature of the hazard itself
X The individual(s) involved
Tick relevant boxes and record observations or comments.
Equipment uses flammable (hydrogen) and asphyxiating (helium,
nitrogen) gases, equipment has several hot surfaces, samples are
injected with sharp needles, the samples themselves may be
hazardous (eg. dissolved in organic solvents or containing other toxic
components), all electrical equipment poses an electrocution and fire
risk if faulty, there is a potential radiation risk from ECD detector if this
are opened.
Workers need to be trained in proper use of equipment by the
equipment custodian.
Record the names of those consulted when assessing the risk
Peter Kerr, Joe Dimauro, Jenny Phuyal, Zia Ahmad, Angela Nikolic, Robert Czolij, Craig Jackson
Date
22/3/2010
Step 4. Control the risk(s)
Describe the risk control(s)
Who is responsible
for implementation
Due by date
Wear personal protective equipment (lab coat, enclosed footwear,
safety glasses or goggles if liquid splash risk exists, gloves if handling
toxic or biohazard samples)
Individual user and
their supervisor
21/4/2010
Take extreme care when handling, connecting, and
disconnecting gas cylinders – see Risk Assessment form
“Transport and Use of Gas Cylinders” for more details.
Individual user and
their supervisor
21/4/2010
Always leak-test gas fittings when installing the GC, changing
columns, or changing detector/injectors. Be aware of the risk of a
hydrogen gas leak into the GC oven or into the room.
Individual user and
their supervisor
21/4/2010
Do not have carrier gas flow switched on without the FID being
ignited – this can cause a hydrogen gas explosion
Individual user and
their supervisor
21/4/2010
Know which parts of the machine are HOT (especially the injection
port and the FID detector) and do not touch these parts
Individual user and
their supervisor
21/4/2010
Take care when handling samples in syringes, be aware of risk of
needlestick injury.
Individual user and
their supervisor
21/4/2010
If injecting samples that contain toxic chemicals (eg. pollutants), and
operating in “split” mode, ensure that the GC split vent has an
activated carbon trap on it, or exhausts into a fume hood
Individual user and
their supervisor
21/4/2010
Ensure GC machine is serviced regularly and report any faults
immediately to your supervisor, and/or GC service provider
Individual user and
their supervisor
21/4/2010
Do not open or tamper with the ECD detector – this can expose you to
hazardous beta-radiation. If disposing of the GC machine, the ECD
must be removed and disposed of separately as radioactive waste
Individual user and
their supervisor
Proper training of users
Supervisor of
researcher
21/4/2010
Development of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
SMB Safety
Commitee
21/4/2010
Reading and following the SOP
Individual user and
their supervisor
21/4/2010
Record the names of those consulted when deciding on risk control measures
Peter Kerr, Joe Dimauro, Jenny Phuyal, Zia Ahmad, Angela Nikolic, Robert Czolij, Craig Jackson
PART B completed by: Nick Coleman
Date:
22/3/2010