Water

L-Ascorbic Acid(Vitamin C)

Boric Acid

Hazardous Substances Policy - Assessment

CHEMICAL HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT

School of Biosciences

Name of supervisor / Dr C.J. Kirk / Assessment Number* / 1993
Signature
Assessor / Dr R.M. Harris / Date of Assessment / 18/1/2002

Signature

NotesA School COSHH form in Word is available on the School Server.

Available from the Health and Safety Unit.

Guidance on making an assessment is given in Making a Chemical Hazard and Risk Assessment.

Guidance is also available from Guidance on Completing the Chemical Hazard and Risk Assessment Form.

Use a continuation sheet to expand any section of this form in hard copy version.

1 / LOCATION OF THE WORK ACTIVITY / Medical School Laboratories EG14, EG17
Biosciences 407.
2 / PERSONS WHO MAY BE AT RISK
List names where possible / Dr R.M. Harris, L. Bottomley, D.M. Wood.
3 / ACTIVITY ASSESSED / Preparation of preservative solution.
4 / MATERIALS INVOLVED / Attach copies of data sheet(s)
NAME / AMOUNT
max/stored / HAZARD / RISK PHRASES / HAZDAT NO*** / BIOSCIENCESNO***
Water / As required / — / No Significant Hazard / — / N/A
L-Ascorbic Acid
(Vitamin C) / 50g / Unknown / Data not available—substance generally regarded as safe. Avoid contact and inhalation. / 371 / N/A
Boric Acid / 200g / Harmful / R 63: Possible risk of harm to the unborn child.
R 62: Possible risk of impairred fertility.
R 36/37/38: Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin. / 1401 / N/A
5 / INTENDED USE**
Give brief details and attach protocol/instructions
Dissolve 2g boric acid and 1g l-ascorbic acid in 100ml deionised water. Store at 0-4°C.
6 / RISKS to HEALTH and SAFETY from INTENDED USE
From personal exposure or hazardous reactions. Refer to OELs, flash points, etc., as appropriate. Are pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers especially at risk?
Possible risk of harm to the unborn child from ingestion of boric acid.
Possible risk of impaired fertility from ingestion of boric acid.
Risk of irritation to eyes, respiratory system and skin from contact with boric and l-ascorbic acids.
7 / CONCLUSIONS ABOUT RISKS
Is level of risk acceptable? Can risk be prevented or reduced by change of substance/procedure? Are control measures necessary?
The above risks are minimal if the precautions set out under control measure, 8, are followed and good laboratory practice is observed.
8 / CONTROL MEASURES
Additional to Good Chemical Practice
Gloves and goggles should be worn throughout the experimental procedure.
9 / INSTRUCTION/TRAINING
Specify course(s) and/or special arrangements.
N/A
10 / MONITORING
Performance of control measures,
None
Personal exposure / Health Surveillance
N/A / N/A
11 / WASTE DISPOSAL PROCEDURE
See School Server for Approved Procedure Document on specific Chemical Waste Disposal.
Pour excess reagent down the drain with plenty of water.
12 / REVIEW
Enter the date or circumstances for review of assessment (maximum review interval 5 years)
1/12/2006. Assessment must be reviewed following changes to experimental procedure.
13 / EMERGENCY ACTION
TO CONTROL HAZARDS / To stabilize situation eg spread absorbant on liquid spill; eliminate sources of ignition, etc.
For spillages of large amounts of dry compounds, wearing suitable gloves and goggles, sweep up material and place in a suitable, labelled container. For spillages of preservative solution, wearing suitable gloves, mop up spill with tissues.
TO PROTECT PERSONNEL / Evacuation, protection for personnel involved in clean-up, Special First Aid
Wear suitable gloves and goggles. If material comes into contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of soap and water.
In case of contact with eyes, flush with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Assure adequate flushing by separating eyelids with fingers, summon first aider.
TO RENDER SITE OF EMERGENCY SAFE / Clean-up/decontamination
Wash spillage site with plenty of water.
CONTACT PHONE

10.10.00

* Prefix T is used for Teaching Assessment Number.

** Please include amount of chemicals used and how.

***Hazdat No is the UNICOSHH datasheet report number.

Biosciences No is the Biosciences data sheet number.

UNICOSHH IS A CHEMICAL DATABASE ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY UNIT SERVER.

BIOSCIENCES DATA SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICE.