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: Faculty of Pharmacy Initial Issue Date: Oct 2016 Risk Assessment Reference Number: Next Review Date: Oct 2017 Risk Assessment Name: Cleanup of biohazard spills Prepared by: Padmaja Dhanvate & Dr. Alpesh Patel Responsible supervisor/s: Research supervisors, Laboratory managers Identify the activity and the location Activity or process: Cleaning/decontaminating a spill of a bio hazardous substance. Location: All research and teaching labs Identify who may be at risk This may include fellow workers, students, visitors, contractors and the public Persons at risk: All staff and students who work with bio hazardous substances. 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 Refer to SAFE WORK PROCEDURE BIOHAZARD SPILL CLEAN UP Risk Assessment Methodology Assessing the risk is a brainstorming exercise, which is most effectively carried out in a team environment with the people 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 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 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).
Task or scenario Hazard/s Associated harm, e.g. what could go wrong? Existing Risk Controls Current risk rating Use the Risk Matrix Additional Risk Controls? 1 Residual risk rating Use the Risk Matrix Cleaning up biohazard spill Infection of worker with biohazard. Irritation of eyes / skin with disinfectant chemicals Increased risk to workers with pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. allergy, immunocompromised state, chemical sensitivity) and workers who are pregnant or expecting pregnancy Contact with biohazard substance Exposure/contact with disinfectant chemicals 1. Wear appropriate PPE 2. P2-type respirator if aerosol hazard of Risk Group 2 microbes exists 3. REFER TO SWP 4. Workers at increased risk must consult with their supervisor AND medical specialist AND the university's WHS services before performing this procedure. If there are any serious concerns expressed by any of these individuals, this task must not be performed. Low level NO N/A Cleaning up biohazard spill Contamination of environment with recombinant DNA materials Release of recombinant DNA materials into natural environment 1. Contain spill and dispose of waste appropriately 2. REFER TO SWP004.3 Low level NO N/A 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.
Implementation of Additional Risk Controls Additional controls needed Resources Responsible person Date of implementation RiskWare Reference Safe Work Procedure (SWP) DONE Sarah Cui 19.6.06 N/A Train workers to complete process in accordance with SWP Time supervisor and workers Supervisor N/A University and local WHS training Time Supervisor N/A List emergency controls for how to deal with fires, spills or exposure to hazardous substances and/or emergency shutdown procedures Follow general emergency and spill procedures. In the event of a spill, make sure other staff s working in the immediate area is warned about the spill immediately. If the spill involves potentially infectious agents (e.g. human clinical specimens or risk group 2 or 3 microbes), vacate the area for at least 30 minutes to allow aerosol particles to settle before commencing clean up. Report all spills to your supervisor as soon as possible and any external spills outside the PC2 facility to the University Biosafety Officer on ext 14126 or 17910 Contain the spill by placing absorbent towelling around the spill. Wet the towelling with 1% freshly made sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution or Virkon. Cover the spill with extra towelling, and carefully wet with 1% bleach solution or Virkon. Allow the bleach to soak into the spill and decontaminate for 20-30 minutes; Carefully wipe surrounding surfaces likely to have been contaminated with aerosols using fresh towelling soaked with 1% bleach solution; Carefully wipe up the spillage with the soaked towelling and transfer all contaminated material into a plastic biohazard bag provided in the Spill Kit. Dry area with clean towelling. Dispose of this towelling also into the same biohazard bag. REVIEW Scheduled review date 1 year 2 years 3 years Are control measures in place (YES/NO) Are controls eliminating or minimizing the risk (YES/NO) Are there any new problems with the risk (YES/NO) Reviewed by: Actual Review date:
Risk Matrix. Consequence People Injuries not requiring First Aid First Aid Medical treatment Hospital admission 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
In signing this section the assessor agrees that the following persons are competent in following this Risk Assessment. Name Signature Date Competent Name Assessor/Authoriser of Assessor/Authoriser signature Page 5