OHS017
OHS Risk Assessment and
Control Form
Risk assessment completed by: Sinead O’Reilly
Staff/student number:s3244595
Faculty/Division: Medicine
Document number
STGCL.RA.30.1
School/Unit: St George Clinical School
Initial Issue date
05/03/2010
Current version
1.0
Current Version
Issue date: 05/03/10
Next review date:
March 2012
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: Operation of centrifuge
Step 1: Identify the activity
Describe the activity:
Set up of the centrifuge:
1. Switch the power on
2. Select the correct rotor to use, place the rotor into the centrifuge and secure to the shaft
3. Select the correct adaptors, place the adaptors into the rotor or buckets
4. Fill & Balance the Tubes - tubes placed opposite to each other must be balanced
5. Place tubes in correct position in rotor
6. Use the lids for buckets if available, if spinning Biohazardous material to contain any contamination due to aerosol or alternatively move the rotor to the Biological Safety Cabinet and remove
the samples in the Biological Safety Cabinet
7. Set the spin parameters ie speed, temperature, brake intensity
8. Close the lid & press start
9. After the spin, open the lid and remove the spun samples
Describe the location: Cell Culture Lab Lab, Rm 3.17, Lab 3.15, Lab 3.21 Level 3, Research & Education Centre, 4-10 South St, Kogarah, NSW 2217
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 1 of 5
Risk Assessment and Control Form
Date Effective: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6, 16/07/2008
Step 2: Identify who may be at risk by the activity
The person operating the centrifuge, co-workers in the relevant Lab
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.
NOTE: ALL ASSOCIATED RISKS MARKED WITH * HAVE NO RISK RATING INCLUDED IN THIS RISK ASSESSMENT BECAUSE THE RISK DEPENDS
ON THE SPECIFIC NATURE OF THE SAMPLE BEING SPUN. THIS RISK NEEDS TO BE ASSESSED, CONTROLLED AND DOCUMENTED BY THE
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCHER FOR THEIR OWN SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECT
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
L
R
Switching Power On
Electrical
Electrocution
Fuses in plug. Electrical
Testing & Tagging done
and passed.
1
E
L
Selection of rotor and
securing the rotor into the
centrifuge
Rotor not secured
properly
Severe machine
vibrations. Damage to
machine / rotor, Injury to
person in the vicinity
Training provided by
Invitro Technologies –
supplier of this machine.
5
E
M
Selection of correct
adaptors & Placement of
rotors into adaptors/
buckets
None
None
N/A
1
E
L
Selection of correct Tubes
for the type of samples
being spun and for the
volume required to be
centrifuged
incompatible tubes
selected
Leakage of samples
during spin.*
Group consulted
regarding chemical
resistance and speeds
required. Appropriate
tubes provided on the
basis of the needs of the
group
Chemicals can corrode
tubes*
Tubes collapse during
spin
(Apply the hierarchy of
risk controls)
C
L
R
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 2 of 5
Risk Assessment and Control Form
Date Effective: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6, 16/07/2008
Fill & Balance the Tubes /
adaptors - tubes/adaptors
placed opposite to each
other must be balanced.
Chemical / Biohazard
Hazard (depends on the
composition of the liquid
to be centrifuged)
Chemical / Biohazard
Exposure*
Use MSDS / Datasheet to
get information pertaining
to the liquid to be
centrifuged. Use PPE as
per this information
Place BALANCED tubes /
adaptors in correct
position in rotor ie
OPPOSITE each other
If this is not done
correctly, the centrifuge
run will be imbalanced
Severe machine
vibrations. Damage to
machine / rotor, Injury to
person in the vicinity,
Engineering control built
into machine so that it will
stop running if the load is
imbalanced
5
E
M
Use lids for buckets,
where available if
spinning Biohazardous
material to contain any
contamination due to
aerosol
None
None
N/A
1
E
L
Set the spin parameters ie
speed, temperature,
brake intensity
If this is not done
correctly, the samples will
not be spun to the
required speed / time /
temperature
Loss of samples,
Damage to tubes if tubes
spun at a rating that is
too high
Follow Safe Work
Procedure Provided
1
E
L
Close the Lid and press
start
None – if there is a set up
problem or a machine
malfunction the machine
will run to a low speed
and then cut out or will
not start at all but will
display an error message
Samples not spun
N/A
1
E
L
After the spin, open the lid
and remove the spun
samples
Potential for injury to
hands / fingers.
The machine cannot be
opened automatically
unless the rotor has
stopped spinning
Engineering control
1
E
L
* C = consequence
L = likelihood
R = risk rating
from the UNSW Risk Rating Procedure
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 3 of 5
Risk Assessment and Control Form
Date Effective: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6, 16/07/2008
Step 8 Documentation and supervisor approval
Completed by: Sinead O’Reilly (signature)
Authorised by: Prof Michael Grimm Head of School, (signature)
Date: 05/03/10
Reviewed by:
(signature)
Authorised by:
Date:
Reviewed by:
(signature)
Authorised by:
Date:
Reviewed by:
(signature)
Authorised by:
Date:
Reviewed by:
(signature)
Authorised by:
Date:
Reviewed by:
(signature)
Authorised by:
Date:
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
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.
Manufacturer’s Instruction Manuals for Centrifuges
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 4 of 5
Risk Assessment and Control Form
Date Effective: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6, 16/07/2008
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
CONSEQUENCES:
Severe
Major
Moderate
Minor
Insignificant
LIKELIHOOD:
Almost certain
Likely
Possible
Unlikely
Rare
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
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
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.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 5 of 5
UNSW Concise OHS Risk Rating Table
Effective date: 01/01/2007
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 2.6,16/07/2008