Department of Biology

LABORATORY WORKPLACE RISK ASSESSMENT

Please refer to the attached information sheet for guidance on completing this form. The
purpose of the assessment is to identify the significant hazards that may be present in
a laboratory area and ensure that the risks associated with these hazards are either
eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level for all those workers who might be
exposed. It is essential that these workers are given appropriate information,
instruction and training to ensure all work activities are conducted as safely as
possible.
For details of departmental / university policy and procedures for specific hazards refer
to the departmental safety web pages: http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/biol/web/safety/safety.htm
or university safety web pages: http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/hsas/

Location of work
Brief description
of workplace
activities

Who might be
exposed to the
hazards?
Name of
Assessor
Job Title
Declaration by
Group Leader /
Laboratory
Manager

All significant hazards have been identified and the selected

control measures will either eliminate risk, or reduce risk to
an acceptable level. All persons working in the assessed
area will be given appropriate information and training to
ensure their work is carried out safely.

Signature:
Date
Review Dates

Identification of Significant Hazards

Tick all that apply

Yes No
1. Theoretical research only, none of the categories below apply
2. No significant hazards identified- all practical work can be
completed safely following Good Laboratory Practice
3. Chemicals- the highest category (= University Hazard Code) of
chemical to be used will be:
(separate written COSHH assessment and procedure required for all Category 4
chemicals- contact Departmental Health & Safety Advisor, David Nelson)

4. Microorganisms- the highest ACDP Hazard Group is:

(separate written COSHH assessment required for Hazard Group 2 organisms
involving significant levels of hazard and all Hazard Group 3 organisms or
above- contact Departmental Health & Safety Advisor, David Nelson)

5. Ionising Radiation- the following sources of ionising radiation will

be used:
(separate written assessment required for all work with ionising radiationcontact Radiation Protection Supervisor, David Nelson)

6. Non-ionising Radiation
a) Lasers will be used. Class:
(all Class 3 lasers and above must be registered with the University- Contact
Departmental Laser Safety Officer- Chris Elliot)

b) UV radiation (200 315 nm):

7. Gas cylinders will be used. Type:
8. Live animals will be used. Type:
9. Genetic Modification will be used. Activity Class:
(separate written assessment required for all GM activities- contact
Departmental Health & Safety Advisor- David Nelson)

10. Human derived material will be used: the source being:

11. Hazardous Plant Material (toxic, allergenic, diseased):
12. Other significant hazards not listed above include
(e.g. electrical, fire (e.g. use of solvents):

13. Manual Handling (regular lifting or moving of very heavy or

awkward objects)
14. Display Screen Equipment (extended periods of time using DSE

within the laboratory)

Evaluation of Risk and Identification of Measures to Control Significant Hazards

Hazard ID

Existing Control Measures

List Significant Hazards

If the hazard cannot be eliminated or substituted what measures are in

place to control the hazard? Consider engineering controls such as fume
cupboards / safety cabinets, safety procedures / instructions / training, and
personal protective equipment (see guidance notes for further information).

Residual Additional Control Measures?

Risk (List any further controls that are considered
Level necessary to control the risk
Action
When?
- Effectively zero
- Low
- Medium
- High

- Long term
- Short term
- Immediate

Evaluation of Risk and Identification of Measures to Control Significant Hazards (continued)

Hazard ID

Existing Control Measures

List Significant Hazards

If the hazard cannot be eliminated or substituted what measures are in

place to control the hazard? Consider engineering controls such as fume
cupboards / safety cabinets, safety procedures / instructions / training,
and personal protective equipment (see guidance notes for further
information).

Residual
Risk
Level
- Effectively zero
- Low
- Medium
- High

Additional Control Measures?

(List any further controls that are considered
necessary to further control the risk

Action

When?
- Long term
- Short term
- Immediate

GUIDANCE NOTES ON COMPLETING THE FORM

1. What is a risk assessment and why do one?

A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what could cause harm to
people. By pinpointing precisely the risks to your health and safety you have a sound
foundation on which to base appropriate control measures- before accidents occur.
This Laboratory workplace risk assessment form is designed to highlight:
the most significant hazards that exist in the laboratory as a whole
persons that may be affected
the control measures that are currently in place to reduce risk associated with the
hazards
any additional controls that may be required to further reduce risk
Please note that further, more detailed risk assessments may be required for some specific
hazards identified.
2. Who might be exposed?
Consider all those individuals who may be affected by hazards that have been identified in
this laboratory. Obvious people include those laboratory workers who routinely work in the
area. However, where appropriate, consider other people such as contractors, visitors,
domestic and security staff, and individuals with specific needs such as expectant mothers
and the disabled.
3. Assessment Review
The assessment should be reviewed at least annually. However, the assessment must
also be reviewed:
a) when significant changes to the work activities occur
b) following the introduction of new legislation or guidance
c) following a incident or accident which highlights deficiencies in the assessment
4. Identification of Significant Hazards
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm- in other words an accident
waiting to happen
List only those that you could reasonably expect to cause significant injuries or affect
several people.

5. Existing Control Measures

Once significant hazards have been identified the next stage is to list the control measures
that are currently in place for all the significant hazards identified.
What is actually done to either reduce as low as reasonably practicable or eliminate the
risks associated with the task you are doing depends on each set of circumstances. As a
general guide, however, the risks should be controlled by the application of what is referred
to as the hierarchy of control measures. These include:

Elimination: Can the hazard be avoided or at least altered to reduce the likelihood of
risk? For example can open source radioactive substances be avoided by using an
alternative technique?

Substitution: Where possible, the risk should be reduced by substituting for a less
hazardous substance or process. For example, the use of commercial acrylamide
solution is far safer than the use of acrylamide powder that will generate harmful dust.

Engineering / mechanical controls: Can engineering or mechanical aids be used to

avoid or reduce the risk by segregating people from the hazard. Examples include the
use of fume cupboards and safety cabinets, which are used to contain the hazard by
enclosure. Where engineering controls are used it is important that they are adequately
utilised and maintained.

Reduced exposure: Where risk is increased by the time of exposure, certain means
can be used to reduce this. For example, providing display screen equipment users
with non-screen based work, or altering a procedure using radioactive materials to
reduce the length of exposure.

Introduce safe systems of work: these represent the safety procedures or instructions
to ensure the hazards are eliminated or risks minimised.

Information: employees should be informed of the risks, instructed in the correct safe
working practices and given relevant safety procedures (safe systems of work) where
appropriate.

Personal protective equipment (PPE): where the above measures do not fully
remove the risk, PPE should be considered. In the laboratory, typical PPE includes the
use of a laboratory coat (e.g. for wet-laboratory and biological material), gloves, dust
masks and safety glasses. The use of PPE is not ideal, however, since it is not always
easy to guarantee in terms of effectiveness. It is sometimes difficult to select accurately
and maintain correctly.

6. Assessing the Residual Risk Level

The term risk represents the likelihood of hazardous events occurring and the
severity of the resulting consequences
Where risks are already controlled, this part of the assessment exercise establishes the
effectiveness of selected control measures and determines if further controls should be
considered. This will require the experienced judgement or subjective evaluation of the
assessor.
For each potential hazard identified assess the associated residual level of risk by
combining:

the consequence of the hazard in the event of exposure, (i.e. the level of harm that
could theoretically be realised) and,
the likelihood of harm occurring (assume existing control measures are in place)

Express risk as high, medium, low, or effectively zero using the risk matrix table
below.
Estimation of Risk
Consequence
of
Hazard

Likelihood of Risk
High

Medium

Low

Negligible

Severe

High

High

Medium

Effectively Zero

Medium

High

Medium

Medium/Low

Effectively Zero

Low

Medium/Low

Low

Low

Effectively Zero

Negligible

Effectively Zero

Effectively Zero

Effectively Zero

Effectively Zero

7. Additional Controls
List additional control measures for each of the significant hazards that may be required to
reduce the residual risk level still further. Also consider the level of priority that should be
given to implementing any additional controls identified e.g. is it a long term desirable
(years) / short-term priority (weeks), or an immediate priority?