OHS026
1. Completed by: Dr Mary Beilby
Safe work procedure
Staff number:
Staff/Student number:
The Writing Safe Work Procedures Guideline (OHS027) should be consulted to assist in the completion of this
form
Faculty/Division:
Science
Document number
School/Unit:
School Of Physics/Biophysics Group
Initial Issue date
01-08-2013
Current version
1.0
4.0
Current Version
Issue date
01-08-2013
Next review date
01-08-2013
Safe work procedure title and basic description of activity
Title: DISPOSAL OF CHEMICAL, GLASS AND SHARPS WASTES
Description of activity:This SOP discusses the procedure and safety guidelines for the storage and disposal of chemical (water
soluble and water insoluble), glass and sharps wastes in the Advanced Porous Materials Laboratory.
List Hazards and risk controls as per risk assessment
Associated risk
assessment
number and
location: G12 MB
Hazards
Refer to the “Use
and Disposal of
Sharps” and
“Waste Solvent
Disposal” risk
assessments in the
Safety Folder for
specific details.
For convenience,
copies of links to
these risk
assessments are
provided in
section 11.
Controls
All personnel of the G12 OMB Laboratory who generate chemical
(water soluble or water insoluble), glass or sharps wastes share the
responsibility for safe storage of waste within the laboratory and
disposal of these wastes from time-to-time. In the G12 OMB
Laboratory, sharps include razor and scalpel blades, syringes and
needles. Further information about disposal of these wastes may be
obtained from the School of Chemistry Safety Manual.
Procedures for the disposal of waste oils; surplus, unwanted, or other
waste chemicals (excluding water soluble and water insoluble);
hazardous solid waste (e.g. contaminated gloves, centrifuge tubes,
etc.); batteries; plant or equipment (including electrical equipment and
furniture); and, computers, should be referred to the School of
Chemistry Safety Manual.
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OHS026 safe work procedure
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List resources required including personal protective clothing, chemicals and equipment needed



Lab coat, safety glasses, and gloves should be worn when moving waste containers.
Safety glasses must be worn when emptying the glass waste bin into the outside glass wheelie bins,
due to the possibility of glass shattering and flying up.
The 20 L waste drums may be heavy to lift.
 Assistance from another laboratory member should be sought, if a waste container is too heavy
or bulky to safely handle alone.
 A grey, flattop trolley should be borrowed from the Chemistry Store for moving drums.
List step by step instructions or order for undertaking the task
Chemical waste:
This applies to all 2.5, 10 and 20 L drums used for the storage and disposal of waste.
 Chemical waste in the Advanced Porous Materials Laboratory usually falls into either of two
categories: water soluble, and water insoluble.
 Before pouring waste into any of the available drums, a laboratory user must know to which
category the waste belongs.
 Where appropriate, the waste should be treated or processed to reduce the level of hazard.
 Waste drums must be labelled appropriately and kept in bunded containers (see section 7 for more
details).
 Waste drums must be kept closed with a screw cap when not in immediate use in order to minimise
evaporation.
 The neck and outside of waste containers must be free of residue before they are taken to the outside
storage bays.
 Any spills on or around these containers, when waste is being transferred into the container must
be cleaned up.
 This is the responsibility of the person generating the waste.
 Waste drums must not be filled more than 95 %, in order to prevent spillage.
 When the waste drums are full, the next listed member(s) on the roster should be asked to dispose of
the waste.
 The waste drum is to be taken down to the Chemistry Store.
 Refer to sections 3 and 7 for information on how to do this safely.
 The Chemistry Store will ask the laboratory member to fill in the waste disposal sheet.
 The drums should then be taken outside and placed in the appropriate waste storage bays.
 If required, the Chemistry Store should be requested for replacement empty drums.
Glass waste:
Glass bottles
 Before disposal, the bottle must be empty, decontaminated, and have any and all labels completely
removed or defaced.
 Bottles are not to be disposed of with caps still on.
 Empty bottles may be stored next to the glass waste bin.
 Bottles are to be disposed of into the glass wheelie bins at the rear of the Chemistry Building.
Broken glassware, pipettes, slides, vials, etc.
 Any glass must be rendered safe before being placed into the glass waste bin.
 The glass waste bin must not be allowed to become overfilled.
 Glass waste is to disposed of into the glass wheelie bins at the rear of the Chemistry Building.
 For contaminated broken glassware that cannot be made safe, the Safety Officer should be notified.
 This will be disposed of with the non-standard chemical waste.
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Sharps waste:
 Razor blades, scalpel blades, syringes and needles must be placed into the laboratory sharps waste
container when finished using.
 Blades, needles, etc., should not be held onto for use at a future time.
 The laboratory sharps container is the only acceptable container for sharps waste.
 This container must meet Australian Standard AS4031.
 Empty chemical containers, plastic containers, glass vials, etc. must not be used for sharps
waste.
 The sharps container must not be filled past the line.
 When the sharps waste container is full, the lid must be affixed.
 The lid should be taped down for added security.
 Write the Chemistry department code (610) on the lid, and the total mass (in kg) on the
container.
 The sharps waste container is to be taken down to the Chemistry Store.
 The Chemistry Store will ask the laboratory member to fill in the waste disposal sheet.
 The container should be taken outside and placed in the appropriate waste storage bay.
 The group member responsible for purchasing should be requested to order a new sharps waste
container from the Chemistry Store.
List legislation used in the development of this SWP
AS/NZS 2243.3
AS/NZS 2243.1
AS/NZS 2243.3
AS 4031
NSW OHS Act and
Regulations
POEO Act 1997
AS/NZS 2243.2
Health Industries
Resources, waste management
EMIAA
DECCW
List competency required – qualifications, certificates, licensing, training - e.g. course or instruction:
Training of a new member of the laboratory for the disposal of waste can be handled by any experienced
member of the G12 OMB Laboratory. A roster is posted above the chemical waste drums indicating which
member(s) has the next turn to dispose of the waste.
List competency of Assessor
11.Supervisory approval, And review
Supervisor:
Dr Mary Beilby
Responsibility for SWP review:
Signature:
Date of review:
SWP Sign off sheet
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OHS026 safe work procedure
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SWP name and version:
In signing this section the assessor/ authorisor agrees that the following persons are competent in
following this SWP
Name
Signature
Date
Competent
Name of
Assessor/Authoriser
Assessor/Authoriser
signature
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OHS026 safe work procedure
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