School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
COSHH and Risk Assessment
Introduction
As you are no doubt aware, it is now a legal requirement that COSHH forms and Risk assessments are completed for all laboratory procedures including teaching practicals and research (control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulations, 2002. The COSHH regulations cover a variety of potential hazards including both chemical and biological reagents. Together with these notes you will find copies of the departments COSHH form which you must complete. They should be available for inspection by the Health and Safety Officer if required. All COSHH forms must be kept in a clearly defined area of the laboratory in which the work is to be undertaken i.e. this area must be visible from the laboratory entrance. Practical requisitions will not be accepted unless a suitable COSHH assessment has been made, and copies of the form given to the technician concerned. Copies of COSHH forms covering research procedures should be signed by the project supervisor.
You are reminded that there are two major aims of the COSHH regulations:
(a)to ensure that all concerned with the procedures are aware of any potential hazard involved and take suitable precautions for controlling this hazard.
(b)to highlight potential and actual hazards and for these to be minimised by modification or alteration of the procedures where appropriate.
The regulations further require that the assessment "shall be reviewed forthwith" if there is reason to suggest that the assessment is no longer valid or if there has been a significant change in the work to which the assessment relates.
Notes on Completion of COSHH Assessment
1.In order to assist you in completing the form. Some notes and examples follow.
(a)A COSHH form and risk assessment must be completed before any procedure in which chemicals/biologicals/sharps/animals/electrical equipment are used is carried out in the laboratory. These forms must be present in the laboratory where the procedure is undertaken. For example if a buffer is required for a practical a COSHH form and risk assessment should be completed by the technician performing the task. This form should be kept in the prep room where the buffer is made. When the buffer is used in the teaching lab a separate COSHH form detailing the operations to be undertaken using the buffer must be completed by the member of staff responsible for the practical. With respect to student practicals this COSHH form must be present within the laboratory whilst the procedure is in progress.
(b)The hazardous nature of substances can either be obtained directly from the bottle or container, or from data sheets which are available for consultation in the microbiology, pharmacology and biochemistry preparation rooms. The data sheets have also been marked with the appropriate disposal and spillage codes (see Appendix 2 and 3 for common codes).
(c)The ‘disposal and spillage of hazardous material’ section will probably cause the major difficulty since there are a large number of different possibilities. Attached to these notes is a short list of the major ways in which spillages are dealt with and the methods of safe disposal. If in any doubt, the correct procedures must be obtained directly from the data sheets. In order to simplify this part of the form the methods of disposal and spillage have been given codes (see Appendix 1 and 2).
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(d)The principal biological hazards will be:
(i)Infectious organisms - these are divided into ACDP hazard groups, with hazard groups 2, 3, and 4 posing increasing hazards. All of these groups require specific containment and handling procedures which must be complied with. Definition of the hazard groups :
Hazard group 1 : A biological agent unlikely to cause human disease.
Hazard group 2 : A biological agent that can cause human disease and may be a hazard to employees; it is unlikely to spread to the community and there is usually effective prophylaxis or effective treatment available.
Hazard group 3 : A biological agent that can cause severe human disease and prevents a serious hazard to employees; it may present a risk of spreading to the community, but there is usually effective prophylaxis or effective treatment available.
Hazard group 4 : A biological agent that causes severe human disease and is a serious hazard to employees; it is likely to spread to the community and there is usually no effective prophylaxis or effective treatment available.
Only hazard groups 1 and 2 are permitted in the teaching or research laboratories. A list of the available category 2 organisms is given in appendix 3.
(ii)Human tissue, blood or other fluids are not permitted in undergraduate laboratory practicals, and only with prior clearance in research projects.
(iii)Experimental animals do not generally present a serious problem, but, exposure to allergens, particularly in sensitive individuals is a serious hazard. Allergic individuals should consult with the safety officer and/or the medical officer.
(iv)Genetic material is mainly covered by separate regulations, but should be assessed on the COSHH form. If in doubt please consult Dr John Mottley.
3.The COSHH form and Risk assessment. The form is hopefully self explanatory!
a)Enter the title of the practical or research procedure. Only one form need be completed for practicals that are simply repeated for different classes. Print your name in the section headed assessor and the date in the section headed assessment date! COSHH forms should be reviewed annually or earlier if the procedure used is modified. Simply put the date that the review occurs in the box at the bottom of the form and sign.
b)The code number you can assign yourself, since it is only for reference - it should be 3 alpha characters (your initials?) followed by three numeric characters (e.g. JSW001)
c)The rest of the first page should contain details of the hazardous reagents with a cross (X) - in any relevant box. The column headed "Note #" is for any difficulties regarding a reagent - simply place consecutive numbers in this column to provide a cross reference to any notes you wish to make in the “Additional Information" section. If you run out of space use an additional form andattach. Compounded hazards are those which may occur as a consequence of combining any of the reagents of biologicals listed.
d)The back of the form is for the risk assessment of the procedures which are to be undertaken with the reagents and biologicals detailed on the COSHH form.
e) Detail of operations. List the operations to be undertaken. Use common procedure names e.g. agar gel electrophoresis.
f)Measures taken to reduce risk e.g. operation of equipment by more experienced staff, conduct operations in fume hood or laminar flow cabinet.
g) Equipment to be used. Give the names of all equipment the operation of which may potentially constitute a risk i.e. electrical equipment, sharps, animals and any other item that is considered to be potentially hazardous.
h) Chemical / Procedure
List the chemical and procedures which are used or undertaken which may result in a hazard. The hazard index refers to the hazard of the chemicals / biologicals used in the concentrations / volumes / quantities listed. Define these as low risk, medium risk and high risk and write either 1 (low), 10 (medium) or 100 (high) into the appropriate box. Remember that dilution of toxic compounds and the use of fume hoods etc. will reduce the risk associated, as will the use of very low volumes / quantities / concentrations..
For the majority of practical classes the risks will have been minimised to such an extent that the overall procedure can be defined as HI = 1, OI = 1 and consequently Assessment Index 1.
No procedure with a hazard index of greater than 100 can be conducted without the prior consent of the head of department.
I)Estimate of exposure. If the assessment index recorded is low then all persons entering the laboratory whilst the operation is in progress or the biologicals / chemicals are present will be at low risk. Place a cross (X) in the appropriate boxes.
j) Sign and date the form. All undergraduate and post graduates must have the form counter signed by their supervisor.
NBYou are reminded that these notes are only issued as a guide and that you are responsible for ensuring that the information on your COSHH forms is correct.
Radioactive hazards
Radioactive materials must only be used in an approved laboratory.
A code of practice must be prepared in consultation with Mr Ray Stoker (Radiation Safety Officer) before work is started.
Storage, use and disposal of all radioactive materials must be recorded on the computer database.
Pharmaceuticals
All pharmaceuticals should be kept in secure conditions.
In the case of scheduled drugs (i.e. substances that appear in the schedules of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and subsequent regulations) it is a legal requirement that they be stored in a locked cabinet, with the key kept by the designated key holder (Dr David Humber).
Poisons
All poisons must be stored in a locked cabinet. The key to these cabinets should be held by the senior member of each laboratory.
Appendix 1 : DISPOSAL PROCEDURES FOR WASTE CHEMICALS
DlDispose of as normal waste i.e. down sink / drain with copious amounts of water or if solid dispose of as normal refuse.
D2Place in autoclave bag or leak proof vessel / container and autoclave. After autoclaving dispose of as D1.
D3Place in sealable container and store pending disposal via waste chemical company.
All waste should be appropriately labelled (miscellaneous chemical wastes should not be mixed unless absolutely safe to do so).
D4Neutralise and dispose of down the sink / drain.
D5Allow to evaporate in a safe open area. Volumes over 500m1, where no incineration or safe evaporation site exists, store in waste solvent drum pending disposal via waste chemical company.
D6Waste should be swept up, placed in a sealed container and disposed of with dry products. Residues may be washed away, diluting greatly with large volumes of water.
Appendix 2: SPILLAGE PROCEDURES FOR CHEMICAL SPILLAGES
SlDispose of as normal waste i.e. down sink / drain or normal refuse.
S2Cover spillage with paper towels or suitable absorbent and pour appropriate disinfectant on top (see * below) and leave for at least 15 minutes. Place in autoclave bag or leak proof vessel or container and autoclave. After autoclaving dispose of as D1.
S3Place in sealable container and dispose of via waste chemical company. All waste should be appropriately labelled. Miscellaneous chemical wastes should not be mixed unless absolutely safe to do so.
S4 Absorb onto to towels or suitable absorbent. Neutralise. Rinse area with plenty of water.
S5Shut off all sources of ignition. Wipe up small amounts with cloth. Rinse well. For larger amounts ventilate area. Cover with towels or mineral absorbent, scoop into bucket and add water.
S6 Sweep up carefully, avoid creating dust cloud. Dispose of as normal waste.
*There are no universal disinfectants and they should be selected and used with care.
(a) where practicable the efficacy of selected disinfectants should be tested under the conditions of use.
(b) COSHH assessments must be carried out on disinfectants - gluteraldehyde -based preparations, for example may induce allergic reactions.
(c) disinfectants should be diluted accurately and used according to the manufacturers specifications.
(d) disinfectants must be discarded carefully and containers cleaned and sterilised before reuse.
Appendix 3 : Category Pathogens Stored in Life Sciences
Acinetobacter calcoaceticusP. atlantica
Aeromonas hydrophila (2)P. aureofasciens
Bacillus cereusP. dimuta
Clostridium bifermentansP. flu orescens (4)
C.butyricumP. fragi
C.histolyticumP. putida
C.pasteurianumSalmonella agora
C.perfringens (3)S. derby
C.sporogenesS. dublin
C.tertiumS. indiana
C. thermosaccarolyticumS. newport
C.tyrobutyricumS. pullorum
Campylobacter jejuniS. seftenberg
C. fetusS. typhimurium (9)
C. coliSchistosoma spp
Desulfotomaculum nigrificansSerratia marcescens (2)
Escherichia coli (44)Shigella sonnei
Kiebsiella oxytocaStaphylococcus aureus (26)
K. pneumoniaeStreptococcus agalactiae
Leishmania enrietiiS. bovis (4)
L. majorS. lactis (2)
L. aethiopicaS. mitis
Listeria monocytogenesS. mutans
Morganella morganiiS. pyogenes
Mycobacterium bovisS. salivarius
Neisseria flavescensS. sanguis
N. subflava (6) Streptococcus spp (11)
Plasmodium spp
Proteus mirabilis
P.vulgaris
Providencia rettgeri
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16)
- antimicrobial
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
If any of the compounds listed below are used extensively, it is advisable that their use is discussed with the safety officer and/or the medical officer so that, if necessary, medical surveillance can be arranged.
Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)
Nitro or amino derivatives of phenol and of benzene or its homologues
Potassium or sodium chromate or dichromate
1-Naphthylamine and its salts
Orthotolidine and its salts
Dianisidine and its salts
Dichlorbenzidine and its salts
Auramine, Magenta
Carbon disulphide
Disulphur dichloride
Benzene, including benzol
Carbon tetrachloride
Trichlorethylene
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