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 / Initial Issue Date: Oct 2015

School of Molecular Bioscience Next Review Date: Oct 2016
Risk Assessment Reference Number: SMB003.2

Risk Assessment Name: Autoclaving

Prepared by: Ben Monaghan

Responsible supervisor/s: Markus Hofer (Chair WHS committee) & Dianne Fisher (Safety
Officer)

Identify who may be at risk

Identify the activity and the location This may include fellow workers, students,
visitors, contractors and the public
Activity or process: Autoclaving Persons at risk:
All staff or contractors at SMB that use the
autoclaves
Location: Risk assessment team (Who was consulted?):
Autoclaving area on level 2, room 206

WHS committee at SMB

List of Legislation, Code of Practice, Australian Standards, Guidance Materials used to determine control
measures

Please refer to University of Sydney’s SWP guidelines on the Work Health and Safety pages
(http://sydney.edu.au/whs/guidelines/biosafety/decontamination_guidelines.shtml).

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 Hazard/s Associated harm, e.g. what could Current Any additional Residual
scenario go wrong? Existing Risk Controls risk controls are risk rating
1
rating required? Use the
Use the Risk Matrix
Risk
Matrix
Autoclaving Lifting of heavy bulky Full bins containing autoclave bags Lift from the knees (don’t bend your back) Medium L4
items and other items left for autoclaving can
be heavy, and pose a potential injury Get help from another person if the item
risk if not lifted carefully and is too heavy.
appropriately
Minimise the distance you have to carry
heavy items

Use a trolley as much as possible.

Autoclaving Burn hazards from Just-autoclaved items will be VERY Handle these items only with Medium L4
steam, hot metal, HOT and can cause burns heat-resistant gloves
autoclaved items
Minimise handling as much as possible
until Items have cooled

Autoclaving Materials being Biological hazard (pathogenic Know the risks of the biological hazards Medium L4
autoclaved may microbes) from wastes left for you are working with: attend the
pose a serious autoclaving can cause infection. Biological Safety course run by University
BIOHAZARD threat of Sydney OHS.

Wear personal protective equipment,

including gloves, lab coat and safety
goggles when handling waste.

All PC2 waste must be stored in the

locked cage next to the autoclaves.

Immune-compromised and pregnant staff

must not handle waste prior to
autoclaving.

1
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

Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and

comply with any SDS requirements

Read and follow SOPS guidelines

Autoclaving Inappropriate Solvents, corrosives, bleach, Solvents, corrosives, bleach, radioactive Medium L4
materials and radioactive materials can ignite, materials MUST NOT BE AUTOCLAVED.
chemicals left for explode or become airborn. Disposal of these items is through the
autoclaving chemical hazardous waste streams.

Ensure you are familiar with the

properties of the materials to be
autoclaved.

Seek assistance if unsure of an item or

chemical left for autoclaving.

Page 3
 RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Implementation of Additional Risk Controls

Additional controls Resources required Responsible person Date of RiskWare Reference

needed implementation

Safe Work Procedure DONE WHS committee 1.3.2015 N/A

(SWP)

Train workers to Time – supervisor and Supervisor N/A

complete process in workers
accordance with SWP

University and local Time Supervisor N/A

WHS training

List emergency controls for how to deal with fires, spills or exposure to hazardous substances and/or
emergency shutdown procedures

1. Any biohazard spills must be cleaned up immediately using bleach. See SOP for “Working with risk group 2
microorganisms”.

2. Report any injuries such as burns or lifting injuries as soon as possible to your supervisor, and using the online incident
reporting system. Near misses (hazardous situations not leading to an incident) should also be reported

3. Dispose of autoclaved wastes correctly, as described above

4. Solvents, corrosives, bleach, radioactive materials MUST NOT BE AUTOCLAVED. Disposal of these items is through the
chemical hazardous waste streams

REVIEW

Scheduled review date 1 year 2 years 3 years

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:
 RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Risk Matrix.