Agarose
Tris
Acetic acid
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA)
Hazardous Substances Policy - Assessment
CHEMICAL HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT
School of Biosciences
Name of
supervisor
Dr. R.H. Insall
Assessor
Margarita Tchibalina
Assessment Number*
2037
Date of Assessment
22/02/2002
Signature
Signature
Notes
A School COSHH form in Word is available on the School Server.
Available from the Health and Safety Unit.
Guidance on making an assessment is given in Making a Chemical Hazard and Risk Assessment.
Guidance is also available from Guidance on Completing the Chemical Hazard and Risk Assessment Form.
Use a continuation sheet to expand any section of this form in hard copy version.
1
LOCATION OF THE WORK ACTIVITY
2
PERSONS WHO MAY BE AT RISK
List names where possible
L. Machesky, C. Costa, J. Woodings, T. Millard, S. Launay, S. Blagg, M. Tchibalina, S.
Zouwail, R. Insall and occasionally other members of the lab
3
ACTIVITY ASSESSED
4
MATERIALS INVOLVED
NAME
DNA electrophoresis in agarose gels
AMOUNT**
Attach copies of data sheet(s)
HAZARD
Agarose
1g
irritant
Tris
0.484g
irritant
Acetic acid
0.115 ml
Corrosive
Ethylenediaminetetraaceti
c acid disodium salt
(EDTA)
Ethidium bromide (EtBr)
0.2 ml of
500mM
solution
10 µl of
10mg/ml
solution =
100µg
Irritant
Distilled water
8th Floor labs
Toxic
Nonhazardous
RISK PHRASES
R36/R37 – Irritating to
eyes, respiratory system
R36/R37 – Irritating to
eyes, respiratory system,
may be harmful by
ingestion
R35 – Causes severe
burns.
R23/R24/R25 –
Inhalation of vapour can
cause serious injury.
Ingestion may be fatal.
R36/R37/R38 – Irritating
to eyes, respiratory tract
and skin.
R23/24/25 – Toxic by
inhalation, absorbtion or
if swallowed.
HAZDAT NO***
BIOSCIENCESNO***
5
INTENDED USE
Give brief details and attach protocol/instructions
6
Preparation of agarose gels and submarine electrophoresis.
RISKS to HEALTH and SAFETY from INTENDED USE
From personal exposure or hazardous reactions. Refer to OELs, flash points, etc., as appropriate. Are pregnant women, breast-feeding
mothers especially at risk?
There is a risk of eye, skin and respiratory system irritation when making TAE (TRIS-Acetate-EDTA) buffer and
agarose solution for gel. There is a risk of contamination when adding ethidium bromide solution to prepared gel
mixture. There is a risk to the environment when disposing of the ethidium bromide liquid waste containing more
than 10µg/ml EtBr in normal way.
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 unacceptable and control measures are necessary.
8
CONTROL MEASURES
Additional to Good Chemical Practice
Acetic acid should be stored in special cupboard for corrosive chemicals. EDTA and acetic acid should be used in
the fume hood on 5th or 7th floor whilst wearing protective clothing and gloves. Ethidium bromide has to be added
to gel mixture when it cools down to about 550C. Gels should be poured in the fume hood. Protective clothing,
gloves and safety glasses should be worn when manipulating ethidium bromide stock solution. Visualisation of
DNA should be done whilst wearing gloves, even to manipulate gel imager and computer. After standard
electrophoresis procedure, used running buffer can be released to drain. Solutions containing 10 µg/ml EtBr or
more (e.g. agarose gel staining solution) have to be decontaminated using charcoal filtration before releasing to
drain.
9
INSTRUCTION/TRAINING
Specify course(s) and/or special arrangements.
New people in the lab should be instructed to be familiar with the risks.
10
MONITORING
Performance of control measures,
Check fume hood is working properly before use. Check decontamination filters for EtBr are available.
Personal exposure
11
WASTE DISPOSAL PROCEDURE
Health Surveillance
See School Server for Approved Procedure Document on specific Chemical Waste Disposal.
Solutions containing 10µg 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 safely discarded down the drain. Used charcoal filter should be placed in sealed bag and then in biohazardous
waste bag for incineration.
12
REVIEW
Enter the date or circumstances for review of assessment (maximum review interval 5 years)
February 2007.
13
EMERGENCY ACTION
TO CONTROL HAZARDS To stabilize situation eg spread absorbant on liquid spill; eliminate sources of ignition, etc.
See attached sheet
If spill of EtBr solution occurred, remove traces of liquid whilst wearing gloves, protective clothes and safety
glasses. Treat contaminated surface with household bleach and then wash thoroughly with water. Discard waste
using the special waste procedure (contact Brian Facer in Stores)
TO PROTECT PERSONNEL Evacuation, protection for personnel involved in clean-up, Special First Aid
For corrosive materials or skin irritating materials: remove people from source of contamination, bring the injured
person under a shower or eye shower or sink, wash the contaminated part of the body for a minimum of 10
minutes, remove any contaminated clothing. Alarm security for a medical attention if necessary.
TO RENDER SITE OF EMERGENCY SAFE
Clean-up/decontamination
For air contamination: evacuate the place and ventilate room as much as possible to dispel vapour.
For flammable materials: shut off all sources of ignition in the room, evacuate all people immediately, contact
security or ring fire alarm.
CONTACT
R. Insall
PHONE
42507
10.10.00
*
Prefix T is used for Teaching Assessment Number.
**
List the amount by weight of the substance used. (for liquids eg; 100 mls 1M Sodium Hydroxide =
4g).
***
Hazdat No is the UNICOSHH datasheet report number.
Biosciences No is the Biosciences data sheet number.
UNICOSHH IS A CHEMICAL DATABASE ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY UNIT SERVER.
BIOSCIENCES DATA SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICE.