General Risk Assessment Long FormHSD063M

Describe the activity, experiment or area under assessment.

The use of the cell sorters in the NIHR Cambridge BRC Immunophenotyping Hub on e6 during periods of lone working.
List the significant hazard(s).1 / Describe what could go wrong – that is, say who might be hurt and how.2 / Is the risk high, medium or low?3 / Please list the existing and/or intended control measures which will reduce the likelihood of all this happening.4 / Suggest here any further actions which may be beneficial. Say who will carry them out and by when
i)1) Lone working:
ii)Sudden illness and emergencies
iii)
iv)2) Fire
v)
vi)3) Electric shock
vii)
viii)4) Difficulties of entering Flow Cytometry lab 1 during an emergency when the ‘Laser On’ light is illuminated.
ix) / As a rule, during normal working hours, the cell sortering lab contains at least two members of staff. Staff seldom work for more than one hour alone and are regularly checked by other staff members. However, operators may work alone and outside normal working hours during periods of increased usage orwhen operators are absent due to other conflicting duties or sickness.
Lone/isolated working would significantly increase the consequences of sudden illness and emergencies
(Foreseeable events
include tripping or slipping resulting in collision with furniture, pain shock, electric shock and fainting, unconsciousness).
Lack of assistance if needed. Inadequate provision of first aid
(failing to provide medical help as the person has not been missed/noticed due to isolated working)
Flow cytometry Personnel / Low if control measures are adhered to. / Effective time management should minimise the amount of work undertaken out of normal working hours
Staff should be fully trained on the equipment they use, this training includes all the health and safety aspects of the machines.
Any changes in working practices should be discussed with supervisors
Robust footwear and clothes should be worn to minimise the risk of slips and trips
Operators are required to obtain health clearance through University Occupational Health Service. / An option to fit an automatic warning device:
-which would operate if specific signals are not received periodically from the lone worker,
-or raise alarm in an emergency, operated manually by the staff member or automatically by the absence of activity
x) / Fire risk, lone working may increase the chance of a fire being unnoticed and overcoming the operator before an alarm could be raised.
Flow cytometry Personnel / Low if control measures are adhered to. / There is a smoke detector connected to the building’s fire alarm that would alert Reception/Security of the presence of fire.
All staff must receive fire safety training
xi) / Electric shock: caused through faulty equipment or whilst handling high voltage plates when trying to rescue a cell sample during breakdown of cell sorting machines.
Flow Cytometry Personnel / Low if control measures are adhered to. / As written down in the standard operating procedures the plates should only be handled when the cell sorter is turned off
xii) / Difficulties of entry into Flow Cytometry lab 1 for personnel responding to emergency.
During an emergency access to the Flow Cytometry lab 1is hindered by local rules, where no personnel are allowed access if the ‘laser light’ warning light is illuminated.
Security Staff, Laboratory Managers, Fire Brigade / Medium unless new control measures are introduced. / A contingency plan should be prepared in case the lone worker falls ill, there is an accident, or there is an emergency such as a fire or chemical spillage.
This plan should include provision for entry into the Flow Cytometry lab 1when the ‘laser on’ light is illuminated, indicating the laser is in use. This should incorporate an ‘emergency power off’ switch to be located outside the door. The switch should be covered and locked during normal working hours and keys held in reception and with laboratory manager for immediate access to operators. Outside normal working hrs the switch should not be locked
Simon McCallum will discuss this plan and lone worker policy with Alan Brownlee in first instance and obtain information/quotation how much such a switch would cost and whether department or group would be charged
In the event of an alarm being raised or failure of personnel to respond,
If ‘Laser On’ sign is illuminated, Security staff/Lab Management/Fire brigade should
1)Call x30149
2)If no response; knock on the door
3)If no response; turn off the power using the emergency power off switch and gain access.
If the ‘Laser on’ light is out enter without delay.
It must be noted that MoFlo is currently out of active operation, therefore it is unlikely that the situation described above will occur. Simon will inform everybody if and when MoFlo will be in operational service
Important! It is essential to check regularly that control measures specified in this risk assessment document are actually being used in practice. Any specialist emergency or first aid procedures should be specified here.
Emergency procedures:
First Aid:
Electric shock: In the event of an accident phone 62322 and seek assistance from a first aider. Switch off power, if safe to do so. Secure release from contact. Send for a doctor or ambulance. Place the casualty in the recovery position. If casualty not breathing, commence respiratory resuscitation immediately.
Biological Agent:Wash any contaminated skin, conjunctivae or mucous membrane immediately.
In the event of a wound, it should be allowed to bleed by vigorous irrigation under running water.
Seek medical Advice and contact University Occupational Health Service immediately.
Spillage: All spillages and surface contamination must beimmediately cleaned up and removed including decontamination with a suitable validated disinfectant, such as 10% solution of Trigene.
Chemical spill: Eyes: Wash with copious amount of water for at least 15 minutes, phone 62322 and seek assistance from a first aider and seek medical attention.
Skin: Wash with copious amount of water, remove contaminated clothing, phone 62322 and seek assistance from a first aider and seek medical attention.
Inhalation: If inhaled, phone 62322 and seek assistance from a first aider and seek medical attention. Remove victim to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen.
If any Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is required, please specify it here or attach it to this form. Any specialist training required should also be specified here.
Attached
Is special monitoring (e.g. hearing test, eye test, health surveillance) required? If so, please enter details and also contact the University Occupational Health Service.
None / What personal protective equipment (PPE) is required (e.g. overalls, gloves, respiratory protection, eye protection)? You must ensure that any PPE specified is suitable for the purpose.
Gloves
Safety Glasses

Please complete this section to confirm that this constitutes a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk.

Name of assessor:
Anna Petrunkina-Harrison/ Simon McCallum / Signature: / Date:
010913 / Name of supervisor: / Signature: / Date:

This assessment should be reviewed regularly (usually every 12 months), or earlier if there is a material change to the process, the equipment, location or relevant safety technologies. It should also be reviewed when new people are involved, or after an accident or incident has taken place.

Reviewed by (name) / Signature / Date / Indicate changes here5

1 A list of hazards is provided below to help you, but this may not be exhaustive. If any of these hazards can be eliminated altogether, or can be reduced at source by making an inherent change then we must consider doing so. Hazards in bold will also need an additional, more technical assessment on a specialist form - please ask your Departmental Safety Officer or the University Health and Safety Office for further advice.

High or low temperaturesHigh pressuresChemical hazardsBiological hazardsGenetically Modified Organisms

Ionising radiationsLasersSharp objectsDustsWork at heightsAnimal houses

Magnetic fieldsMachinery hazardsElectricityManual HandlingNoiseVibration

Falling objectsCollapsing structuresFloodingSlips, trips and fallsAsphyxiant gasesFlammable gases

2 Please explain how an accident, incident or health condition could arise. We must consider all events which are reasonably foreseeable.

3 Please see the health and safety risk assessment handbook for further guidance on levels of risk.

4 When deciding on suitable control measures, you should ensure that you are complying with all relevant University policy and guidance documents, and that you have considered the hierarchy of control measures. In order to comply with legislation, we must also take all steps which are ‘reasonably practicable’ to reduce risk. This means that we should take all steps which are (in terms of time, cost and trouble) reasonable in relation to the reduction of risk achieved.

5If changes are extensive, you will need to complete a whole new form, or attach a written amendment. If there are no changes say so