Acetic Acid ( 2%)
Alcian Blue (0.8%)
Hazardous Substances Policy - Assessment
CHEMICAL HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT
School of Biosciences
Name of
supervisor
Dr.J.E.Turnbull
Assessor
Laine Wallace
Assessment Number*
JETLW8
#2051
Date of Assessment
2/7/02
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
Laine Wallace, Dr.J.E.Turnbull,K.Drummond,Z.Schofield,Dr.E.Yates, Dr,S Guimond,
Dr.Z.Huang, Dr.A.Powell, J.Henstock, Dr. T. Kinnunen
3
ACTIVITY ASSESSED
4
MATERIALS INVOLVED
NAME
5th Floor Biosciences Tower
Alcian Blue/Azure A staining of saccharides in PAGE gels.
AMOUNT
max/stored
Attach copies of data sheet(s)
HAZARD
RISK PHRASES
Acetic Acid ( 2%)
500ml
Corrosive/
Flammable
R35 : Causes severe burns
R10 : Flammable
Alcian Blue (0.8%)
100ml
N/A
N/A
Azure A ( 0.08%)
100ml
Irritant
R36/37/38: Irritating to eyes,
respiratory system and skin
H2O
500ml
N/A
N/A
Acrylamide/
bisAcrylamide
Polymerised Gel
20g
Toxic/Sensitis
er
R45 : May cause cancer
R46 : May cause heritable
genetic damage
R60 : May impair fertility
R63: possible risk of harm to
the unborn child
R24/25 : Toxic in contact
with skin and if swallowed
R36/38 : Irritating to eyes and
skin
R42/43: May cause
sensitisation by inhalation an
din skin contact
R48/23/24/25 : Toxic :
danger of serious damage to
health by prolonged exposure
in
HAZDAT NO***
BIOSCIENCESNO***
5
INTENDED USE**
Give brief details and attach protocol/instructions
Acetic Acid – diluent and washing buffer.
Alcian blue – stain for saccharides
Azure A – Stain for saccharides
Acrylamide – immobilisation of saccharides for staining.
6
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?
Acetic Acid – risk of splashes to unprotected skin and eyes. Risk of inhalation of concentrate. Avoid sources of
ignition- vapour may travel towards site of ignition.
Alcian blue – risk of splashes to unprotected skin and eyes.
Azure A – risk of splashes to unprotected skin and eyes
Acrylamide – risk of physical contact with unprotected skin. Risk of impairment of fertility. Risk of harm to unborn
child. Risk of sensitisation.
7
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT RISKS
Is level of risk acceptable? Can risk be prevented or reduced by change of substance/procedure? Are control measures necessary?
Due to the nature of some of the chemicals listed in this assessment there is a small risk . But due to the small
amounts used and as long as measures laid out in section 8 are followed then the level of risk is acceptable. Non
of the chemicals used can be replaced with other “ less hazardous” reagents.
8
CONTROL MEASURES
Additional to Good Chemical Practice
Wearing of lab coat, chemical resistant gloves, eye protection and use of a fume hood for acetic acid concentrate.
Avoid use of sources of ignition when using acetic acid, vapour may travel towards source of ignition.
9
INSTRUCTION/TRAINING
Specify course(s) and/or special arrangements.
One to one initial training.
10
MONITORING
Performance of control measures,
Users of Respiratory sensitisers need to be registered with the HSU and Occupational Health PRIOR to
commencement of work, to enable assessment, monitoring of exposure and possible subsequent sensitisation
Instruction given as to importance and application of control measures. Training given to aid recognition of initial
symptoms of sensitisation.
Personal exposure
Health Surveillance
Exposure to sensitisers - Lung function tests and health
review as instructed by Occupational Health. Records
kept of outcome courtesy of Occupational Health.
Exposure to sensitisers - Lung function tests and
health review as instructed by Occupational Health.
Records kept of outcome courtesy of Occupational
Health.
11
WASTE DISPOSAL PROCEDURE
See School Server for Approved Procedure Document on specific Chemical Waste Disposal.
Polymerised Acrylamide gel should be disposed of by incineration in a contaminated waste bag.
Other solutions should be collected into a specified and labelled waste reciprocal and when full deposited with
stores for specialised waste disposal.
12
REVIEW
Enter the date or circumstances for review of assessment (maximum review interval 5 years)
2/7/07
13
EMERGENCY ACTION
TO CONTROL HAZARDS To stabilize situation eg spread absorbant on liquid spill; eliminate sources of ignition, etc.
Eliminate sources of ignition.
Small spills should be mopped up with tissue. Acetic acid contaminated tissue should be left to evaporate in a
fume hood before disposal via the contaminated waste system.
Large spills warrant evacuation of immediate area, the wearing of respiratory equipment ,rubber boots, heavy
rubber gloves and covering of the spill in absorbant material. Material should then be left to evaporate in a fume
hood before disposal via the standard contaminated waste system
TO PROTECT PERSONNEL Evacuation, protection for personnel involved in clean-up, Special First Aid
Large spills warrant evacuation of immediate area, the wearing of respiratory equipment ,rubber boots and heavy
runner gloves.
Respiratory difficulty should be dealt with by immediate removal of affected person to a well ventilated area.
Medical help should be sought if breathing difficulty is unresolved.
Chemical burns should be washed well in running tap water for at least 20minutes and then medical help sought.
Clean-up/decontamination
TO RENDER SITE OF EMERGENCY SAFE
Clean the area with a dilute decon solution and dried thoroughly.
Dr.J.E.Turnbull
47527
CONTACT
PHONE
10.10.00
*
**
***
Prefix T is used for Teaching Assessment Number.
Please include amount of chemicals used and how.
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.
Alcian Blue/Azure A staining of Heparin Saccharides in PAGE gels.
After electrophoresis heparin saccharides can be fixed in the gel and visualised with Alcian Blue
and Azure A.
Materials :
Alcian blue 0.8% (w/v) in 2% Acetic Acid
2% Acetic Acid
Azure A 0.08% ( w/v) in H2O
NB. Wear gloves throughout – dyes could be toxic and can stain the skin.
1. Removes the gel from it’s glass plates and stain for 20 minutes in Alcian Blue solution with
agitation.
2. De-stain by agitation in 2% Acetic Acid for 5 minutes. ( 2 washes )
3. Rinse with H2O twice.
4. Stain in Azure A solution for 20minutes with agitation.
5. De-stain with H2O – multiple washes with agitation until the background staining is reduced.
Ref: Rice et al 1987 Biochem J. 244,515-522