For additional information refer to HS329 Risk Management Procedure
Faculty/Division: Science
Document number
A
Initial Issue date
01-08-2013
School/Unit: School of Physics/Biophysics
Current version
V1
Current Version
Issue date 01-08-2013
Next review date
01-08-2014
Risk management name G11-12 Plant Electrophysiology Lab
Form completed by
Dr Mary Beilby
Responsible supervisor/ authorising officer
Dr Mary Beilby
Signature
Signature
Date
01-08-2013
Date
01-08-2013
Identify the activity and the location of the activity
Identify who may be at risk from the activity :
Description of activity
This may include fellow workers, visitors, contractors and the public. The types of people may affect the risk controls needed and the location may affect the number of people at risk
Plant Electrophysiology research involves plant culturing, media preparations, microelectrode preparation, glass electrodes pulling, and voltage clamp experiment by computer controlled circuits, data logging, pH meters measurements, chemical weighing and osmometer measurements for molarity.
Persons at risk Lab manager , Staff and postgraduate students
How they were consulted on the risk
All work has to comply with Safe Working procedures which have been provided.
Description of location
Safe working procedure contains the information about hazard and risk and how to deal with them in case of happening.
Plant Electrophysiology is located on ground level of Old Main Building of
The University of New South Wales. The Lab is based in an enclosed area and it is accessible only to the lab manager, staff and postgraduate students.
The area is under the control of facility management of the university and the university take the responsibility of implementing all the risk management policies, procedures, and practices of the building.
The immediate person to consult with is the Lab manager Dr Mary Beilby with the mean of communications.
All these information is provided on the induction date and updated on regular meeting.
List legislation, standards, codes of practice , manufacturer’s guidance etc used to determine control measures necessary
HS Risk Management Form
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Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011
Safe work procedures
School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunication introductory laboratory safety manual for EET students March 2012
Laboratory Hazardous Waste Disposal Guideline (OHS321) of UNSW
Biosafety Procedure HS323 of UNSW
HS418 Portable Electrical Equipment Inspection, Testing and Tagging Guideline of UNSW
Guide to reporting hazards and incidents (HS713) Version 3.1 4 April 2013 of UNSW
Operation manual P-87 Flaming/Brown Micropipette Puller Rev. 0299c (20081016)
EM049 Emergency Procedures & Awareness of UNSW
Identify hazards and control the risks .
1. An activity may be divided into tasks. For each task identify the hazards and associated risks. Also list the possible scenarios which could sooner or later cause harm.
2. Determine controls necessary based on legislation, codes of practice, Australian standards, manufacturer ’s instructions etc.
3. List existing risk controls and any additional controls that need to be implemented
4. Rate the risk once all controls are in place using the matrix in HS329 Risk Management Procedure
SHADED GREY AREAS
If you need to determine whether it’s reasonably practicable to implement a control, based on the risk complete the shaded grey columns
Feel free to resize the boxes to suit your situation/the amount of text you need to use
Task/
Hazard
Associated harm
Any additional controls required?
Risk Rating
Existing controls
Scenario
C L R
Cost of controls
(in terms of time, effort, money)
Is this reasonably practicable
Y/N
Weighing of
Chemicals using analytical balance
Potential
Hazard of being exposed to chemicals by the skin, eyes, inhalation and ingestion .
Physical injury
All staff and students are trained to use the specific weighing equipment and are aware of the chemicals used.
Chemical Lists and MSDS are located in the
Laboratory as a risk management procedure.
Laboratory induction and regular OHS discussions at
Lab Meetings to reinforce the potential hazards.
no
1 E L
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Task/
Scenario
Hazard
Associated harm
Existing controls
Chemical Lists and MSDS are located in the
Laboratory as a risk management procedure.
Laboratory induction and regular OHS discussions at
Lab Meetings to reinforce the potential hazards.
Any additional controls required? no
Risk Rating Cost of controls
(in terms of time, effort, money)
Is this reasonably practicable
Y/N
C L R
Preparation of media for electrophysi ology experiments
Potential
Hazard of being exposed to chemicals by the skin, eyes, inhalation and ingestion.
Physical injury
Safe Work
Procedure for
Operation of pH Meter
Chemical
Spill
Physical injury

All staff and students are trained to use the specific weighing equipment and are aware of the chemicals used.
1 E L
DISPOSAL
OF
CHEMICAL
, GLASS
AND
SHARPS
WASTES
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.
Physical injury
Risk Control 1: Long sleeved Lab Gown, Closed
Shoes, Gloves (type depending on chemical) Splash goggles
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. no no
1 E L
1 C L
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.);
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Task/
Scenario
Hazard
Associated harm
Existing controls
Any additional controls required?
Risk Rating Cost of controls
(in terms of time, effort, money)
Is this reasonably practicable
Y/N
C L R batteries; plant or equipment (including electrical equipment and furniture); and, computers, should be referred to the School of Chemistry Safety Manual.
Making
Microelectro des Using
P-87 microelectro de puller
Failure to comply with any of the following precautions may result in injury to the users this device as well as device. those working in the general area near the
EYES:
MAY
.
PARTICLES
CAUSE
IRRITATION
The micropipettes created using this instrument are very sharp and relatively fragile.
Contact with the pulled micropipette tips, therefore, should be avoided to prevent accidentally impaling yourself.
INHALATIO
N: MAY
CAUSE AN
IRRITATION
OF
RESPIRATO
RY ORGANS
OF
SENSITIVE
PERSONS
RESULTING
IN THE
OBSTRUCTI
ON OF
AIRWAYS
WITH
SHORTNESS
OF
BREATH.
Always
SKIN: THIS
MATERIAL
IS
TOXIC.
NOT
MAY DRY
OR
IRRITATE
SKIN
To prevent fire or shock hazard do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.
To avoid electrical shock:
Do not disassemble the unit. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.
Always use the grounded power supply cord set provided to connect the unit to a grounded outlet (3prong). This is required to protect you from injury in the event that an electrical hazard develops.
To avoid burns do not touch the heating filament, the brass clamps holding the filament or the heated ends of glass pipettes that have been pulled.
To avoid injuring your back or limbs, it is recommended that you do not attempt to lift this instrument by yourself. The P-87 Micropipette Puller weighs in excess of 18kg and should be moved by
TWO people.
no
1 C L
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Task/
Scenario
Hazard
Associated harm
Existing controls
Any additional controls required?
Risk Rating Cost of controls
(in terms of time, effort, money)
Is this reasonably practicable
Y/N
C L R
The LSI
11/73 computer facilitated voltage clamping the PD across the cell membrane to a bipolar staircase command dispose of micropipettes by placing them into a well-marked, spill-proof
“sharps” container.
INGESTION:
MAY
CAUSE
VOMITING,
DIARRHEA
AND
SENSATION
OF
WARMTH
Use only with glassware recommended by Sutter
Instrument
Company in the following section of this manual.
SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS
OF OVER
EXPOSURE:
EYE, NOSE,
THROAT,
OR
RESPIRATO
RY
IRRITATION
Electrical shock
Glass sharp causing injuries
Physical injury
Failure to comply with any of the following precautions may damage this device. Operate The
LSI 11/73 computer facilitated voltage clamping using 60Hz or 240V a.c.,
The LSI 11/73 computer facilitated voltage clamping using is designed to be operated in a laboratory environment.
The LSI 11/73 computer facilitated voltage clamping using is designed to connect to a standard laboratory power outlet.
1 E L
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Task/
Scenario
Hazard
Associated harm
Existing controls
Since the LSI 11/73 computer facilitated voltage clamping using is a microprocessor-controlled device, it should be accorded the same system wiring precautions as any 'computer type' system. If microprocessor based systems in the lab require line surge protection for proper operation, and then the same protection should be provided for the system.
Any additional controls required?
Risk Rating Cost of controls
(in terms of time, effort, money)
Is this reasonably practicable
Y/N
C L R
List emergency procedures and controls
List emergency controls for how to deal with fires, spills or exposure to hazardous substances and/or emergency shutdown procedures
All equipment has switches that can be used in emergency. Shut all electrical equipment off at power point in case of emergency.
Fellow the emergency procedure as prescribed by “EM049 Emergency Procedures & Awareness of UNSW”
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Implementation
Additional control measures needed:
REVIEW
Scheduled review date:
Are all control measures in place?
Are controls eliminating or minimising the risk?
Are there any new problems with the risk?
Review by: (name)
Review date:
Resources required Responsible person Date of implementation
Acknowledgement of Understanding
All persons performing these tasks must sign that they have read and understood the risk management (as described in HS329 Risk Management Procedure).
Note: for activities which are low r isk or include a large group of people (e.g. open days, BBQ’s, student classes etc), only the persons undertaking the key activities need to sign below. For all others involved in such activities, the information can be covered by other methods including for example a safety briefing, induction, and/or safety information sheet (ensure the method of communicating this information is specified here)
Risk management name and version number: I have read and understand this risk management form
Name Signature Date
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