Use this form to assist you to complete risk assessments for hazardous activities and processes. Any serious or ongoing hazards should be reported via RiskWare to ensure that appropriate corrective actions are tracked and completed. Faculty/School: Pharmacy Initial Issue Date: Oct 2016 Risk Assessment Reference Number: Next Review Date: Oct 2017 Risk Assessment Name: Handling, storage and use of gases Prepared by: Dr. Alpesh Patel and Padmaja Dhanvate Responsible supervisor/s: Research supervisors, Laboratory managers Identify the activity and the location Activity or process: Identify who may be at risk This may include fellow workers, students, visitors, contractors and the public Persons at risk: Transporting full cylinders from loading dock to storage area and returning empty cylinders Connecting and disconnecting regulators Storage of gas cylinders Researcher, demonstrator, staff or student performing the procedure. Other researchers, demonstrators, staff or students in the same laboratory. Visitors or contractors entering the laboratory area The user should also consult the related documents RA/SWP: Gas regulators, use and exchange and RA/SWP: Gas Cylinder Transport and Handling. Location: Research and teaching labs at Faculty of Pharmacy Risk assessment team (Who was consulted?): Laboratory and Research Services Manager List of Legislation, Code of Practice, Australian Standards, Guidance Materials used to determine control measures Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 AS/NZS 2243.2:2006 Safety in Laboratories Part 2: Chemical Aspects AS/NZS 2243.2:2006 Safety in Laboratories Part 10: Storage of chemicals AS 4332 2004 The storage and handling of gases in cylinders Risk Assessment Methodology Assessing the risk is a brainstorming exercise, which is most effectively carried out in a team environment with the people required to complete the activity or process. Most activities or processes are broken down into a variety of separate tasks. For each task, consider the hazards, the potential harm or negative outcomes and the conditions required for those negative outcomes to occur. Whenever assessing the health and safety risks associated with a task, always consider the following primary risk factors.
The physical activities required to complete the task e.g. repetitive movement, high force, physical exertion, awkward posture The work environment e.g. lighting, work layout, traffic, thermal comfort, working in isolation The nature of the hazard itself e.g. working with chemicals, microorganisms, radiation, machinery, potentially violent clients The individual workers involved, e.g. level of training, skills, experience, health, age, physical capacity The information gathered from the risk assessment process must be used to develop a Safe Work Procedure (SWP). Page 2
Task or scenario Dropped or damaged gas cylinder Hazard/s Cylinder acts as projectile Associated harm, e.g. what could go wrong? Impact injuries Existing Risk Controls Cylinders must always be properly secured when stored or transported Current risk rating Use the Risk Matrix Additional Risk Controls? 1 Residual risk rating Use the Risk Matrix Dropped, damaged, or heated gas cylinder explodes Shrapnel Shrapnel injuries from debris Proper storage of cylinders Attaching and disconnecting regulators from gas cylinders Gas cylinder releases gas in confined space Cryogenic injuries, corrosive burns, toxic poisoning, or asphyxiation All workers to use appropriate PPE Cylinder storage areas should be well ventilated Cylinder valve is left closed unless it is connected to a regulator or to equipment Check cylinder is in good condition before installing the regulator. Use the correct regulator for the type of gas and the pressure of the cylinder, and always check for leaks after connecting a regulator to a cylinder or making any other connections eg. in gas tubing Attaching and disconnecting regulators from gas cylinders Flammable gas Fire or explosion Ensure appropriate fire extinguisher and blanket are in laboratory Do not store cylinders of highly flammable gas in laboratories unless they are actively being used - such gases should preferably be located outside labs, and gases plumbed in via tubing. When using flammable gas cylinders, remove ignition sources from the laboratory. If this is not possible, keep cylinders >3 m away from ignition sources 1 Always consider whether or not it is possible to eliminated the hazard or hazardous task altogether. If this is not possible, refer to the hierarchy of risk controls.
Moving gas cylinders Injuries from falling or mishandled cylinder Crush injury Cylinders must always be secured to the trolley when being transported. Ask for assistance from the Store or Service Centre if needed. Low No N/A Page 4
Implementation of Additional Risk Controls Additional risk controls needed Resources required Responsible person Date of implementation RiskWare Reference List emergency controls for how to deal with fires, spills or exposure to hazardous substances and/or emergency shutdown procedures From SWP for regulators - If a leak is suspected from any of the joints of the regulator or cylinder in the regulator and/or any of the joints including the cylinder head that cannot be stopped or if there is an uncontrolled release of gas or fire evacuate building immediately and contact security x13333. If it is a small leak and you are able to contain the leak do so straight away to avoid the situation becoming worse. REVIEW Scheduled review date 1 year 2 years 3 years Are the control measures in place (YES/NO) Are the control measures effective in eliminating or minimizing the risk (YES/NO) Have the new control measures introduced any new hazards (YES/NO) Reviewed by: Actual Review date:
Risk Matrix Consequence People Injuries not requiring First Aid First Aid required Medical treatment required Hospital admission required Death or permanent disability to one or more persons Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Severe Is expected to occur in most Almost Certain Medium High High Very High Very High Likelihood Will probably happen in most Could occur at some time Likely Possible Medium Medium High High Very High Low Medium High High Very High Not likely to occur in normal Unlikely Low Low Medium Medium High May occur only in exceptional Rare Low Low Medium Medium Medium Page 6