Intro to Agricultural Microbiology

Safety Induction School of Molecular Bioscience • Your responsibilities• Emergency procedures • Hazards specific to SMB • Reporting incidents• Forms for Induction of new staff & students• Risk assessments and SOPs

Dr. Nick Coleman Chair of SMB Safety Committee, Room 564, Building G08, ph. 9351-6047, e: nicholas.coleman@sydney.edu.au

All University staff & students are responsible for safety by:

• Reading, understanding, and complying with safety instructions

- http://sydney.edu.au/science/molecular_bioscience/ohs/

- http://sydney.edu.au/ohs/policies/ohs/index.shtml

• Being familiar with emergency procedures & equipment.

• Taking action to avoid, eliminate or minimise hazards

• Reporting hazards to the relevant supervisor or service unit.

• Using safety devices and personal protective equipment.

• Seeking advice before using new methods, reagents, equipment

Safety of people: you and the people around you

Safety of equipment: look after it and operate it correctly

Safety of the environment: dispose of waste carefully

 

Animal House Health and Safety

Carcinogenic Substances

Decontamination Guidelines, Biological Waste

Disposal of Sharps

Disposal of Glass

Clinical Fieldwork

Fire & Other Emergencies in University Buildings

First Aid  

Handling & Use of Compressed Gases in Cylinders

Hazardous Substances

Hazardous Waste Disposal Guidelines

Laboratory Safety

Liquefied Gases

Transporting Liquefied Gases

Many of the University’s WHS* policies are relevant to SMB, you need to be familiar with these if appropriate:

: Required for most labs in MMB

* Work Health and Safety

FIRE / HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE / GAS LEAKThe person who discovers the emergency should take the following action:

• assess the situation, warn anyone in immediate danger• if safe and if trained, deal with the emergency (extinguish fire/contain spill)• evacuate if in danger or when directed• notify Emergency Services 0-000, Security 1-3333, and

SMB Chief Warden (Peter Kerr, ph.16006) or hit ‘Break Glass’ Alarm.

If the alarm system is activated, all personnel should take the following action:

• check for signs of danger (fire, smoke, chemical fumes etc.)• leave via your closest safe exit - do not use lifts – preferably use rear fire stairs • move clear of the building to avoid obstructing Emergency Services• proceed to assembly area (grass area in front of SMB), report to supervisor• remain at the assembly area until the emergency is declared over• report any missing persons to the Chief Warden (White Helmet)

a Security Patrol Officer, or the attending Emergency Services.

Reporting WHS incidents / accidents

When should I report something? - If someone is injured . approx. guidelines – anything that bleeds,

requires a doctor/hospital visit or requires time off work

- If a serious hazard has been created. eg. a spill of >1 L of flammable or toxic substance

- if you see a dangerous situation – this is a “near miss” incident

How do I report an incident?

1. Tell your supervisor immediately

2. Fill in online incident report form (Riskware) within 24 hr. Students cannot access this system, need to do this with supervisor

http://gspence1173.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/beaker1.jpg

All lab work requires: lab coat, enclosed shoes, and hair tied back if long

Some lab work also requires protective vinyl or latex gloves

Always wear SAFETY GLASSES in addition to labcoat and gloves when

using corrosive chemicals (acids, alkalis, phenol, solvents)

Food and drink must not be consumed in any laboratory.

If you do not know how to operate equipment, ask someone who does know.

KNOW THE RISKS of the reagents and equipment you are using BEFORE

you start lab work – supervisors need to inform students/workers of the risks

Laboratory safety rules (ALL SMB):

http://www6.miami.edu/health-safety/IMAGES/safety_glasses.jpg

http://www.esdproducts.biz/ESD_Grounding/Garment_Table/Lab_Coat/Labcoat.jpg http://www.supplydoc.com/images/NITRILE%20GLOVES.jpg

Waste disposal / chemical safety (ALL SMB): Microorganisms and clinical samples MUST be autoclaved before disposal –

plastics and agar plates go in autoclave bags, glassware in metal buckets.

Hazardous chemicals must not go down the sink! There are designated waste containers and methods for chemicals like acrylamide, ethidium bromide, phenol, etc - these are lab-specific - ask your supervisor.

Broken glass and sharps (eg. syringe needles) must go into their own designated waste containers - not in general wastepaper bins !

LABEL all reagents and solutions clearly with the chemical, its concentration, your name, and a date.  

Always CLEAN UP after yourself – especially with common equipment and work areas – don’t leave a toxic or corrosive surprise for the next user

http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/uploads/image/needlestickInjury03.jpg

Needlestick injury is especially dangerous in labs dealing with infectious microbes !

Other general safety rules (ALL SMB):

Know the LOCATION and CORRECT USAGE of safety equipment eg. eye-washes, showers, fire-blankets,  fire-extinguishers, spill pillows.

Faulty equipment must be reported to the Workshop (ph 16006)

Move gas cylinders only when they are strapped onto cylinder trolleys.

You must not ride in a lift carrying liquid nitrogen - use the stairs or place the container in the lift on its own.

Don’t wear your gloves outside the lab area (eg. on stairs, in lifts etc) – these may be contaminated. Only wear lab coat outside the lab when absolutely necessary (eg. taking waste to the autoclaves)

Ensure that external doors are locked after 5 pm on week days and all the time at the weekend and on holidays.

Be aware of personal security - dont walk around late at night by yourself, lock up valuables and computer at all times in office spaces in SMB

Common hazards in SMB labs CHEMICAL/EQUIPMENT HAZARDS PRECAUTIONS

Phenol Very corrosive Coat, gloves, glasses

Organic solvents (methanol, acetonitrile, chloroform…)

Toxic, corrosive, some are mutagenic (cancer)

Coat, gloves, glasses

Acids and alkalis Very corrosive Coat, gloves, glasses

Ethidium bromide Mutagenic Coat, gloves

Ultraviolet light Burns (esp. to eyes), and mutagenic

Coat, gloves, faceshield or enclosed UV source

Electrophoresis tank Electric shock Enclosed tank

Microwave oven Bottle explosion No lids/very loose lids

Autoclave Burns Coat, heavy gloves

Centrifuge ImbalanceExplosion Balance tubes

Sonicator Ultrasound Earmuffs

Freezers / cryogenics Ultracold Coat, heavy gloves

Radiation Mutagenic Coat, gloves, perspex shields, geiger counter…

Microorganisms (risk groups 1 & 2)

Infection Coat, gloves, aseptic technique, PC1/PC2 lab

Animal & human tissues Infection Coat, gloves, aseptic technique, PC1/PC2 lab

You need to complete: WHS induction form (USYD)

• This form is complex, but not all sections are appropriate; you can check N/A for many.

• For some sections, training will already have been provided by the School’s OHS induction process

• Most important is to ensure new workers are familiar with hazards SPECIFIC TO YOUR LAB – these may not have been covered in general OHS introductions

You need to complete: Hazard Assessment (SMB) • Most important thing is to list

the hazardous chemicals used by this worker - ensure MSDS are available - ensure they understand risks

• This form also provides a reminder about SOPs – which are relevant to your lab?

• In the ‘Summary of Risk’ section: work SHOULD NOT PROCEED if either of these boxes are checked :

There is uncertainty about risk

Risk cannot be controlled

School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences

Hazard Assessment Sheet

Name (print) …………………………………………………………………………… Photocopy this sheet – the original goes in your lab book, the copy to your supervisor. Chemicals or substances used which are classed as toxic, corrosive, flammable, infectious or carcinogenic, or are radioactive (attach copies of MSDSs). …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…..…if insufficient space attach a separate list In which laboratory/laboratories will you be working ………………………………… Potentially hazardous procedures to be used (attach Standard Operating Procedures). chromatography sonication cryogenics/dry ice/-80° freezers electrophoresis ultraviolet sources electrical pumps centrifugation use of animals/animal tissue radioactivity use of humans/human tissue use of microorganisms – Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 If you have attended courses, programs etc about these procedures or techniques, attach copies of certificates, attendance etc. Emergency equipment available: Spill response …………………………………………………………………………. Decontamination ……………………………………………………………………… Fire ……………………………………………………………………………………. Summary of risk: The risk is insignificant and is unlikely to increase during the course of the

project. The risk is significant but will be effectively controlled. There is uncertainty about the level of risk. The risk is significant and cannot be effectively controlled. Supervisor approval: Supervisor …………………………….. Phone …………………………………. Signature ……………………………… Date ……………………………………

http://sydney.edu.au/science/molecular_bioscience/ohs/Risk assessments & standard operating procedures

Important safety contact details SMB Level Safety Committee rep.

2 Peter Kerr rm. 270 ph. 16006

3 Joe Dimauro rm. 344 ph. 40942

4 Jenny Phuyal rm. 451 ph. 66217

4 Zia Ahmad (Safety Officer) rm. 436 ph. 12224

5 Nick Coleman (Chair of Committee) rm. 564 ph. 16047

6 Angela Nikolic rm. 637 ph. 16491

7 Sue Ling Lim rm. 712 ph. 65382

8 Craig Jackson rm. 876 ph. 13898

SMB Level First Aid Officers

2 Ben Monaghan rm.270 ph.13033

3 Joe Dimauro rm.344 ph. 40942

4 Zia Ahmad rm. 436, ph. 12224

7 Angela Nikolic Room: 610 ph. 16491

University Security: 13333

University Health Service: 13484

Ambulance / Fire / Police: 0-000

Also see signs next to lifts on each floor for further details – eg. fire wardens.