WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

ENTER INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACTIVITY / TASK, PEOPLE AFFECTED, ITS LOCATION, AND THE PEOPLE COMPLETING THE RISK ASSESSMENT
Best description of the person working on the task: ☐ Undergraduate ☐ Postgraduate ☐PhD ☐ Staff

Type of Activity: ☐ Lab work ☐ Research ☐ Teaching ☐ Field work ☐ Clinical work/placement ☐ General (describe):

Description of activity / task: Using FACS / cell sorter device to isolate cell of interest from human gastric tissue
Describe the working environment including layout and physical conditions: Cells harvested from a human tissue for research purpose. Working area locates in PC2 laboratory area.

Location(s):
PC2 research laboratories, Building 30, Campbelltown Campus, Western Sydney University and PC2 research laboratories, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, The University of New South Wales
Is there any emergency, security, licensing or approval requirements for this risk Emergencies –Chemical spills
assessment? For example: Emergencies –Electrical hazards
Emergencies – spills, gas leaks, communication in remote conditions Emergencies - Cut or stab injury
Security – storage of scheduled drugs, GMOs, portable radiation equipment
Licencing or approvals – approval from animal ethics committee, BRSC, WHSW, Other
licences - including those related to operating equipment, maintenance of facilities and
grounds and construction activities (OEC)
How will this risk assessment be monitored? Review every two years, training, inspections, supervision and audits.
For example: regular or ad-hoc inspections, training, audits, academic supervision of
students.
What reference materials were used when developing this risk assessment? For SOP 37 Laboratory waste management- non-Biological.
example: SOP 368 Biohazardous waste management
 Legislation  Standard operating procedures SDS
 Code of practice  Incident investigations Australian standards and code of practice
Manufacturer’s instructions or protocols
 Australian standards  Manufacturer’s instructions
VERSION DETAILS (VERSION CONTROL FOR THE DEVELOPING RA)
Version Number: Date created: Review date: Date of Approval:
1.0 15.06.2023
WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS RISK ASSESSMENT? (ADDITIONAL ROWS CAN BE ADDED AS REQUIRED)
Developer (s) – Name and Signature Reviewer (s) - Name and Signature Approver (s) - Name and Signature

Tim Kao A/Professor Michael O’Connor A/Professor Michael O’Connor

The approver confirms that they have read and agreed to the risk controls, and are confident that the risk management process has been adequately undertaken in line with University policy or procedure.

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Date: August 2022 Version: 1.5 Authorised by: Director, Work Health, Safety & Wellbeing Next Review: July 2024
RISK MATRIX
CALCULATE THE RISK SCORE
WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE HARM Take the consequence rating and select the correct row
WHAT HARM COULD OCCUR?
OCCURRING? Take the likelihood and select the correct column
The risk score is where the two ratings intersect
Likelihood
Consequence Description Likelihood Description Almost
Rare Unlikely Possible Likely
certain
Fatality or severe Almost Already happened or will occur in most
Catastrophic Catastrophic Moderate Moderate High Critical Critical
irreversible damage certain circumstances within one year

Extensive injuries or
Major Likely Will probably occur within one year Major Low Moderate Moderate High Critical
impairment

Consequence
May occur within foreseeable future such
Moderate Medical treatment Possible Moderate Low Moderate Moderate Moderate High
as within 1 – 3 years

May occur at some time but unlikely in

Minor First aid treatment Unlikely Minor Very low Low Moderate Moderate Moderate
the foreseeable future

Insignificant No treatment required Rare Only occurs in exceptional circumstances Insignificant Very low Very low Low Low Moderate

SELECT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HAZARDS INCLUDED IN THE RISK ASSESSMENT

☒ Biological ☐ Hazardous Chemicals
☒ Electrical ☒ Extreme temperatures
☐ Gravity ☒ Machinery and equipment
☒ Manual tasks ☐ Noise
☐ Off-campus work and travel ☐ Physical activity
☐ Psychosocial ☐ Radiation

THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL MEASURES (WHS REGULATION MAKES IT MANDATORY FOR DUTY HOLDERS TO WORK THROUGH THIS HIERARCHY WHEN MANAGING CERTAIN
RISKS AND APPLY THIS AS FAR AS REASONABLY PRACTICAL)
Elimination (Highest method of
Removing the hazard and associated risk, for example disposing of a hazardous piece of equipment that is out of service
control)
Substitution Replace the high-risk activity, process or substance with a less hazardous one, for example substituting a hazardous chemical with a non-hazardous chemical
Physically separating the hazard from the people by distance or by using barriers, for example using a remote-control system to operate machinery, storing chemicals in a
Isolation
DG class cabinet
Engineering Change the equipment or environment where the process is undertaken; engineer out the problem, for example placing guards around moving parts of machinery
Develop work methods or procedures that are designed to minimise exposure to a hazard, for example policies, procedures, safety signs, posters, training, or safe work
Administrative
practices such as job rotation
Personal protective equipment (PPE) Provide suitable and properly maintained PPE to cover and protect people from contact or inhalation, for example, gloves, earmuffs, respirators, face masks, and aprons

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Date: August 2022 Version: 1.5 Authorised by: Director, Work Health, Safety & Wellbeing Next Review: July 2024
COMPLETE THE RISK ASSESSMENT
Use the following steps as a guide to completing the risk assessment:
1. List each task or job step, in sequential order, for the activity
2. Identify the hazards for each task / job step
3. List the current controls in place or to be used to control the identified hazard/s
4. Use the risk matrix on the second page to determine the risk score for each hazard with current controls in place
5. List any additional/new controls (if needed to further reduce the level of risk)
6. Use the risk matrix on the second page to approximate the risk score for each hazard after additional/new controls have been implemented
7. Identify who is responsible for ensuring controls are implemented
8. Identify who is responsible for ensuring additional controls are implemented

STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: STEP 4: STEP 5: STEP 6:

TASK / JOB STEP HAZARD CURRENT CONTROLS RISK SCORE ADDITIONAL / NEW CONTROLS RESDIDUAL RISK
(WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF (WHAT IS IN PLACE TODAY (WHAT CAN BE DONE TO

CONSEQUENC

CONSEQUENC
LIKELIHOOD

LIKELIHOOD
POTENTIAL HARM OR THE THAT ELIMINATE OR FURTHER

RISK SCORE

RISK SCORE
SITUATION WITH THE CONTROLS THE RISK?) REDUCE THE RISK?)
POTENTIAL TO CAUSE

E
LOSS?)

Retrieve or store samples via Freezer may cause frost bite  Follow SOP and use of gloves, Moderate Rare Low
freezer or ultra-low- cryogenic gloves, lab coats and
temperature (ULT) freezer appropriate protective
footwear.
Pipetting non-hazardous Spills while preparing solutions  Follow SOP and use of gloves, Insignificant Possible Low
chemicals (PBS, Water, lab coats and appropriate
reaction buffers) protective footwear
Rotating parts (centrifuge, Impact injury  Provide appropriate training Minor Unlikely Low
vortex, mixer, etc) and supervision
 Follow SOP and use
appropriate PPE
Use of electrical equipment,  Risk of electrocution, injury  Adequate training of personnel Moderate  Rare Low 
either pieces of equipment left through burns in required equipment
on continuously or used  Individuals may trip, slip or  Electrical Testing and Tagging
intermittently. fall over by electrical cords service (Test and Tag) for all
lab equipment annually.
 Do not use the equipment if
electrical cords have exposed
wires.
 Ensure cords are secured, not
lying across walkways and
floor space.
Gloves Potential allergen Laboratories in other Moderate Rare Low
institutes / university might
use latex gloves.
Provide appropriate staff
training

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Date: August 2022 Version: 1.5 Authorised by: Director, Work Health, Safety & Wellbeing Next Review: July 2024
STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: STEP 4: STEP 5: STEP 6:
TASK / JOB STEP HAZARD CURRENT CONTROLS RISK SCORE ADDITIONAL / NEW CONTROLS RESDIDUAL RISK
(WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF (WHAT IS IN PLACE TODAY (WHAT CAN BE DONE TO

CONSEQUENC

CONSEQUENC
LIKELIHOOD

LIKELIHOOD
POTENTIAL HARM OR THE THAT ELIMINATE OR FURTHER

RISK SCORE

RISK SCORE
SITUATION WITH THE CONTROLS THE RISK?) REDUCE THE RISK?)
POTENTIAL TO CAUSE

E
LOSS?)

Use gloves made of alternate

material if latex allergy is
expected (e.g. nitrile gloves)

Use of scissors Cuts and puncture wounds  Provide appropriate training Minor Unlikely Low
cause by shapes could lead to and supervision
bleeding or infection.  Follow SOP and use
appropriate PPE
 Where possible, use well
characterized cell lines or
samples tested to be free of
human infectious diseases
Process human samples Human infectious viruses.  Where possible, use well Moderate Rare Low
characterized cell lines or
samples tested to be free of
human infectious diseases
 Provide appropriate staff
training and supervision
 Follow SOP, process the
sample under Bio-safety
cabinet and use appropriate
PPE
 Decontaminate waste or spills
using bleach solution or
isopropyl alcohol
Travel for cell sorter device and  Personal injury in any sort of  Follow all rules request from Major to Rare to Low to
return to campus vehicle accidents State/Territory government. moderate unlikely Moderat
 Clinical samples might carry  Contain samples in resealable e
pathogens which could affect bag and ice box with locker.
personnel and containment  Keep caution and prevent tired
the environment if exposed. driving

STEP 7: LIST WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CURRENT CONTROLS (AS LISTED IN HEADING 3)
CONTROLS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING
Training on correct use of equipment and on Tim Kao
working safely in the laboratory
Reading through Relevant Documentation such as Tim Kao
SOP, SDS and Equipment Manual
WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Date: August 2022 Version: 1.5 Authorised by: Director, Work Health, Safety & Wellbeing Next Review: July 2024
 STEP 8: IMPLEMENTATION OF ADDITIONAL RISK CONTROLS (AS LISTED IN HEADING 5)
Additional control measures may be required where either:
 There is an unacceptable level of risk
 Short term controls have been implemented until longer term controls are available.
These additional controls must be documented and assigned to a responsible person for action.
ADDITIONAL CONTROLS NEEDED RESOURCES REQUIRED RESPONSIBLE PERSONS DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION

*Note:

Risk Assessments must have a valid Date and Signature.

Risk Assessments must be completed prior to engaging in the tasks described.
Risk Assessments must be reviewed every 2years or when there is a change in the described tasks or following an incident or requested by WHSW or directed by SafeWork NSW.
Refer to Risk management procedure on WSU Webpage on Risk management.
For review of completed High-risk Risk assessments please contact [email protected].

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Date: August 2022 Version: 1.5 Authorised by: Director, Work Health, Safety & Wellbeing Next Review: July 2024