Hazardous Substances Policy - Assessment
CHEMICAL HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT
School of Biosciences
Name of
supervisor
Prof.L.M.Machesky
Assessment Number*
2042
Date of Assessment
05-01-06
Signature
Assessor
Dr. K.K.Sethi and
Hannah Morris
Signature
Notes
Read the guidance notes at the end of the form for help on completing an assessment. Further help and guidance
can be obtained from the School Safety Office (Email; s.ward@bham.ac.uk or telephone 46557). Please complete
this form as an ELECTRONIC VERSION ONLY. Submit your completed assessment to the following email address;
bio.safety@contacts.bham.ac.uk
1
LOCATION OF THE WORK ACTIVITY
2
PERSONS WHO MAY BE AT RISK
List names where possible
3
4
8th Floor labs
Laura Machesky, Friederike Bathe, Hannah Morris, Simon Johnston, Andrew Waller,
Clare Batchelor, John Dawson, John Legg, Robert Insall, Alice Pollitt, David Hickinson,
Robert Heath, Natalie Andrew, Mehreen Zaki and Peter Thomason.
ACTIVITY ASSESSED
Cesium chloride gradient centrifugation (N.B: Chemicals listed are those
used in addition to maxi-preparation of DNA – see relevant COSHH
assessment form).
MATERIALS INVOLVED
NAME and CAS #
Cesium Chloride
Ethidium Bromide
Sodium Chloride
Saturated Isopropanol
Ethanol
AMOUNT
and FORM
HAZARD
Solid: add
1.05g to
each ml of
DNA, e.g.
1.8ml DNA
requires
1.89g CsCl
Solution:
1.05g/ml
50l
(10mg/ml)
Caution
Remove
EtBr by
addition of
1ml
saturated
solution until
pink colour
(EtBr)
disappears
2-2.5
volumes of
Absolute
Ethanol and
washes
using 80%
Ethanol
Sodium
Chloride:
Non
Hazardous
Toxic
RISK PHRASES
R22-26-36/37/38-68. Very toxic by
inhalation, toxic to skin and if swallowed.
Avoid contact with eyes. May cause
heritable genetic damage. Possible risk of
irreversible effects.
Isopropanol:
Inflammable
R11/36/67. Highly flammable. Avoid
contact with eyes. Vapours may cause
drowsiness and dizziness.
Inflammable
R11-20/21/22-36/37/38-68/20/21/22.
Highly flammable. Harmful by inhalation
and if swallowed. Avoid contact with eyes
and skin.
REPORTABLE
?
Sodium Acetate
0.1 volume
of 3M NaAc
Caution
Maybe harmful by ingestion, inhalation or
through skin absorption.
If a substance is reportable, have you reported it to the Health and Safety Unit? YES/NO (See note 4)
5
INTENDED USE and JUSTIFICATION (where appropriate)
Give brief details and attach protocol/instructions. Justification is needed for exceptionally hazardous substances (See note 5)
Preparation of pure DNA for transfection/microinjection.
6
RISKS to HEALTH and SAFETY from INTENDED USE
From personal exposure or hazardous reactions. Refer to WELs, flash points, etc., as appropriate. Are pregnant women, breast-feeding
mothers especially at risk?
Always handle all chemicals listed above with caution. Always wear suitable protective clothing i.e.: lab coat,
gloves and safety glasses. There is a risk of contamination when using ethidium bromide solution. There is a risk
to the environment when disposing of the ethidium bromide liquid waste containing more than 10l/ml EtBr. There
is a risk of heritable genetic damage from EtBr.
7
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT RISKS
Is level of risk acceptable? Can risk be prevented or reduced by change of substance/procedure? Are control measures necessary?
The level of risk is not acceptable however if all the stated control measures are taken there is minimal risk.
8
CONTROL MEASURES
Additional to Good Chemical Practice, e.g. fume cupboard, etc. Any special requirements, e.g. glove type, etc.
Enhanced Good Chemical Practice should be used at all times, see Hazardous Substances Policy Schedule 3:
S3.3 Control Measures, Enhanced Good Chemical Practice for Work with Chemical Carcinogens. All substances
should be weighted out in a fume cupboard, whilst wearing protective clothing, i.e.: lab coat, gloves and safety
glasses. Extraction of the DNA post-centrifugation should be carried out in the fume cupboard, whilst wearing
protective clothing. Used glass pipettes, centrifugation tubes, falcon tubes, syringes should be sealed in a box
and clearly labelled “Ethidium Bromide Waste” and placed in natural light for at least 2 months, to allow complete
breakdown of all EtBr products. The box should then be thrown into the yellow bin bags for incineration.
9
INSTRUCTION/TRAINING
Specify course(s) and/or special arrangements.
Only individuals who are familiar with Enhanced Good Chemical Practice will be allowed to conduct such an
experiment.
10
MONITORING
Performance of control measures,
Check the fume cupboard is working properly before use, see Hazardous Substances Policy Schedule 3: S3.9
Control Measures, Procedures for Fume Cupboard Maintenance.
Personal exposure
Health Surveillance, specify measures agreed with health and
Safety Unit.
11
WASTE DISPOSAL PROCEDURE
See School Server for Approved Procedure Document on specific Chemical Waste Disposal.
Include name, 6-digit code and H number if waste is the be disposed of by outside contractors (See note 11)
Used glass pipettes, centrifugation tubes, falcon tubes, syringes should be sealed in a box and clearly labelled
“Ethidium Bromide Waste” and placed in natural light for at least 2 months, to allow complete breakdown of all
EtBr products. The box should then be thrown into the yellow bin bags for incineration. Solutions containing 10g
per ml or more ethidium bromide should be decontaminated using Extractor (filtration unit containing charcoal,
Wolf Laboratories cat. N 32-8579-04). After filtration the decontaminated solution may be safety discarded down
the drain. Used charcoal filter should be placed in sealed bag and then in biohazardous waste bad for
incineration. Large amounts can also be disposed of in compliance with the Hazardous Waste regulations 2005,
see Hazardous Substances Policy Schedule 7, i.e. H numbers: H6 (toxic) and H11 (mutagenic) 6-digit waste
code: 16.05.07 discarded inorganic chemicals consisting of or containing dangerous substances.
12
REVIEW
Enter the date or circumstances for review of assessment (maximum review interval 5 years)
January 2011
13
EMERGENCY ACTION
TO CONTROL HAZARDS
To stabilize situation eg spread absorbant on liquid spill; eliminate sources of ignition, etc.
Mop up all spills immediately
Eliminate sources of ignition
Ensure adequate ventilation
Solutions containing 10g per ml or more ethidium bromide should be decontaminated using Extractor (filtration
unit containing charcoal, Wolf Laboratories cat. N 32-8579-04). After filtration the decontaminated solution may be
safety discarded down the drain. Used charcoal filter should be placed in sealed bag and then in biohazardous
waste bad for incineration. Large amounts can also be disposed of in compliance with the Hazardous Waste
regulations 2005, see Hazardous Substances Policy Schedule 7, i.e. H numbers: H6 (toxic) and H11 (mutagenic)
6-digit waste code: 16.05.07 discarded inorganic chemicals consisting of or containing dangerous substances.
TO PROTECT PERSONNEL Evacuation, protection for personnel involved in clean-up, Special First Aid
Skin contact: Wash thoroughly with clean running water for at least 10 minutes.
Remove contaminated clothing.
If injury has occurred or skin absorption is suspected, obtain medical attention.
Eye contact: Flush the eye with clean running water.
Seek immediate medical attention.
Inhalation. See immediate medical attention.
Clean-up/decontamination
TO RENDER SITE OF EMERGENCY SAFE
After removal of spillage – scrub and wash the area to decontaminate. This is especially important for the
decontamination of EtBr. Decontaminatation can also involve disposed of EtBr in compliance with the Hazardous
Waste regulations 2005, see Hazardous Substances Policy Schedule 7,
L. Machesky
CONTACT
42504
PHONE
06/10/2005