RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
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 Science /
School of Molecular Bioscience
Initial Issue Date: Nov 2015
Next Review Date: Nov 2016
Risk Assessment Reference Number:
SMB031
Risk Assessment Name:
Southern blotting and P32 probe hybridisation
Prepared by:
Nick Coleman
Responsible supervisor/s:
Markus Hofer (Chair WHS committee) & Dianne Fisher (Safety
Officer)
Identify the activity and the location
Activity or process:
Using radioactive isotope (P32) for Southern Blotting
procedure (detection of specific DNA sequences)
Location:
Radioactive work areas in SMB (rooms 647, 648, 736, 739,
744, 775, 776)
Identify who may be at risk
This may include fellow workers, students,
visitors, contractors and the public
Persons at risk:
Research staff and research students
Risk assessment team (Who was consulted?):
WHS committee at SMB
List of Legislation, Code of Practice, Australian Standards, Guidance Materials used to determine control
measures
Safe work procedure SMB SWPs#031, Radiation Control Act 1990, Radiation Control Amendment Act 2010 &
Radiation Control Regulation 2013 (these documents from NSW Environment Protection Authority), Safety data
sheets for ethidium bromide, P32
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).
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
Task or scenario
Hazard/s
Associated harm, e.g. what could go
wrong?
DNA sample
preparation and
visualisation
Ethidium
bromide
Contact with skin or eyes, ingestion or
inhalation poses a cancer risk since ethidium
bromide is a possible mutagen (DNA-damaging
agent).
Existing Risk Controls
PPE: lab coat, nitrile gloves,
safety glasses/goggles.
Current
risk
rating
Use the
Risk
Matrix
Any additional
controls are
1
required?
Residual
risk rating
Use the
Risk Matrix
Low
No
Low
Medium
No
Medium
Low
No
Medium
No
Medium
Low
No
Low
Training of worker
Follow SWP
Heating agarose in
microwave
Burns or
explosion
Hot molten agarose can potentially cause
significant burn injuries to eyes or skin.
Microwaving of cloned containers can cause
explosion
PPE: lab coat, heat-resistant
gloves, safety glasses/ goggles
Training of worker
Follow SWP
DNA electrophoresis
Electric shock
Potential for serious electrical shock or
electrocution due to leaking chamber, faulty or
corroded electrode cables, or faulty power
supply.
Good maintenance of lab
equipment
Training of worker
Follow SWP
Visualisation of DNA
via transilluminator ;
Fixation of nucleic
acids with UV crosslinker
UV light
Potential for UV-C exposure to skin and eyes.
May cause tissue burns after a few seconds.
May cause blindness upon prolonged exposure
to eyes. Symptoms of exposure may not be
immediately painful or visible.
PPE: UV-resistant face-shield,
lab coat (sleeves rolled down),
nitrile gloves.
Training of worker
Follow SWP
Preparing SDS
1
SDS
Potential for inhalation, which may cause
PPE: lab coat, nitrile gloves,
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.
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
detergent solution
pulmonary sensitisation, or direct contact with
eyes and skin, which may cause pain and
redness.
safety glasses/goggles
Training of worker
Follow SWP
Handling P32 –
labelled probe
P32 isotope
Potential for radiation exposure. May cause
tissue damage, radiation poisoning or cancer.
(see SWP SMB #031)
PPE: lab coat, nitrile gloves,
safety glasses/goggles
Medium
No
Medium
Medium
No
Medium
Work in designated radioactive
work area.
Work behind Perspex shield
Minimise amount of isotope used
and exposure time
Wear a personal dosimeter
badge (this badge should only be
in the radioactive work room
when you are wearing it)
Training of worker
Follow SWP
Routinely monitor work area
(before and after work) using
Geiger counter
Use log book to report work in
radioactive work room.
Spill involving P32labelled probe or
related solutions
P32 isotope
Potential for radiation exposure. May cause
tissue damage, radiation poisoning or cancer.
(see SWP SMB #031)
PPE: lab coat, nitrile gloves,
safety glasses/goggles
Work in designated radioactive
work area.
Work behind Perspex shield
Minimise amount of isotope used
and exposure time
Wear a personal dosimeter
badge (this badge should only be
in the radioactive work room
when you are wearing it)
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RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
Training of worker
Follow SWP
Routinely monitor work area
(before and after work) using
Geiger counter
Use log book to report work in
radioactive work room.
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RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
Implementation of Additional Risk Controls
Additional controls
needed
Resources required
Responsible person
Date of
implementation
RiskWare Reference
Safe Work Procedure
(SWP)
DONE
WHS committee
27.3.15
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. See SMB SWP#004 and SWP#043.
Any spills must be cleaned up immediately, and the spill absorbent disposed of as hazardous waste. A typical 32P
cleanup procedure would involve putting on two pairs of gloves, and using first dry paper towel to mop up the spill,
and then moist paper towel to thoroughly clean the area. Ensure contaminated gloves and paper towel are
disposed of immediately as hazardous waste.
Effectiveness of spill cleanup must be assessed using a Geiger Counter (see manual for Geiger counter) –
Multiple rounds of spill cleanup and Geiger testing may be required to remove all P32, until count is no higher than
background in the area where the spill occurred.
Large spills of radioactive material (approx >1 MBq) or any spills involving human contact need to be reported as
formal incidents on the RiskWare system. Consult your supervisor and the Radiation Safety Officer ASAP.
REVIEW
Scheduled review date
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:
1 year
2 years
3 years
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
Risk Matrix.
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
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
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