School Of Medicine Biomedical Sciences
COSHH Risk Assessment Form
Before any experimental procedure involving the use of chemicals or reagents is undertaken, potential hazards must be identified and an assessment made
of the risks posed by these hazards in the work activity in which they are involved. This risk assessment is a legal requirement to comply with the Control
of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) Act and is the responsibility of the research workers supervising the research projects. Before undertaking
experimental procedures, all members of staff must read and sign the relevant CoSHH assessments
Title of Procedure:
Retrieval of DNA from agarose gels using spin column based kits
Labs Involved:
All staff
Brief Description:
Kit used to extract and purify DNA (70bp to 10KB) from agarose gels in TAE/TBE buffer. Also used for DNA clean up for
enzymatic reactions. Kits assessed -Qiagen Genejet and PureLink
Procedure No:
Please note: Known carcinogens, teratogens and mutagens should only be used in consultation with senior staff and the Departmental
Safety Officer. All user must have read University supplementary Code of Practice for the use of such substances and comply with its
recommendations. It is important to realise that the use of certain carcinogens is banned by law.
Chemical/Reagent
Hazard
Stock Volume/
Quantity
Buffer EB (Qiagen kit)
None listed
50ul
Buffer QC -contains guanidinium
thiocyanate (Qiagen kit)
Harmful by inhalation . Avoid
contact with skin/eyes.
Buffer PE -contains ethanol
Risk level
Precautions
Disposal
Low
Good laboratory
practice
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water.
1.7ml
Low
Good laboratory
practice. Do not mix
with acids.
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water.
Contains flammable liquid
750ul. Stock - 500ml
Low
Good laboratory
practice
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water.
QIAEX II Suspension- contains sodium
perchlorate (Qiagen kit)
Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Harmful by ingestion.
30ul. Stock- 1ml;.
Low
Good laboratory
practice
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water.
QX1 buffer -contains soduin perchlorate
(Qiagen kit)
Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Harmful by ingestion
1100ul
Low
Good laboratory
practice
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water.
Propan-2-ol
Flammable. Exposure limit 999mg/m3
200ul per sample.
Stock - 2.5L
Low
Good laboratory
practice.
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water.
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Procedure No:
Buffer ERC
flammable, harmful if swallowed,
irritating to eyes and skin
1 kit
Medium
do not handle near
naked flames and
sources of heat, wear
gloves and eye
protection
down sink with
copious amts of
water
GelPiolt x5 loading dye
not hazardous
1kit
Low
none
down sink with
copious amounts of
water
Binding buffer - contains water,
guanidinium thiocyanate and potassium
acetate (Genejet kit)
Harmful
Stock -30ml
Use 100ul per
Low
Good laboratory
practice.
Do not mix with acids.
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water
Wash buffer - contains ethanol (Genejet
kit)
Flammable
Stock-9ml
Use 700ul per
Low
Good laboratory
practice
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water
Elution buffer - 10mm Tris-Hcl solution
None listed
Stock - 15ml
Use up to 50ul per
Low
Good laboratory
practice
Sink./sluice with
copious amounts of
water
Sodium acetate
Not classed as hazardous
Stock -250g
Use 10ul 3M soln
Low
Good laboratory
practice
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water
Ethanol, absolute
Flammable. Exposure limit
1920mg/m3 or 1000ppm
Stock -2.5L
Use
45ml make wash
Low
Good laboratory
practice
Sink/sluice with
copious amounts of
water
PureLink Gel extraction kit
Non hazardous apart from Gel
stabilisation buffer -harmful if
swallowed
1 kit
Low
none
down sink with
copious amount sof
water
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Procedure No:
Good Laboratory Practice should be adhered at all times
• Common sense at all times!
• Never eat, drink or apply cosmetics in the laboratory.
• Wash your hands in the designated sinks whenever you have finished your lab work.
• Be familiar with the potential hazards involved in your work and take appropriate precautions.
• Wear protective clothing as needed, lab coats are a minimum.
• Keep your work area clean and tidy.
• Dispose of materials appropriately.
• Use appropriate care with electrical equipment.
• Use appropriate care with sharps
• Use appropriate care with substances of extreme temperatures (liquid nitrogen or hot liquids)
• Operate maintain and service all your equipment properly, if in doubt ask!
• Work in appropriate containment hoods where necessary.
Precautions to be taken:
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES – FIRST AID
IF PERSONNEL ARE AFFECTED (fumes, contamination/contact)
TREATMENT TO BE ADOPTED
EYES
Irrigate with eye wash for at least 10 minutes. Obtain medical attention.
LUNGS
Remove from exposure. Rest and keep warm. In severe cases obtain medical attention.
SKIN
Drench skin with water. Remove contaminated clothing. In severe cases seek medical attention.
MOUTH
Wash mouth out thoroughly and give very small SIPS of water. Do not induce vomiting. Obtain medical attention.
Special Precautions:
Buffer QC will liberate very toxic gas when in contact with acids.Do not add bleach or acidic solutions directly to the sample preparation waste.
Assessed by:
V. Singleton
Date:
26/06/2013 Approved by Y. Stephenson Date approved:
23/04/2013
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