SAFETY IN RESEARCH AND TEACHING MANUAL

MURDOCH UNIVERSITY

VERSION 2 15 July 2015

Review Date: This manual expires on XXXX

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CONTENTS

1 THE AIMS OF THIS MANUAL..........................................................12 RESPONSIBILITIES.......................................................................1

2.1 MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY...........................................................................12.2 EMPLOYEES/STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY.................................................................1

3 RISK ASSESSMENT FOR MURDOCH PROCESSES.............................13.1 THE RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS...........................................................................23.2 RISK IDENTIFICATION..........................................................................................23.3 ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD AND CONSEQUENCE OF AN ADVERSE EFFECT TO I) YOU, II)

OTHERS OR III) THE ENVIRONMENT........................................................................23.4 DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE RISK........................................................2

4 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY...............................................................34.1 WORKING ALONE AFTER HOURS...........................................................................34.2 REPORTING HAZARDS AND ACCIDENTS...................................................................34.3 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES...................................................................................34.4 LOCATION OF EMERGENCY SAFETY FEATURES...........................................................4

4.4.1 Fire extinguishers..................................................................................44.4.2 Fire blankets..........................................................................................44.4.3 First aid kits...........................................................................................44.4.4 Safety shower and eye wash station......................................................44.4.5 Antidotes...............................................................................................5

4.5 KEEP THE WORKPLACE CLEAN AND TIDY.................................................................54.6 CARE OF EQUIPMENT ITEMS.................................................................................54.7 GENERAL LAB ETIQUETTE FOR COMMUNAL LABS.......................................................5

5 GENERAL LABORATORY SAFETY PRACTICES..................................76 WORKING WITH BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL........................................9

6.1 OVERVIEW.......................................................................................................96.2 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................96.3 MICROORGANISMS.............................................................................................96.4 FINDING OUT THE RISK GROUP.............................................................................96.5 THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH RESEARCH..................................................................96.6 LABORATORY PRACTICES TO BE OBSERVED WHEN WORKING WITH MICROORGANISMS.....116.7 WORKING WITH GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMO’S)................................116.8 WORK PRACTICES TO BE FOLLOWED WHEN DOING RESEARCH WITH GMO’S.................126.9 WORKING WITH LABORATORY ANIMALS................................................................136.10 PRACTICES FOR WORKING WITH LABORATORY ANIMALS............................................136.11 IMPORTED BIOLOGICAL OR BIOLOGICAL SOURCE MATERIAL......................................146.12 CLASSIFICATION OF LABORATORIES FOR BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH...............................156.13 HOW DO I KNOW IF MY LABORATORY IS PC1, PC2 OR PC3?...................................166.14 PREVENTING INFECTIONS...................................................................................16

6.14.1 Bio-safety cabinets..............................................................................166.14.1.1 Class I Bio-safety cabinet.........................................................................166.14.1.2 Class II Bio-safety cabinet........................................................................166.14.1.3 Class III Bio-safety cabinet........................................................................166.14.1.4 Laminar Flow Hoods.................................................................................176.14.1.5 Fume Hoods.............................................................................................17

6.14.2 Centrifugation......................................................................................176.14.3 Disinfectants........................................................................................17

6.14.3.1 Types........................................................................................................18

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6.14.3.2 Activity of chemical disinfectants.............................................................206.14.3.3 Treatment of Laboratory Spills.................................................................20

6.15 WASTE SEGREGATION AND DISPOSAL...................................................................216.15.1 Sharps: Syringes, Needles and Blades.................................................216.15.2 Disposal of Sharps...............................................................................216.15.3 Decontamination and Disposal of Biologicals.......................................21

6.15.3.1 Autoclaving...............................................................................................216.15.3.2 Autoclaving solid waste............................................................................226.15.3.3 Autoclaving liquid waste...........................................................................226.15.3.4 Steam treatment......................................................................................236.15.3.5 Incineration..............................................................................................23

7 WORKING WITH CHEMICALS AND SUBSTANCES...........................247.1 KNOW THE HAZARDS - READ THE SAFETY DATA SHEETS (SDS)................................24

7.1.1 Accessing SDS through ChemWatch....................................................247.1.2 Completing a Hazardous Substances Risk Assessment Form (HSRA). .25

7.2 LABELLING.....................................................................................................267.2.1 Decanted chemicals/solutions.............................................................27

7.3 PREPARED SOLUTIONS/CHEMICALS.......................................................................277.4 SAFE STORAGE OF CHEMICALS............................................................................27

7.4.1 Handling and Storage..........................................................................277.4.1.1 Precautions for safe handling.......................................................................277.4.1.2 Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities.........................28

7.4.2 Incompatible chemicals.......................................................................287.4.3 Storage height.....................................................................................287.4.4 Fridges/freezers and phenol or flammable material.............................28

7.5 CHEMICALS WITH SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIREMENTS..............................................297.5.1 Carcinogens, teratogens and mutagens..............................................29

7.6 COMPRESSED GASSES......................................................................................297.7 DISPOSAL OF CHEMICAL AND SUBSTANCE WASTE..................................................29

7.7.1 Organic Solvents..................................................................................307.7.2 Inorganic Chemicals.............................................................................307.7.3 Organic Chemicals...............................................................................30

8 WORKING WITH RADIOISOTOPE..................................................318.1 INDIVIDUAL USER RESPONSIBILITIES:...................................................................318.2 RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES LABORATORY GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES....................31

8.2.1 Who can work in the laboratory?.........................................................318.2.2 Bringing radioactive samples to the lab and storing them:..................318.2.3 Radiation monitoring:..........................................................................328.2.4 Disposal of radioactive substances:.....................................................328.2.5 General laboratory procedures............................................................32

9 FIELDWORK...............................................................................33

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1 THE AIMS OF THIS MANUAL

The aims of this manual are: To make you aware of the risks associated with undertaking teaching

and research. To provide some information on how to manage these risks. To provide some information on the regulations associated with

working with specific materials e.g. specific chemicals or Genetically Modified Organisms.

To indicate sources of further information that can be helpful in assessing the risks.

2 RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Management’s responsibility Ensure that laboratory workers and research students are given

training in the safety practices and safety equipment in the laboratory. Ensure that all staff and students working in the lab have attended the

Safety in Research and Teaching Workshop. Provide protective equipment.

2.2 Employees/student’s responsibility To familiarise themselves with the regulations governing their research

activities and ensure that the regulations are complied with. To familiarise themselves with the safety procedures of the laboratory,

and the safety equipment in the laboratory. Attend relevant safety training courses offered by the Employer or

external provider. Carry out safe work practices. To use protective equipment to minimise injury, not only to

themselves, but also to their colleagues (and the wider community).

3 RISK ASSESSMENT FOR MURDOCH PROCESSES

Before you begin your project you are required to complete a “Risk Assessment for Murdoch Processes” form (RAMP). This form is treated as a register of the key risk areas (chemical, biological ethical, fieldwork, etc.) for which specific approvals are likely to be needed in the above project.  For each of these there is a supplementary risk assessment that you are required to fill in and email to the relevant approving body. Each of the individual approvals for the project will be recorded against this file number.  The RAMP and the supporting forms are available from the Safety in Research and Teaching website.

3.1The risk assessment processRisk assessment is a process aimed at identifying the risks associated with your research, and of seeking ways in which the risks to the environment yourself and to

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others can be minimized, or managed to reduce the risk. Risk assessment occurs in three stages.

1. Risk identification.2. Assessing the likelihood of an adverse effect to i) you or ii) to others iii)

to the environment.3. Developing strategies to reduce or manage the risks.

3.2 Risk Identification Firstly don’t assume because “your supervisor said so” or “it is usual in this lab” that a procedure is risk free. Almost no process is risk free; it is the likelihood and severity of the risk that is most important. The identification process involves breaking down the project into a number of components and assessing the risks associated with each component. Obvious examples of risks are the risks associated with using the microorganisms or chemicals. The scale of use is also a risk; growing a 100L batch culture of an organism is very different from growing it in a couple of Petri dishes. Even a relatively harmless organism such as E coli can be toxic at high concentration. Similarly for the use of chemicals, the RAMP attempts to guide you through this process by asking a series of questions relating to whether specific components are used in the project. The potential risks of fieldwork, in all its forms, are often seriously underestimated, especially as the potential consequences to life and limb can be much higher in remote locations than in the laboratory setting.

3.3 Assessing the likelihood and consequence of an adverse effect to i) you, ii) others or iii) the environment

By this you should be asked to estimate whether there is a high, medium or low chance of an adverse outcome of the risk happening based on consideration of both the likelihood and consequence of a risk occurring. If you are dealing with large numbers of people, amounts of a toxic chemical, or microorganism, then the risk of an adverse outcome are magnified. On the other hand if you are dealing with small numbers or amounts in a relatively benign setting or type of organism such as E coli (found in all of our guts) the risks are quite low (provided reasonable precautions are observed). Similarly driving to Bunbury for a couple of days is very different to driving into the Pilbara for an extended survey trip.

3.4 Developing strategies to reduce the riskYou should identify ways in which the risks can be reduced. An obvious way is substitution, e.g. if you are dealing with a pathogenic organism can you substitute a non-pathogenic strain? If things do go wrong do you know what to do, e.g. if you spill a culture of your microorganism what would you do, who would you tell, how would you report it? For chemicals, have you read the SDS and are you aware of how to treat accidental exposure, do you have the required reagents on hand to treat such exposures, or to neutralize the chemical. Another strategy that reduces the risks to you and to others is the use of appropriate equipment, biosafety hoods, closed centrifuge bottles to prevent aerosols, personal protective equipment etc. In the fieldwork context, are you carrying spares, a first aid kit, have you regularized your contacts so people know if you are delayed, or injured?

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4 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

4.1 Working Alone After HoursAfter hours work is any carried out before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and any time on weekends and Murdoch public holidays or shut-down periods. Several facilities at Murdoch require that anyone working after hours must sign in when they arrive and sign out when they leave the lab. Check whether you need to enforce this style of control on your facility.

Regardless of the above, you should always try to minimize the carrying out of hazardous procedures after hours. Any hazardous work carried out after hours require a minimum of 2 people working in the same general area. Hazardous activities include the use of toxic chemicals, flammable solvents, liquid nitrogen and radioactive material. Even heavy lifting such as connecting a boat trailer can cause serious problems if you are on your own. This is for your own benefit - imagine how you would cope with a fire, injury or large radioactive spill with no one else around. In general, junior staff and students must not be allowed to work outside normal working hours for your area. Trained persons are permitted to work outside normal work hours provided a risk assessment of the activity has been conducted for the hours being worked. Please refer to the Working Alone or in Isolation Policy for further information.

4.2 Reporting hazards and accidentsIf an accident occurs (however minor), report it to your supervisor, and use the Murdoch University Incident Reporting System to report the accident. If a “near miss” occurs, or you notice something that is potentially dangerous, notify your supervisor or the relevant lab manager and OSH representative, and use the Murdoch University Incident Reporting System to fill out a hazard report. This may prevent a serious accident to yourself or other lab workers in the future.

4.3 Emergency proceduresThere is no time in the middle of an emergency to start learning what you have to do, so familiarize yourself in advance with emergency, evacuation and fire procedures. The safety noticeboard in the facility has details of the evacuation alarms, route and mustering point, as well as emergency contact names and numbers. There is also a list of people in this building with first aid experience who can be contacted in an emergency. Read the notice board from beginning to end and also make sure you know who to contact in the event of an emergency.

Make sure you check the location of the nearest safety noticeboard to your lab.

You are required to call ‘000’ in the event of a life-threatening medical situation on-campus.  For all other assistance the Murdoch University ‘333’ (internal calls) security number is to be called, if calling from a mobiles dial 9360 7333.

If ‘000’ assistance is first sought, Murdoch Security are to be advised of the incident by calling ‘333’ immediately following the ‘000’ call, to allow them to provide responsive on-campus support and assist the ‘000’ response as required.

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4.4 Location of emergency safety features

4.4.1Fire extinguishers Ensure that you know the location of the extinguishers and also how to operate them.

4.4.2Fire blankets In some instances fire blankets can be an effective alternative and more effective solution, so familiarise yourself with their location.

Think - Where is the nearest fire blankets?

4.4.3 First aid kitsMake sure you know the location of the nearest first aid kit. If you use anything from the kit let your supervisor know.

Think - Where is the location of the nearest first aid kit to my laboratory?

4.4.4 Safety shower and eye wash stationIf you spill a corrosive, radioactive or poisonous chemical on yourself you should get to an emergency shower as quickly as possible (preferably a deluge shower).

Think - Where is the nearest Shower and Eyewash Station?

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4.4.5 AntidotesNote that some poisons have antidotes that work better than water alone, for example polyethylene glycol (PEG) should be used to aid the rinsing of phenol from the skin. Use the SDS to work out whether you need to make up a solution in advance that will help if you have an accident - it is way too late once a spill has occurred.

4.5 Keep the workplace clean and tidyKeeping the workplace clean and tidy and free of clutter and always wiping down surfaces after using them (even if you can’t SEE any chemical residue) is one of the most important safety steps you can take. This is especially true of communal benches, which everyone leaves for everyone else to clean. Ensure that they are done on a regular basis and not just when a spill occurs. Every drop of carcinogenic liquid left to evaporate leaves yet another layer of accumulated residue on the bench. After working with bacteria it is necessary to swab the work area with ethanol to kill any that remain.

Note that the floors can become very slippery when wet! Whenever water is spilled on the floor it must be cleaned up immediately. Falls can cause serious back injury, not to mention the added danger if the person is carrying a hazardous substance at the time.

4.6 Care of equipment items Under no circumstances should any person use a piece of equipment that they

have not been trained to use. This is to protect the safety of the person and the integrity of the often valuable equipment. A great deal of damage can be done to very expensive equipment but an untrained person.

Always ask suitably qualified people to show you how to use equipment you are unfamiliar with before you use it. Most pieces of equipment have instruction sheets on the walls above them. Read all sheets before using the equipment, even if someone has shown you how to use it. Report any malfunctioning or damaged equipment to your supervisor and laboratory manager as soon as possible.

4.7 General lab etiquette for communal labsIn communal lab areas it is essential that everyone co-operates to maintain a well-stocked, clean, tidy and safe working environment. It does not take much if everyone pitches in, but it is a mammoth task if only one or two dedicated people are doing it on their own. People who do not do their share cause resentment and an eventual breakdown in the system. At a minimum, everyone should follow these basic rules: If you make a mess, clean it up immediately; do not leave it for someone else.

Areas of particular concern are the balances, where your chemicals may contaminate someone else’s experiment. The next person to come along will not know what the contaminant was, whether it is hazardous or how to dispose of it safely.

If you notice a problem with a piece of equipment, report it to your supervisor immediately to minimise down time, don’t wait for someone else to do it. Leaving an “out of order” note on the equipment as well will save time for your co-workers.

You must label every solution that you make with your full name, the date (including the year), the contents and any hazard warning stickers required, so

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that if someone accidentally knocks it over and it spills on them they know what to do about it. If the container is too small to label (e.g. 0.2 µL Eppendorf), label the rack instead.

Refer to SDS for particularly dangerous or volatile chemicals. Please clear out all of your material when you leave the lab, including contents of fridge, boxes in cold room, your bench and (especially) the -80ºC freezer. You should check with your supervisor before discarding biologicals (organisms, plasmids libraries, etc.) and dispose of all material in an appropriate way.

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5 GENERAL LABORATORY SAFETY PRACTICES

The following are a set of practices which should always be followed when working in a research lab.

Table 1: General safety practices to be observed in the laboratoryPlanning Plan your work, don’t rush, and make sure you have

received instruction in the use of equipment.

Food and drink The consumption of food and drink is strictly forbidden in laboratories.

Food and drink must not be brought into laboratories under any circumstances. They are to be stored in approved eating and drinking areas ONLY. They are never to be stored in the laboratory, or in cold rooms used for research materials.

The application of cosmetics and the taking in or out of contact lenses are also not permitted in the laboratory.

Hair Long hair should be tied back as it is a hazard in the laboratory. It can get caught up in the flame from a Bunsen burner, get entangled in equipment, and restrict lateral viewing.

Protective clothing Front or back fitting lab coats should be at all times.

Where infectious materials have been handled, lab coats MUST be autoclaved before sending to the laundry.

Lab coats must NOT be worn outside the lab and NEVER in areas such as common rooms where food is consumed.

You should always wear covered footwear that covers the upper part of the foot as well as the sole in the lab. Some laboratories and certain fieldwork situations require specific styles of footwear (steel capped work boots).

Safety glasses must be worn in laboratories where indicated by signage.

NOTE: contact lenses are not a suitable substitute for safety glasses. Safety glasses can be purchased from several places inside the University, please refer to your supervisor or lab manager for advice on where to purchase safety glasses.

General safety procedures

Wash your hands before leaving the lab.

Mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited at all times and in all situations.

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Gloves must be worn for many procedures. Rings or hand jewellery which would interfere with glove functioning should be removed before putting on gloves. Gloves should be appropriately decontaminated prior to disposal with other laboratory wastes. Many labs have separate disposal procedures for biological and general rubbish – always check!

Work surfaces must be cleaned and decontaminated with a suitable disinfectant at the end of the day and after any spill of potentially dangerous material. PC2 or PC3 labs may have special contingency requirements; you should contact your supervisor or lab manager to familiarize yourself with these, if appropriate. Loose or cracked work surfaces must be reported to your supervisor or lab manager.

Accidents, near misses and overt or potential exposures must be reported in writing to the laboratory supervisor or acting alternate as soon as circumstances permit; this person should file this report with management and the appropriate biosafety officer or committee. Appropriate medical evaluation, surveillance, and treatment should be sought and provided as required. Actions taken to prevent future occurrences should be documented.

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6 WORKING WITH BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

6.1 OverviewThe purpose of this section of the manual is to help you with rules that should apply across the board for activities that involve working with biological material. Your specific area of activity may require additional support documentation and standard operating procedures to ensure that your work complies with more specific regulations. You should discuss this with your supervisor or the SRTC if you have any concerns. You as an individual are responsible for your safety and you should not be involved with any activity that you have not been fully informed about and for which you have not received appropriate training. If you supervise other staff or students, you are also responsible for the health and safety and training of those staff and to provide standard procedures to ensure that a safe work environment is maintained. Some activities are regulated by government bodies and activities are strictly controlled by law, failure to comply with these laws can have far reaching consequences for you as an individual, the university and the environment.

6.2 IntroductionBiological material means biological material in its broadest context. Sometimes the biological content may not be immediately apparent for example a project using Titanium dioxide to purify waste water sounds pretty biological free but waste water can contain a plethora or biological molecules and microorganisms that can act as toxins, cause allergy and cause disease. The most severe biological risks come from working with microorganisms or material that contains microorganisms.

6.3 MicroorganismsMicroorganisms encompass bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, mycoplasmas, and parasites. Microorganisms covers an incredible number and diversity of species and range from highly pathogenic forms that cause severe and debilitating diseases to those that are quite innocuous or even beneficial.

When working with a microorganism it’s a good idea to know if it’s dangerous and how dangerous it is. Is it likely to cause disease in humans, animals or plants or is it a non-disease organism. Various governmental agencies have developed a classification scheme whereby microorganisms are categorized according to the risk they pose. The categories range from 1 (harmless) to 4 (highly dangerous). This should be assessed by the IBC via the RAMP process.

6.4 Finding out the risk groupIf you don’t know the risk group of the organism you are working with, please refer to the IBC website.

6.5 The risk associated with researchThere are risks associated with using biological and chemical materials to undertake research. The risks are not only to you as a researcher, but to others in the laboratory and outside the laboratory. There is also the risk of environmental damage, so that

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even material that seems to be innocuous may often be quite harmful. Outlined below are some of the risks associated with working with various materials.

Table 2: Risks associated with working with various materialsMaterial Risk to Human Health Risk to the

Environment.

Blood, sputum, urine, faeces, body fluids, animal tissue, animals (diseased or healthy)

Risk of contracting an infectious disease leading to severe debilitation or worse.

Risk of transmitting an infectious disease to others (including animals) both within and beyond the bounds of the laboratory.

Unintended spread of animal diseases.

Imported animals Risk of exposure to zoonoses

May harbor exotic pathogens which could cause epidemics in native animal species.

Animals could become a pest, e.g., rabbits.

Microorganisms, (cultures of bacteria, fungi, viruses,) or material containing microorganisms eg sewage, water, soil, compost, plant tissue.

Risk of contracting an infectious disease leading to severe debilitation or worse.

Risk of transmitting an infectious disease to others (including animals) both within and beyond the bounds of the laboratory.

Risk of transmitting pathogenic microorganisms to natural populations beyond the laboratory.

Plant material. (include imported plants and plant material

Suffer from exposure to allergins and toxins/

New varieties can become noxious weeds eg., prickly pear.

Plant material may contain pathogens leading to epidemics.

Imported microorganisms, or material containing microorganisms eg., soil, wood, animal tissues, plant tissue, things made from animal and plant tissue.

Unintended spread of “exotic” pathogens may be far more serious in a new environment due to absence of controlling factors.

Genetically manipulated Genetic manipulation may New varieties may become

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organisms result in new forms with enhanced pathogenicity or virulence.

weeds or pests. New varieties of microorganisms may become more serious pathogens of plants or animals.

Chemicals Toxicological effects, burning of skin, fatalities

Environmental pollution

Risks are increased by: o Inexperienceo Heavy workloado Poor laboratory practiceo Inappropriate behaviour.o Lack of knowledge of safety practices and procedures.

6.6 Laboratory practices to be observed when working with microorganisms Make sure you know the risk group and have read the SDS for that

organism. You must submit a RAMP form to the Safety in Research and Teaching

Office (SRT) before starting work (available on the SRT website ) Dispose of all material by autoclaving at 15 Kg/cm2 for 15 min (see

section 6.15.3.1 on autoclaving). When carrying out procedures with biological cultures these should be

done in the appropriate biosafety cabinet to prohibit inhalation of aerosols (see section 6.14.1 on biosafety hoods).

Cultures stored in common storage areas e.g., lab fridge or cold room must be appropriately contained and clearly labelled. Organisms that are risk groups 3 or 4 must be stored in locked containers.

All containers and containers within containers that harbour biohazards must be labelled with a biohazard sticker. This includes rooms containing biohazards, and cold storage areas containing biohazards.

6.7 Working with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s)Within Australia and its territories research on GMO’s (plants, animals, microorganisms) is governed by a set of regulations specific by the Gene Technology Act 2001. To administer the act the commonwealth government established the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR). Organisations (academic, industrial, military, governmental or other) must be accredited with the OGTR before they can conduct research with GMO’s. Within each accredited organization the regulations are administered by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). The IBC reports to the Safety in Research and Teaching Committee (SRTC) for administration of the regulations. More information on the IBC can be found on the IBC website.The aim of the Gene Technology Act is to ensure that all work on Genetically manipulated Organisms within Australia is carried out in such a way to minimize threats to human health and the environment.

6.8 Work practices to be followed when doing research with GMO’sThese are in addition to the general work practices that must be followed by all researchers section 2.

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Note: Additional practices may apply if Dealings Not Intended for Release (DNIR) or Dealings Intended for Release (DIR) licenses are in effect.

1 Every project that involves the use of GMO’s or material from GMO’s (eg. leaf material from transgenic plants) whether made by you, or obtained from someone else must be notified to the IBC. There are no exceptions to this requirement. If you are not sure whether your project has been notified, ask your supervisor, or ask the IBC. The RAMP number must be indicated on your programme of study, or grant application cover sheet. If you do not have it then your project has not been notified, and you will need to do this

If you need to notify the IBC information on how to do this and where to find the application forms can be found on the IBC website.

2 Research with GMO’s must be contained within an appropriately certified physical containment facility. A facility e.g., a laboratory or glasshouse can only be certified by application to the OGTR through the IBC. Certified facilities will have a (very obvious) label on the door. If you are not sure whether your laboratory, glasshouse, growth chamber etc. is certified look at the list of OGTR certified facilities, or ask the IBC.If you would like to have a facility certified, ask your supervisor or the IBC.

The only exception to this requirement is for projects that fall into the exempt category in the OGTR classification scheme. These can be carried out in non-certified facilities (although they must still be notified to the IBC).

3 You need to attend the Safety in Research and Teaching Workshop - Biosafety run by the SRT Office. This is a requirement under the Gene Technology Act. Details can be found on the SRT website

5 Transport of Material: If there is a need to transport hazardous biological material, please contact the IBC. Under no circumstance should biological material be shipped via public transport.There are very specific requirements for the transport and storage of GMO material out of one lab into another. Please refer to the OGTR website for transport guideline details and ensure that you understand and follow them.

6 All material must be destroyed by incineration by an approved waste contractor, or autoclaved using a validated autoclave cycle.

7 You must notify your supervisor and/or the IBC of any hazards, incidences, or injuries.

8 You must keep detailed records of what GMO’s you have, how they were made, where they are stored. The storage containers must be clearly labelled. For DNIR’s and DIR’s the OGTR can inspect at any time and request to see the exact locations of all GMO’s covered by the license

Be Warned! Facilities certified for work with GMO’s are inspected annually by the IBC. The aim of the inspection is to ensure that the regulations are being complied with. The facilities can also be inspected by the OGTR or the IBC at any time as well as on a regular basis. Failure to comply with the regulations can lead to loss of certification

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of the facility, or loss of accreditation of the organization. Penalties specified under the criminal code can also be levied against individuals (i.e. you) and the institution.

6.9 Working with Laboratory AnimalsThe use of experimental animals and insects poses special problems. Animals can harbor infectious organisms which are acquired naturally. These infections can give rise to a chronic carrier state, or the agent might persist in a latent non-infective form which can be reactivated periodically or as a result of certain stimuli. In 1967 the WHO Expert Committee on Zoonoses listed more than 150 diseases which affect both man and animals. More than 50 zoonoses have been reported in Australia, several of them being of major importance in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry. If the possibility that such an agent may be excreted by an animal during the course of an experiment cannot be excluded, all those animals should be kept at a containment level appropriate to the risk.

Some experiments may involve the deliberate inoculation of animals with microorganisms. Under these circumstances, the animal should be kept at the containment level appropriate to the risk of the organism, recognizing that, in some cases, in vivo work may increase that risk.

6.10 Practices for working with laboratory animals1 In order to carry out ANY work on laboratory animals, you must first obtain

permission from the Animal Ethics Committee.

If the animal is also a GMO you must also notify the IBC.

2 The investigator and/or person(s) responsible for the animal experiment must ensure that all those having contact with the animals and waste materials are familiar with and aware of any special precautions and procedures that may be required. Where possible, personnel should be protected by immunization with appropriate vaccines.

3 It is essential that all accidents, including animal bites and scratches or cuts from cages or other equipment, be reported and recorded.

4 Small laboratory rodents or other small animals that escape from their cages should be killed when captured, their carcasses incinerated and the area should be fully decontaminated. In the event that animals escape the containment perimeter, the relevant authorities must be notified promptly and appropriate action initiated.

5 Unexpected illness or deaths among animals must be reported to both the researcher and head of animal services without delay; instructions for dealing with such animals should be available. However, animals should not be touched until instructions are given by the person in charge.

6 Access to the facility should be restricted to those involved in the experiment.

Be Warned! Facilities certified for work with animals are regularly inspected by the Animal Ethics Officer and all actions and facilities must comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. The aim of the inspection is to ensure that the regulations are being complied with. The facilities can also be inspected by the

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RSPCA at any time. Failure to comply with the regulations can lead to loss of certification of the facility, or loss of accreditation of the organization. Penalties specified under the criminal code can also be levied against individuals (i.e. you) and the institution.

6.11 Imported Biological or Biological Source MaterialImportation of biological material or biological source material into Australia is strictly controlled by the Department of Agriculture (DoA). Biological Source Material is material that might harbor biologicals, e.g., soil or plant or animal tissue might harbor pathogenic microorganisms. Items such as DNA are considered to be biological source material. You should contact the IBC if you are considering importing biological material.

In order to import this material you must have an import permit otherwise the material will be destroyed by customs.

1 In order to import material you must apply to the DoA for an import permit. You can obtain an application form from the Department of Agriculture website

2 Fill in the application form and submit to the DoA directly with the required fee. You must submit a copy of the permit to mailto:AQIS@murdoch.edu.au

3 If the permit is to import quarantine material, then the material can only be worked upon within a DoA Certified Facility -quarantine approved premises (QAP) at Murdoch University. These are recognizable from the yellow quarantine sticker on the door.

4 Within the QAP, the material must be stored within a locked container (fridge, freezer, box within a fridge or freezer, cabinet etc).

5 A log of all incoming material, with the import permit number for each item must be kept.

6 Records must be kept when material is removed from the quarantine store. The name of the person removing it must be recorded.

7 If the material is to be transported to another facility, the receiving facility must also be a QAP.

8 Transport must be in double contained shatterproof containers. These containers must not be left unaccompanied during transport.

9 Material must be destroyed by autoclaving, or incineration.

10 Records must be kept when material is destroyed.

Be Warned!!The DoA inspect each QAP annually or more frequently if required (and we pay for each inspection). They can pull out individual import permits and ask to see where the material is stored and to see records pertaining to that material. In the event that regulations governing the use of imported material are not complied with, the import permit may be withdrawn, and Murdoch can be de-registered as a QAP as all QAPs are linked by a single Quarantine licence. In this event no further work involving imported material could be carried out at the facility.

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6.12 Classification of Laboratories for Biological Research The Australian/New Zealand Standard 2243.3: 2010 identifies different containment levels of laboratories for biological research from PC1 to PC4. PC1 is the lowest level of containment, and PC4 is the highest level. The level of containment required depends on the material used for research. Material that present a low risk of infection can be used in a PC1 laboratory, whereas material that presents a high risk requires a higher level of containment (see Table 3).

Table 3: Classification of laboratoriesContainment

levelOrganism

Risk Group2

OGTR Dealing AQIS Classification

PC1 1 Exempt

NLRD only if lab is certified by OGTR

QAP 5.1 For work with low risk imported material. Facility must be certified by Dept. of Ag.

PC2 2 Exempt

NLRD3

DNIR3

QAP 5.2 For work with higher risk imported material. Facility must be certified by Dept. of Ag.

PC3 3 DNIRs with risk group 3 organisms.

PC41 4 DNIRs with risk group 4 organisms

1 There are no PC4 facilities at Murdoch University. A PC3 laboratory is available in the Health Research building (390) but is not currently certified for PC3 work.2 Organism risk groups 3 Laboratory must be certified by the OGTR

6.13 How do I know if my laboratory is PC1, PC2 or PC3?The containment level is specified by three things: (1) the physical infrastructure, (2) the equipment in the lab; (3) the work practices in the lab. The requirements are specified by the Australian standards 2243.3:2010. The requirements for PC1 and PC2 containment are given in Appendix 4. A list of Murdoch facilities certified by the OGTR and DoA is available from the IBC website.

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6.14 Preventing infectionsMany routine laboratory procedures generate aerosols. These are vapours consisting of small droplets of liquid containing microorganisms. Inhalation of aerosols is a major cause of infection by laboratory microorganisms. Aerosols frequently occur when opening cultures of bacteria, fungi or viruses. If there is a film of liquid between two surfaces and those surfaces are pulled apart the film is broken violently and aerosols result. Dry material e.g. fungal spores and dried bacteria may disperse into the atmosphere leading to inhalation if they are disturbed. There are a number of ways we can prevent inhalation of aerosols.

6.14.1 Bio-safety cabinetsThese provide a work environment that protects both the operator and/or the material being worked on. Air is drawn into the cabinet through a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter that extracts all the bacteria, fungal spores and dust. The filtered air is then blown across the work surface protecting the material from contamination, and is either recycled through the cabinet (protecting the operator), or blown out of the cabinet. HEPA filters are 99.97% efficient at removing particles of 0.3 microns from an air stream.

6.14.1.1 Class I Bio-safety cabinetClass I cabinets provide partial personnel protection and no product protection and are suitable for handling low-to-moderate risk biohazardous aerosols when product protection is not essential

6.14.1.2 Class II Bio-safety cabinet Class II cabinets provide both product and partial personnel protection and are designed for the handling of low and moderate-risk biohazards.

6.14.1.3 Class III Bio-safety cabinetClass III biological safety cabinets, or glove boxes, are closed-front, gas-tight boxes. Employees work using impermeable gloves attached to cabinet-front openings or operating ports. Class III cabinets provide the highest degree of personnel protection and a clean work environment, and are suitable for use with highly biohazardous agents.

Cultures of risk group 3 or 4 organisms should only ever be opened in a Class 2 or 3 BioSafety Cabinet.

6.14.1.4 Laminar Flow Hoods Laminar flow hoods or clean air stations are designed to provide a flow of HEPA-filtered air from the cabinet interior over the work surface, directly towards the operator. Toxic chemicals, allergens, infectious agents, and other potential airborne hazards must not be handled in clean air stations because these cabinets do not protect the operator. Use these cabinets only for procedures such as sterile filter assembly and other jobs requiring product protection. Using clean air stations for tissue culture preparation is not recommended because cell cultures may contain infectious agents and allergens.

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6.14.1.5 Fume HoodsPeople frequently mix up biosafety cabinets and fume hoods. Fume hoods provide protection from chemical fumes. Air is drawn into the cabinet from the laboratory, passes over the material carrying any fumes upwards to be expelled through the roof. They do not protect material from contamination from dust spores etc.

6.14.2 CentrifugationAccidents leading to aerosol formation can occur during centrifugation. The number of centrifuge accidents known to have caused infection is small; however a single accident can involve a large number of people (one is known to have caused the infection of 94 individuals, another 122 individuals).

The most common cause of accidents during centrifugation is breakage of tubes leading to leakage of the contents which form an aerosol. Breakage is caused by using inappropriate tubes, or not balancing the tubes.

Be Warned!!Make sure you have been instructed in centrifuge use before using them. This is especially important when using high-speed super or ultra-fuges as they are very expensive, easy to damage, and can cause serious harm.

6.14.3 DisinfectantsMany types of chemicals can be used as disinfectants and antiseptics and there is an ever-increasing number and variety of commercial products. Formulations must therefore be carefully selected for specific needs, and stored, used and disposed of as directed by the manufacturer. The germicidal activity of many chemicals is faster and better at higher temperatures. At the same time, higher temperatures can accelerate their evaporation and also degrade them faster. Particular care is needed in the use and storage of such chemicals in tropical regions, where their shelf-life may be reduced because of high ambient temperatures.

Many germicides can be harmful to humans and the environment. They should therefore be selected, handled and disposed of with care. For personal safety, gloves, aprons and eye protection are recommended when preparing use-dilutions of chemical germicides. Chemical germicides are therefore not required for regular and general cleaning of floors, walls, equipment and furniture except in cases of outbreak control.

Chemical disinfection is often the only practical means of decontaminating work areas and reusable materials and instruments, which cannot be autoclaved.

6.14.3.1 TypesMany disinfectants are available under a variety of trade names.All have different properties and applications, advantages and disadvantages. Some may be corrosive, toxic, flammable, explosive under certain circumstances or possibly carcinogenic. You should familiarise yourself with the properties of the disinfectants which you use, and read the relevant materials and safety data sheet (SDS).

6.14.3.1.1 ChlorineA fast-acting oxidant is a widely available and broad-spectrum germicide. It is normally sold as bleach, an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and is often combined with alkaline salts and NaOH, which can be diluted with water to

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provide various concentrations of available chlorine. Chlorine, especially as bleach, is highly alkaline and can be corrosive to metal. Its activity is considerably reduced by organic matter (protein). Storage of stock or working solutions of bleach in open containers, particularly at high temperatures, releases chlorine gas thus weakening their germicidal potential. The frequency with which working solutions of bleach should be changed depends on their starting strength, the type (e.g. with or without a lid) and size of their containers, the frequency and nature of use, and ambient conditions. As a general guide, solutions receiving materials with high levels of organic matter several times a day should be changed at least daily, while those with less frequent use may last for as long as a week. A general all-purpose laboratory disinfectant should have a concentration of 1 g/L available chlorine. A stronger solution, containing 5 g/L available chlorine is recommended for dealing with biohazardous spillage and in the presence of large amounts of organic matter. Sodium hypochlorite containing 5 g/L available chlorine is recommended as the disinfectant of choice in emergency situations involving viruses such as Hantavirus, and Lassa and Ebola viruses. Sodium hypochlorite solutions, as domestic bleach, contain 50 g/l available chlorine and should therefore be diluted 1:50 or 1:10 to obtain final concentrations of 1 g/L and 5 g/L, respectively. Industrial solutions of bleach have a sodium hypochlorite concentration of nearly 120 g/L and must be diluted accordingly to obtain the levels indicated above. YOU must check carefully the concentration of available chorine at expiry date on any stock bottle as this is the critical value.

6.14.3.1.2 AlcoholsEthanol (ethyl alcohol, C2H5OH) and 2-propanol (isopropyl alcohol, (CH3)2CHOH) have similar disinfectant properties. They are active against vegetative bacteria, fungi and lipid-containing viruses but not against spores. Their action on non-lipid viruses is variable. For highest effectiveness they should be used at concentrations of approximately 70% (v/v) in water: higher or lower concentrations may not be as germicidal. A major advantage of aqueous solutions of alcohols is that they do not leave any residue on treated items.

Note. Alcohols are volatile and flammable and must not be used near open flames or near electrical equipment. Working solutions should be stored in proper containers to avoid the evaporation of alcohols. Alcohols may harden rubber and dissolve certain types of glue. Proper inventory and storage of ethanol in the laboratory is very important. Bottles with alcohol-containing solutions must be clearly labelled to avoid their accidental autoclaving.

6.14.3.1.3 Iodine and iodophorsThe action of these disinfectants is similar to that of chlorine, although they may be slightly less inhibited by organic matter. Iodine can stain fabrics and environmental surfaces and is generally unsuitable for use as a disinfectant. On the other hand, iodophors and tinctures of iodine are good antiseptics. Polyvidoneiodine is a reliable and safe surgical scrub and preoperative skin antiseptic. Antiseptics based on iodine (e.g. Betadine) are generally unsuitable for use on medical/dental devices. Iodine should not be used on aluminium or copper.

6.14.3.1.4 Quaternary ammonium compoundsMany types of quaternary ammonium compounds are used as mixtures and often in combination with other germicides, such as alcohols. They have good activity against vegetative bacteria and lipid containing viruses. Certain types (e.g. benzalkonium chloride) are used as antiseptics.

Note. The germicidal activity of certain types of quaternary ammonium compounds

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is considerably reduced by organic matter, water hardness and anionic detergents. Care is therefore needed in selecting agents for pre-cleaning when quaternary ammonium compounds are to be used for disinfection. Potentially harmful bacteria can grow in quaternary ammonium compound solutions. Owing to low biodegradability, these compounds may also accumulate in the environment.

6.14.3.1.5 Hydrogen peroxide and peracidsLike chlorine, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and peracids are strong oxidants and can be potent broad spectrum germicides. They are also safer than chlorine to humans and the environment. Hydrogen peroxide is supplied either as a ready-to-use 3% solution or as a 30% aqueous solution to be diluted to 5–10 times its volume with sterilized water. However, such 3–6% solutions of hydrogen peroxide alone are relatively slow and limited as germicides. Products now available have other ingredients to stabilize the hydrogen peroxide content, to accelerate its germicidal action and to make it less corrosive. Hydrogen peroxide can be used for the decontamination of work surfaces of laboratory benches and biosafety cabinets, and stronger solutions may be suitable for disinfecting heat-sensitive medical/dental devices. The use of vaporized hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid (CH3COOOH) for the decontamination of heat-sensitive medical/surgical devices requires specialized equipment.

Note. Hydrogen peroxide and peracids can be corrosive to metals such as aluminium, copper, brass and zinc, and can also decolourize fabrics, hair, skin and mucous membranes. Articles treated with them must be thoroughly rinsed before contact with eyes and mucous membranes. They should always be stored away from heat and protected from light.Working solutions should be freshly prepared as organisms can grow in stored solutions. Solutions should not be topped up and need to be labelled with name, concentration and date of preparation.

6.14.3.1.6 ViracleanViraclean® passes TGA Option B and kills a broad range of other bacteria including Enterococcus Faecalis (VRE), Acetobacter and Acinetobacter and is also proven effective against Hepatitis B Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus and the Influenza Virus.Viraclean® is a major development in advanced cleaning and disinfecting technology from Whiteley Medical.

Note. Highly recommended by the IBC for most surfaces. 6.14.3.1.7 : F10SC

Long shelf life when dilutedVery large effective spectrum Contains Quaternary ammonium and biguanidine compounds (5.8%), non-toxic ampholytic surfactants and sequesterantsIn Australia, F10SC is registered by the APVMA for use in animal production and housing facilities, approved by AQIS for use in food export processing as a non-rinse disinfectant, and is also listed by the TGA as a Hospital Grade Disinfectant.

Refer to the Reference Test Certificate Register for F10 Disinfectant.Kills all types of pathogen – F10SC is bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, sporicidalMinimal chance of microbial resistance due to F10SC’s unique benzalkonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide combination of actives and mode of action*Rapid kill times – less than 30 secs for gram positive bacteria, 60 secs for gram negative bacteria, Canine Parvovirus 15 mins (new testing Nov 2012)**Successfully tested against various influenza viruses at a concentration of 1:500 in 10 mins

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Non-corrosive, non-toxic, non-tainting, non-irritating, aldehyde-free Highly cost effective Biodegradable & ecologically friendly Diluted solution remains active for long periods of timeTried, tested, independently verified and documented, and approved around the world

6.14.3.2 Activity of chemical disinfectantsThis depends on:1. Concentration2. Contact time3. Presence of organic matter4. Temperature5. pH6 Humidity

Make sure you use the appropriate disinfectant for your area and activity.

6.14.3.3 Treatment of Laboratory SpillsNote. For spills involving GMO’s more specific contingency plans may be required for treating spills (please see the conditions associated with your dealing licence)

Generally a liquid spill consists of 1. The bulk of the fluid in a puddle2. Splashes and rivulets3. Airborne particlesEach spill is different and so each situation needs to be assessed individually.When infected material is spilt or dropped (eg culture tube or plate) remember that aerosols may be produced and so do not immediately bend down to clean or pick it up but rather step back and allow time for the aerosols to settle.

As with disinfectant procedures, make sure you know how to deal with spills appropriately in your work area.

6.15 Waste segregation and disposal

6.15.1 Sharps: Syringes, Needles and BladesSharps refer to items such as syringe needles, and blades such as razor or scalpel. Use of these items is a common cause of injury in the laboratory. They should only be used where there are no alternatives and must be disposed of properly. Some areas strictly prohibit the use of sharps please check with your supervisor for area specific restrictions on sharps use.

6.15.2 Disposal of SharpsNeedles, scalpel blades and other sharps that can easily puncture the skin should be handled with extreme caution.

Used, disposable needles and other sharps must be placed in a rigid puncture-resistant disposable container with a lid. These are readily identifiable as yellow sharps containers in the laboratory. These containers are available from stores around the University.

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Disposable syringes with attached needles must be disposed of as one unit without separation of the needle from the syringe.

Needles must not be re-sheathed, bent, broken, or cut.

Adapters used with evacuated tubes must not be reused. Discard needles and adapter as a unit; do not remove needle from adapter.

Discard containers for sharps must be clearly labelled as such. Containers must also be identified with the user’s room number.

The containers should not be overfilled as this causes needlestick injuries.

Once full, the containers are sealed and discarded into a yellow waste for incinerationbins.Note. Sharps contaminated with radioactive material are taken to the radioactive waste store. They are not disposed of in the waste for incineration bins. Please refer to the Disposal of Sharps and Sharps Injury Policy

6.15.3 Decontamination and Disposal of Biologicals

6.15.3.1 Autoclaving Most of the waste generated in biological labs can be decontaminated by autoclaving. Autoclaving is also used to sterilize medium for growth of microorganisms, plants and animal tissue cultures. The following factors need to be considered in autoclaving material:

Sterilisation using steam under pressureCorrectly used, autoclaving kills bacterial spores as well as vegetative forms.

As a rule you should validate your autoclave cycle for the material you are decontaminating. A 3L culture will take much longer to decontaminate than a 100ml culture. The core temperature of your material must reach the required temperature for the required time.

Note that some materials should never be autoclaved (eg. Solvents, acids, poisons such as phenol, chlorine, biologicals containing disinfectants or radioactive material) as toxic or harmful substances are produced.

Steam penetration at the required temperature is necessary for successful sterilisation so containers need to be loosely open to allow for steam penetration; caps should be loosened on bottles, autoclave bags opened wide, bin lids removed or not fitted tightly.

Sufficient time must be allowed for steam to penetrate the load and to reach the desired temperature for the required time. Check with your supervisor or lab manager for the correct timings and temperatures for sterility of your materials. Visual indicators such as autoclave tape should be used with each load. They only indicate if the load has reach a specified temperature (which is usually well below the set temperature) and not how long the load has been exposed to that temperature. The stripes on this tape turn brown when treated at 15 Kg/cm2 for 15 min. If it does not turn brown it means the material has not been successfully autoclaved. There should be a roll of this tape in your laboratory.

Biological indicators such as spore strips (Bacillus stearothermophilus) or chemical indicators e.g. Sterikon should be used on a regular basis (e.g. monthly) to monitor whether loads are being sterilised effectively. The strips should be placed in several areas of the load, including those least likely to attain sterilisation conditions. This is generally done by staff in charge of the autoclave.

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It is good practice to check for sterility of your media by incubating overnight at 370C before use, alternatively if you are concerned about exposing the media to temperatures longer than necessary you can incubate only a small portion of the media overnight at 370C.

Watch out for burns (particularly steam-burns), especially when opening the door - use heat-insulating gloves when loading and unloading the autoclave.

Liquids are decontaminated by autoclaving and then disposed of down the sink drain.

6.15.3.2 Autoclaving solid wasteSolid Waste: e.g. petri dishes etc. should be autoclaved only in autoclave bags which have been placed in metal bins. Do not overfill bags as they are difficult to handle and may not sterilise in a standard run despite what the bag contents may look like after a run. Do not seal or bind the neck of the bag when autoclaving as you need steam to penetrate the bag; the presence of moist heat is necessary for complete destruction of many bacteria and fungi. Once autoclaved the bag is tied up and placed into a green rubbish bin for the cleaners to remove. Ensure that you do not autoclave any sharps in plastic bags. Solid agar cultures are placed in autoclave bags and autoclaved. After autoclaving the bags are sealed with tape and sent for disposal.

6.15.3.3 Autoclaving liquid waste When autoclaving liquids in screw cap containers make sure that the lids are

not tightly screwed on otherwise the container might explode.

The container should not be full, it should be no more than 2/3 full.

Larger volumes of liquid may require longer autoclave times, otherwise the centre of the liquid may not be sterile.

On completion of the autoclave run, allow the liquids to cool before tightening the screw caps on bottles as the bottles are not designed to withstand the vacuum created during cooling and may implode.

6.15.3.4 Steam treatmentSteam treatment can be used to decontaminate large volumes of material where autoclaving is impractical. An example of where this is used is:

Decontamination of potting soil in glasshouse experiments. Decontamination of large volumes of plant material

The material can be treated in a steam box at 100-105 0C for the desired length of time. To use this you must see the glasshouse support staff.

6.15.3.5 IncinerationHazardous and quarantine wastes requiring incineration are sent to an external incineration contractor (Medi-Collect) for disposal. These include infected animal tissues and cytotoxic waste. All material for incineration should be safely bagged and clearly labelled showing the nature of the waste, the name of the sender and the school/area from which it comes. Infectious waste should display the biohazard symbol.

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7 WORKING WITH CHEMICALS AND SUBSTANCES

The risks associated with the chemicals and substances used in your project must be assessed using the University RAMP form. In section 4 of this form, a list of chemicals and substances is compiled and a ‘Hazardous Substances Risk Assessment form’ (HSRA) for each is attached. Filling out the risk assessment template requires the hazard information from the SDS form to be entered. Using the ‘consequences’ and ‘likelihood’ grid the risks associated with the chemical or substance can be assessed. For many common chemicals there will be an existing RAF which can be downloaded and used. Assistance is available from the Chemical Hazards and Substances Committee to complete a HSRA for a new chemical or substance.

7.1 Know the hazards - read the Safety Data Sheets (SDS)Before you work with a chemical you must find out the potential hazards associated with its use. Take the time to find out how to handle them safely - it is part of your responsibility to yourself and others under the Occupational Safety and Health legislation. SDS are information sheets about chemicals and include information on known or suspected hazards, incompatible chemicals and safe handling precautions. The SDS for chemicals stored in the working area must be available in that working area. When planning work, you must read the SDS for each chemical involved. If the SDS for a particular chemical is not available in the area or additional information is required, start the search with the ‘Chemwatch’ system available on the WHS website.

7.1.1 Accessing SDS through ChemWatchChemWatch is an electronic database that contains information about using and storing hazardous chemicals and substances. It can be accessed from the main University homepage:

This should bring you to the front page of the ChemWatch program. The SDS for a particular chemical or substance is usually required so select the ‘full’ library and type in the name of the chemical or substance eg. lead nitrate.

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After selecting the particular chemical from the list on the right hand side of the page the SDS for the particular chemical or substance should appear.

7.1.2 Completing a Hazardous Substances Risk Assessment Form (HSRA)

In some cases, the chemical required for use in your project will have a HSRA form already in the library (note: address to this directory also privileges for this directory). If so, you can download a copy, read it and attach it to the RAMP form. This risk assessment has been conducted in a standard university laboratory situation. That specifically means barrier protection of eyes with safety glasses; covered feet and laboratory coat are assumed (internal reference here). It is also assumed that the amounts of chemical or substance will be relatively small. Where this is not the case for your project, the existing HSRA should be revised and submitted.

Where there is no existing HSRA in the directory (address/reference) one must be completed by accessing the SDS for the chemical or substance and transferring the data into the HSRA template. Once filled, the file is saved under the specific chemical or substance name and attached to the RAMP form.

The HSRA template is an Excel spreadsheet file which allows users to enter data into fields and choose from various ‘drop down’ menus. Pink fields require types input while blue files are filled from a ‘drop down’ menu.

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Any new HSRA are inspected by the Chemical Hazards and Substances Committee which then makes a recommendation the WHS officer.

7.2 LabellingThe University is required to ensure that all hazardous substances are labelled correctly. All containers, including waste containers, decanted solutions, racks of tubes and storage boxes must be labelled if they contain hazardous substances. This includes containers stored in -80ºC freezers, fridges, on bench spaces, in autoclave rooms etc.

Where a substance is decanted and used immediately, no labelling is required. However, all hazardous substances that are decanted and not used immediately must be labelled with the product name and the risk and safety phrases. In addition to the above, it is helpful for laboratory housekeeping if the label also contains your name the date. Where a hazardous substance is decanted in the laboratory into small experimental equipment, such as test tubes or columns, the label may be attached to supporting apparatus, for example, a test tube rack.

Containers must remain correctly labelled until cleaned to the point where they no longer contain any hazardous substance.

You are required to check all containers of hazardous substances in your laboratories and any containers without appropriate labels need immediate action to be taken to correctly label the container. For more details please refer to the following Policies

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Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances Policy and Management of Hazardous Substances in the Workplace Policy..

The Code of Practice ’Labelling of Workplace Substances‘, (NOHSC: 2012 (1994), chapter 6 provides the source information for Murdoch’s guidelines and can be found on the Safer Work Australia website:

7.2.1 Decanted chemicals/solutionsIt is a legislative requirement that if you decant a hazardous substance from the original container and it is not consumed immediately, you must label the new container with the Product name, risk phrases and safety phrases. (All of these are legally required to be on the original container, so just copy them across. Consult Chemwatch if you want to look up whether or not a specific chemical is designated hazardous. The labelling must remain on the container until it is cleaned and no trace of hazardous material remains.

7.3 Prepared solutions/chemicalsThe legislation governing the labelling of substances and solutions containing hazardous material prepared by you is as demanding as that for the manufacturers. You must list all of the hazardous ingredients that were used and their concentrations in the solution. The easiest way to determine which ingredients are hazardous and which warnings/labels they require is to look at the original containers for the chemicals you are using.

If a component in the substance or the solution has any hazard symbols (e.g. flammable-red diamond, oxidising agent-yellow diamond, corrosive-white diamond, poison-white diamond, carcinogen-pink diamond or explosive-orange diamond or harmful-orange label), place a copy of the sticker on your container. Hazard stickers are available from the Science store.

Note that the ’carcinogen’ hazard sticker should be used for all carcinogens, teratogens, mutagens and chemicals because the nature of the hazard is similar for all ie. damage to DNA.

7.4 Safe storage of chemicalsThe ChemWatch program contains information regarding the safe storage of chemicals. The material (8.5.1) below is an extract from the ChemWatch entry for lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2) as an example.

7.4.1 Handling and Storage

7.4.1.1 Precautions for safe handling

Safe handling

Avoid personal contact and inhalation of dust, mist or vapours. Provide adequate ventilation. Always wear protective equipment and wash off any spillage from clothing. Keep material away from light, heat, flammables or combustibles.

Other information

Store in original containers. Keep containers securely sealed as supplied. Store in a cool, well ventilated area.

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Keep dry.

7.4.1.2 Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities

Suitable container

DO NOT repack. Use containers supplied by manufacturer only.

For low viscosity materials

Drums and jerricans must be of the non-removable head type. Where a can is to be used as an inner package, the can must have a

screwed enclosure.

Storage incompatibilit

y

Derivative of electronegative metal.for metal nitrates:

Segregate from heavy metals, phosphides, sodium acetate, lead nitrate, tartrates, trichloroethylene,

Avoid shock and heat. Mixtures of metal nitrates with alkyl esters may explode due to the formation

of unstable alkyl nitrates. Mixtures of a nitrate with phosphorous, tin(II) chloride and other reducing

agents may react explosively.

7.4.2Incompatible chemicalsEven non-hazardous chemicals may become dangerous when mixed with incompatible substances. The major incompatibilities that affect chemical storage are listed below:

Acids and bases must be stored separately Oxidising agents must be stored apart from other chemicals Reducing agents must be stored apart from other chemicals

For information about particular combinations of chemicals, the individual entries in the ChemWatch database must be assessed.

7.4.3Storage heightThink carefully about the use of your bench storage space and make sure it is safe. Do not store heavy items (e.g. 2L containers) on high shelves. Make sure that any chemicals thatare either corrosive (e.g. acids, bases and oxidising agents) or potentially damaging to eyes (e.g. acetone, acrylamide) are stored below eye level for the shortest person in your vicinity.

7.4.4 Fridges/freezers and phenol or flammable materialFlammable chemicals with a significant vapour pressure at temperatures less than 0°C must be stored in a spark proof environment. Ordinary fridges and freezers have sparking sources that can ignite the vapours. Consult the ChemWatch system and SDS to assess whether your chemicals are suitable for fridge storage.

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Organic solvents are chemicals that have appreciable vapour pressure at ambient laboratory temperatures (15 – 35 oC). These chemicals must be stored in appropriate stoppered containers and within approved solvent cabinets.

7.5 Chemicals with special handling requirementsThe use of some chemicals is subject to special regulation because they pose special risks and are considered dangerous. If your project intends to use any of the chemicals in the list below then you must have listed these on the RAMP form, completed the risk assessment form and sought specific advice from the Chemical Hazards and Substance committee.

benzene carbon tetrachloride acrylamide hydrofluoric acid azides cyanides

7.5.1 Carcinogens, teratogens and mutagensExceptional care is required to minimize exposure for you and your co-workers to all chemicals that fall, or are suspected of falling into these categories. Carcinogenic, teratogenic or mutagenic chemicals must be prevented from releasing vapours or forming aerosols and use in a fumehood with the required barrier protection is an absolute requirement. You must get specific instruction before handling these types of chemicals.

7.6 Compressed Gasses Rooms where flammable gas cylinders are used should be identified by

warning notices on the doors. Not more than one cylinder of a flammable gas should be in the room at any

one time. Spare cylinders should be stored in another building at some distance from the laboratory. This store should be locked and identified by a notice.

Compressed gas cylinders should be securely fixed (e.g. chained) to the wall or a solid bench so that they are not dislodged by natural disasters.

Compressed gas cylinders and liquefied gas containers should not be placed near to radiators, open flames or other heat sources, or sparking electrical equipment, or in direct sunlight.

The main high pressure valve should be turned off when the cylinder is not in use and when the room is unoccupied.

Compressed gas cylinders must be transported with their caps in place and supported on trolleys.

Small, single-use gas cylinders must not be incinerated.7.7 Disposal of Chemical and Substance Waste

The University conducts an annual audit of the chemicals and substances held in its teaching and research laboratories. This audit is held to satisfy the legislated requirement for the WHS office to maintain a list of the hazardous substances held on campus. Staff charged with the responsibility of particular areas must audit the chemicals and substances held in that area and report these to the WHS office annually. To enable consolidation of the individual reports, these must be in a standard format.

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After this audit is completed, the University conducts an amnesty where surplus or unwanted chemicals and substances can be disposed of without cost to the person or group holding those chemicals. A ‘Waste Chemical Disposal Manifest’ is available from the WSH website (https://our.murdoch.edu.au/Occupational-Safety-and-Health/Hazardous-substances/Hazardous-substances-forms/) and must accompany chemicals and substances to be disposed of. Outside the amnesty period, the disposal of chemicals is charged to the person or group.

7.7.1 Organic SolventsThese are disposed of through a private company and charged back to the user. These are disposed of through a private company and the costs charged back to the user. It is a requirement to identify the contents of each bottle with appropriate labelling. A Waste Chemical Disposal Manifest must be attached to each container. The manifest requires a certain amount of information so that the external contractor can treat the waste appropriately as well as your details so that the disposal costs can be covered. The collection point for these waste solvents is the Physical Sciences store (ref) and they must be deposited during store opening hours.

7.7.2 Inorganic ChemicalsMany soluble inorganic chemicals can be disposed of safely by dilution however there are some soluble inorganic chemicals for which this is not an appropriate disposal process. The latter category includes nearly all the ‘heavy metals’ from row 4 onwards in the periodic table. Insoluble inorganic chemicals must be disposed of as solid residues using the ‘Waste Chemical Disposal Manifest’ available from the WSH website. Advice is available from the Chemical Hazards and Substances Committee.

7.7.3 Organic ChemicalsMany water soluble organic chemicals can be disposed of safely by dilution because they are readily bio-degradable. Non polymeric chemicals with relatively low molecular weight usually have very short half-lives in waste treatment systems and can be safely diluted. There are chemical degradation strategies available to deal with organic chemicals which resist bio-degradation. Organic chemicals that resist these treatments can be disposed of by incineration. This ultimate disposal strategy is conducted by an external contractor and a ‘Waste Chemical Disposal Manifest’ is required.

It is impossible to make many generalisations about safely disposing of chemicals. Fortunately most chemicals and the risks they pose to the environment are well known. This information is contained in the Material Safety Data Sheets (SDS) that can be viewed and copied from the ChemWatch data base. In assessing disposal risks the precautionary principle must be observed, particularly when the chemical or substance is not common or well known. Advice is available from the Chemical Hazards and Substances Committee (CHSC) and the WHS office.

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8 WORKING WITH RADIOISOTOPEVery specific requirements surround the use of sealed and unsealed radioactive sources. You must contact the Radiation Safety Officer before commencing any work in this area. If you plan to work with radioisotopes you should ensure that you enrol for the UWA “Unsealed Isotope Handling Course” before you begin. The course is only run twice a year and has been made mandatory for Murdoch University staff and students working with isotopes.

8.1 Individual User Responsibilities: Each individual is responsible for maintaining his/her exposure As Low As

Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). All users must adhere to proper handling and radiation safety procedures

when working with radioactive materials. Each individual who works with radioisotopes is responsible for the proper disposal of radioactive waste, maintenance of records of all disposal and proper identification of radioactive materials and identification of contaminated equipment with URSO approved labels.

The individual user is responsible for being familiar with radiation survey procedures and checking work areas for contamination periodically or after each radioisotope procedure. He/she is also responsible for checking hands, body and clothing for radioactivity and removing contamination before leaving the laboratory.

The individual user is responsible for the proper use and handling of his/her personnel monitoring badge, furnishing bioassay samples to the Radiation Safety Office for analysis when requested and obtaining periodic thyroid uptake measurements when working with radioiodine as applicable.

Each individual who works with radioisotopes must be familiar with the basic elements of decontamination procedures and is responsible for the cleanup of contamination for which he/she is responsible.

All users should be familiar with the characteristics of the radioisotopes they are working with.

Incidents involving contamination of personnel, uncontained spills, theft or loss of radioactive material and suspected overexposure must be reported immediately to the Radiation Safety Office.

8.2 Radioactive Substances Laboratory Guidelines and Procedures

8.2.1 Who can work in the laboratory? Access to laboratory is not permitted without prior permission of technical

staff in charge of the lab or Radiation Safety Officer. Work within the laboratory must be conducted only by persons with a current

radiation license, or by someone working under the license of somebody else. All workers must have completed the UWA radiation safety course.

License holder must ensure the people who work under them are doing so in a safe manner that complies with all regulations and declared safety standards.

8.2.2Bringing radioactive samples to the lab and storing them: Any radioactive sample you wish to bring into lab must first be authorised.

This requires a form to be filled out prior to the sample being received or sent. This form is available from technical staff and permission will then be given or refused to bring in the sample when the form is returned.

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How and where the sample is to be stored within the lab will be discussed with relevant technical staff before the sample is received. Samples not being immediately used must be stored appropriately at all times.

Documentation of each sample is to be kept on file within the lab along with the form authorising the sample to be used within the lab

8.2.3Radiation monitoring: It is advised that a log book is maintained in the lab and completed daily by all

staff and students working in the lab. Each worker is required to wear a radiation monitor at all times in the lab This

is to be handed in to technical staff once a month for results to be downloaded and checked to ensure that received doses are within safety limits.

Once a fortnight the lab space is to be checked using a hand scanner and readings entered on a map of the lab along with the date. A copy of all checks will be kept on file within the lab.

Daily spot checking of spaces where radioactive substances have been handled is expected.

Any items that are being removed from the labmust first be cleaned and checked using a hand held radiation monitor to ensure they are not contaminated.

8.2.4Disposal of radioactive substances: Radioactive contaminated tissues, paper towel, and other general waste lab

items that would normally go in a bin must be disposed of into a plastic lined cardboard radioactive waste box. These are available from the science store. The details of the contents must be recorded on the front of the box when it is first used, and activities measured and recorded on the box once it is full and sealed up. Boxes are then given to technical staff who will arrange disposal.

At the end of a project any unused or remaining radioactive material and waste must be returned to its original source or disposed of correctly. Abandoning radioactive material for others to deal with is not an option. You will be required to declare on your form requesting permission to bring a sample into the lab how and where the sample will be disposed of.

8.2.5General laboratory procedures Each worker in the lab will be assigned a workspace and possibly a storage

space as well. It is that workers responsibility to keep their spaces tidy and safe. This involves clearing away at the end of each shift, returning samples to appropriate storage, disposal of chemicals after use, and taking a share of responsibility for condition of common areas such as floors, shared benches, fume cupboards and balances. Technical staff may periodically check workspaces and storage spaces to ensure they are being kept in a satisfactory manner.

All samples must be clearly marked with a chemically meaningful name, radioactive species, and name of user. Original sample containers must include as much information as possible, including name of user’s supervisor.

Lab coats must be used only in the designated lab and not removed from the lab. Please consult with technical staff for instructions on how to clean your lab coat.

9 FIELDWORK

Staff and students who engage in fieldwork as an extension of, or in association with, laboratory work need to address all issues and arrangements associated with the

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safe conduct of fieldwork. Fieldwork is essentially work conducted outdoors on campus or in other locations, in other institutions, or overseas. Depending on the location and the type of research or teaching being undertaken in the field, the safety risks involved may vary enormously. These risks need to be considered and planned for. The information below will facilitate this process.

The risks associated with the conduct of fieldwork must be assessed using the Murdoch University RAMP form. This form will enable hazard identification. In addition, completion of Fieldwork Risks will identify if there is a need to complete a Murdoch University Fieldwork Safety form. The Fieldwork Safety Form requires information pertaining to the following areas:

The nature of the fieldwork activity (including work with fauna and flora) Participants involved and their training and expertise Equipment, vehicles and tools required Required permissions, certification and licenses Fieldwork locations, travel and transport, and communication Where relevant, information will also be collected concerning health, first aid,

clothing and safety equipment.

The Fieldwork Safety Form is a mechanism designed to, not only identify risks, but to assist in the creation of a Fieldwork Safety Plan. This must be lodged in the relevant School, and approval must be obtained, at least two weeks prior to the conduct of fieldwork.

Note. Fieldwork cannot be undertaken without a RAMP number and compliance with all identified necessary approvals.

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Full details of the various safety committees supporting this documentation can be found on the SRT website

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