Risk Assessments

for anything else that doesn't fit.
Post Reply
dss8386
Posts: 76
Joined: 28 May 2009, 14:15
Job Title: Laboratory Assistant
School: St. Augustines College
Suburb: Cairns
State/Location: QLD

Risk Assessments

Post by dss8386 »

Hi All,

I am trying to get RiskAssess up and going. Been using the system about a year and is going well.

However, I would like to know whether we have to do a risk assessment for anything that we (labbies) do in the preproom. e.g. making agar, mixing solutions etc.

Is this a legal requirement? If not, is it something worthwhile doing?

Dave
User avatar
lada
Posts: 1024
Joined: 29 Jun 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by lada »

Hi Dave,
we use riskassess and on page 2 where they have the level of risk is certification by lab technician.
I do the risk assessment in that column so it often differ from teachers.
In case if using 2M Hcl I would assess the actual dilution from conc HCl. so my risk factor would be higher than students who will get dropper bottle with 10Ml of dilute solution. Same goes for physics prac where I will put out cathode ray. But teacher would plug it in and run it, so her risk would be higher than mine. Does it make sense?
Lada
User avatar
rae
Posts: 1045
Joined: 31 May 2006, 10:00
School: Oxley College
Suburb: Burradoo
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by rae »

I do some RA for specific things I do eg. Diluting acids and making up bases. Making agar etc. I figured it didn't hurt to have them and covers me if something happens while I'm doing these things.
dss8386
Posts: 76
Joined: 28 May 2009, 14:15
Job Title: Laboratory Assistant
School: St. Augustines College
Suburb: Cairns
State/Location: QLD

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by dss8386 »

Thanks everyone.

I thought the same as Rae, it cant hurt doing them, it doesn't take long and it shows that we are reviewing the risks of the tasks we perform. I was thinking of doing risk assessments for the following:

Making agar
Making gels for Electrophoresis
Diluting/ preparing solutions
etc

Basically I am going to do risk assessments for anything that is not included in the risk assessment from the teacher, anything that needs to be prepared before the practical. The only question I have, Do we sign both the teacher and lab tech part or is it best to get the HOD to sign off on them?

Dvae
User avatar
smiley
Posts: 1398
Joined: 20 Nov 2006, 10:00
State/Location: QLD

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by smiley »

Since most of what I do is in response to a specific experiment request, I just list/acknowledge the hazards associated with preparation for that specific experiment. For example if I have to use Conc. HCl then I'd make a comment, and list what PPE I'll be using.

Only time I'd do a RA just for what I'm doing in the Prep Room would be, like Rae, when I'm doing a general lab task like preparing reagents that aren't specifically for a class per se.

So...aren't you making gels for a specific prac? If so, then just include your Mitigation comments in your section of it. And yes, get your HOD to sign off. It's good practice for him :thumbup:
Cheers, K 8-)
dss8386
Posts: 76
Joined: 28 May 2009, 14:15
Job Title: Laboratory Assistant
School: St. Augustines College
Suburb: Cairns
State/Location: QLD

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by dss8386 »

Thanks K,

Makes a lot of sense. Ill start to follow that. So anything related to a prac goes with that risk assessment, anything that I do that poses a risk and isn't directly related to a prac e.g stock solutions, do my own risk assessment and get the HOD to sign off.

Thanks Everyone..

Dave
Merilyn1
Posts: 1476
Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
Job Title: Labbie
School: Wollondilly Anglican College
Suburb: Tahmoor
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by Merilyn1 »

Also, have a look on Science Assist as they have posted some SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for some of our activities. Can only imagine that there will be more to come. In the real world, these are the sort of documents that you would be expected to have for every task you perform, especially high risk tasks. The SOPs are certainly worth having a look at.
Kerrin
Posts: 9
Joined: 31 Mar 2014, 08:19
School: Hastings Secondary College
Suburb: Port Macquarie
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by Kerrin »

Hi Merilyn1, could you please give us the web address for Science Assist SOP's as I can't seem to find it.Thanks heaps, Kerrin
User avatar
Mother
Posts: 275
Joined: 17 May 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Science lab. technician
School: Dubbo College/Senior Campus
Suburb: Dubbo
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by Mother »

In the DET schools it is not necessary for us to do risk assessments,to me it is just another unnecessary job for us lab techs.(I am busy enough as it is!!!!).
So I am interested to know...... Is it a requirement from the powers that be to do this in all Catholic and Independant schools,or has someone just decided that it is a good thing to do without proper consultation?
Cheers
Mother
User avatar
Labbie
Posts: 3234
Joined: 28 Nov 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Retired
Suburb: At Home
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by Labbie »

So right Mother, Phil Crips has a lot to answer for. Their was a DEC school and the labbie was told NO need to do that, but she went head, talk about time on your hands.
Regards Labbie

Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired :wub:
User avatar
smeee
Posts: 617
Joined: 02 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Technician
School: LaSalle Catholic College
Suburb: Bankstown
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by smeee »

This is the link to ScienceASSIST....

http://assist.asta.edu.au/
Merilyn1
Posts: 1476
Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
Job Title: Labbie
School: Wollondilly Anglican College
Suburb: Tahmoor
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by Merilyn1 »

Risk assessments are a requirement of Workcover (in NSW) for all work places. I don't work in a DET school, so am not aware of their system. We use Risk Assess in my current school and it meets our needs for prac ordering and risk assessments. I'm still finding my way around the system of my current employer, for my tasks outside of the pracs that are covered by Risk Assess, so am not sure just how much I should have in place. I agree with Smiley, though, when signing off the risk assessment, I consider what all my risks are to prepare the materials that have been ordered.
curie
Posts: 360
Joined: 27 May 2010, 09:42
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by curie »

Yeah, I've worked in industry (aka the real world. ) risk assessments/ SOPs are pretty standard out there. :thumbup:
User avatar
Labbie
Posts: 3234
Joined: 28 Nov 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Retired
Suburb: At Home
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by Labbie »

So why is the DEC not doing RA, and every one else Have too? It just does not make sense.
Regards Labbie

Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired :wub:
User avatar
lada
Posts: 1024
Joined: 29 Jun 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by lada »

Sue,
I attended one WHS seminar a few years ago by AIS (independent schools) and was told that as long as you are following CSIS it gives you generic RA and do not need to do separate RA. So I do not know how and where it all got out of control and now we pay a lot of money to get riskassess not just for teachers but students as well.
So point I am making is that CSIS is your RAs.
Lada
curie
Posts: 360
Joined: 27 May 2010, 09:42
State/Location: NSW

Re: Risk Assessments

Post by curie »

You'd have to ask DEC that one
Post Reply