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: Oct 2015
Next Review Date: Oct 2016
Risk Assessment Reference Number:
SMB010
Risk Assessment Name:
Using cryogens including liquid nitrogen
Prepared by:
Ann Kwan
Responsible supervisor/s:
Markus Hofer (Chair WHS committee) & Dianne Fisher (Safety
Officer)
Identify the activity and the location
Identify who may be at risk
This may include fellow workers, students,
visitors, contractors and the public
Activity or process:
Performing routine transfer or refilling of cryogens and snap
freezing of samples.
Persons at risk:
Staff and students working or studying in the
School of Molecular Biosciences.
Location:
Rm 201 and research laboratories.
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 SWP010.2
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?
Transferring
cryogens
from one
vessel to
another
Contact with skin or
eyes
.
Severe burns,
permanent
tissue damage
and loss of
eyesight
Flash
freezing
using
cryogens
Condensation of
liquid oxygen in open
containers
Explosion or
fire associated
with enriched
oxygen
Spills/evaporation of
cryogens in enclosed
spaces
Suffocation
Use of inappropriate
container (e.g. glass
dewar, Eppendorf
tubes, inappropriate
sample container)
Injury from
projectile
fragments if
container or
transfer line
shatters
1
Existing Risk
Controls
1. Wear Appropriate
PPE.
2. If an oxygen monitor is
in alarm state, do not
enter the room and notify
room custodian.
3. Check that all work
areas in which you will
use the cryogenic agent
are well-ventilated and
not small enclosed
spaces. Never travel in
an elevator with
cryogens.
4. Check that all
containers and tools you
are going to use are
compatible with ultracold temperatures, and
will not shatter or
explode. Glass should
be avoided. Metals or
plastics are preferred.
5. When dispensing
liquid N2 from a large
cylinder into a smaller
Dewar, ensure supply
pipe is a few inches
inside the vessel, not
above it. Slowly turn the
supply tap and adjust the
speed of dispensing to
prevent splashing. Turn
the tap off immediately
when it starts to splash
over.
Never leave your Dewar
unattended and do not
leave liquid N2 in
containers exposed to
the atmosphere for
prolonged periods.
6. When collecting dry
ice from another
container use an
appropriate scooping
instrument or gently tip
container to direct the
dry ice into your own
container. Don’t pick up
Current
risk
rating
Use the
Risk
Matrix
Any
additional
controls
are
1
required?
Residual
risk
rating
Use the
Risk
Matrix
MEDIUM
LEVEL3
Ensure
proper
training by
supervisor
N/A
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
dry ice with bare hands –
burns will result.
7. If dispensing liquid
nitrogen to another
receptacle pour slowly
and carefully to minimise
splashing.
8. Do NOT create a gastight seal on any vessel
containing either liquid
nitrogen or dry ice. This
can result in explosion
and release of extremely
cold vapours and/or
liquid, and sharp
fragments of the
container.
9.Refer to SWP010.2
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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/time
WHS committee
4.3.14
N/A
Train workers to
complete process in
accordance with SWP
DONE/Time
Supervisor
N/A
University and local
WHS training
DONE/Time
Supervisor
N/A
List emergency controls for how to deal with fires, spills or exposure to hazardous substances and/or
emergency shutdown procedures
1. If a very large amount of cryogenic material like liquid nitrogen is spilled (> 1L), leave the area immediately and
notify nearby workers to also leave. Consult your supervisor. No particular clean up is necessary, but it is
important to allow the gas to dissipate before returning to work. (time required depends on how well ventilated the
area is, most likely 5-10 min, but longer for less ventilated spaces)
2. Any large spills (>1L) or incidents resulting in injury must be reported to your supervisor immediately and via
the online incident report form within 24 h. Near misses (dangerous situations not leading to an incident) should
also be reported. For fainting/suffocation, apply first aid and seek medical advice.
3. For cold burns, run water (room temperature or slightly warmer) to gently warm the affected area for 15 mins
and seek further medical help if required.
REVIEW
Scheduled review date
1 year
Are control measures in place (YES/NO)
YES
Are controls eliminating or minimizing the risk (YES/NO)
MINIMISING
Are there any new problems with the risk (YES/NO)
NO
Reviewed by:
Actual Review date:
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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