guidelines - griffith.edu.au€¦ · web viewchecklist sections these include general safety, ......

Laboratory, Workshop, Chemical Stores and Studio Health and Safety Inspection ChecklistGuidelinesWorkplace inspections are a way of identifying hazards in the workplace. Inspections also provide a system to monitor whether the risks associated with the hazards are adequately controlled. All elements must conduct a thorough workplace inspection at least annually. Workplaces that include laboratories, workshops, studios or other hazardous work areas should conduct them more regularly. Inspections are required under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011, and other safety-related legislation.To be effective, workplace inspections require a systematic approach. Consider splitting the workplace into sections or functional units (such as a room) and talk to staff and students in the area about any issues that may arise during normal day-to-day activities. When looking for hazards you should consider the interaction between the:

Work environment; Plant, equipment or substances; Work practices; Individuals.

This checklist includes the following sections – complete only those relevant to your particular area.

General Safety; Chemical Safety; Gas and Gas Cylinder Safety; Biological Safety;

Radiation Safety; Nursing Safety; Machine/Workshop Safety; Drama, Music and Film/Television Studio Safety.

ProcessStep 1: Advise Head of Element/School about the inspection so that they may inform staff in their area of the upcoming inspection.Step 2: Complete inspection findings in the tables on the following pages and write comments as required. Some items may not be applicable to your area, in which case tick N/A against the relevant area.Step 3: Ensure that the Head of Element/School or Research Centre Director is informed about key findings and recommendations. Decide on a course of action to deal with any problems that you have identified.

Prioritise your actions (this may involve completing Risk Assessments to determine priorities); Undertake action/s and record completion of action/s by inserting a completion date in the “Date Completed” column.

Step 4: Record keeping Keep a copy of the inspection report for audit purposes.

For assistance with completing this form, contact a Health and Safety Specialist.

Inspection DetailsCampus: Element/Section:

Building/Room/Area: Date of Inspection:

Inspection Team: Review Date:

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Checklist

Area Response

Comments Recommended Action Date completed

1. General/Miscellaneous Safety

a) Signs/Information

Are hazard posters effectively posted at entrances?

Are emergency and evacuation procedures prominently displayed?

Are staff and students aware of nominated first aiders?

Have emergency numbers been posted on each phone?

Is special signage for radiation, biological or other hazards prominently posted?

b) Safety Equipment

Are safety showers and eye wash facilities functional, and tested at regular intervals (Weekly)?

Are safety showers and eye wash facilities free of obstructions?

Have Self Contained Breathing Apparatus been recertified within the last 12 months?

Are all fire hoses, fire extinguishers and safety blankets within the certification or use by date?

c) Fume Cupboards

Are electrical services located outside the chamber?

Are emergency switches clearly identified for gas and water supply?

Has the cupboard been inspected and certified within the last 12 months?

Response - N/C = Not Compliant A/C = Area of Concern C = Compliant N/A = Not Applicable


Area Response


Are restrictions posted near fume cupboards (< 2.5 L of flammables, no perchloric acid, etc.)?

d) Electrical Safety

Are double adaptors & piggyback plugs prohibited?

Are multi-outlet boards mounted clear of benches & floors, at least 300mm?

Is there a periodic check of equipment and extension leads; i.e. appliances & leads are tested and tagged?

e) Heat Hazards

Is all heating equipment clear of combustibles?

Is pressure release equipment installed?

Are pressure relief valves, fittings, gauges and other safety devices or systems regularly checked and tested?

Are ovens, furnaces & kilns provided with flues?

Is suitable protective equipment available for use with equipment; i.e. gloves, face shields, etc.?

f) Security Hazards

Have materials that could easily be converted into cash or used for illegal purposes been identified and controls put in place to prevent theft?

Where employees/students are required to work after hours, are there controls in place to ensure their security?

Have employees/students been instructed on what to do if they discover someone behaving suspiciously?



Area Response


Are employees/students encouraged to walk to car park areas at night in pairs or seek assistance from security?

g) Emergency including First Aid

Are there sufficient exits for prompt escape?

Are escape routes clear, no locks restricting?

Are emergency exits clearly signed and inspected regularly to ensure that they are unobstructed and in good working condition?

Are exit signs adequately illuminated?

Is emergency lighting operable?

Are building/floor warden notices displayed with names up to date?

Are emergency procedures displayed and known to staff?

Are staff able to locate the Emergency Assembly Area?

Can the alarm be heard in all areas?

Are fire extinguishers secured to the wall, clearly signed and unobstructed?

Are fire extinguishers inspected and tagged within the last six months?

Is the list of the area’s first aider(s) clearly displayed and up to date?

Is the first aid kit clearly identified and easily accessible?

Is the first aid sign clearly visible?

Are the contents of the first aid kit stocked accordingly to the list of contents posted inside the kit?



Area Response


Is there a treatment record booklet in the kit and is it used?

2. Chemical Safety

a) Laboratory procedures (general)

Is the ban on eating, drinking and smoking in laboratories enforced?

Is the ban on mouth pipetting enforced?

Are laboratory coats/gowns worn?

Is exposure to noise minimised?

Are emergency exits left open and clear of obstructions?

Is the area left tidy?

Is the area large enough for the work being done?

Are student bags located out of access ways?

b) Safety Information

Is there a register or inventory of chemicals?

Are Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) available for all chemicals?

Are chemical containers of the correct type?

Are all containers correctly labelled with substance name and risk and safety phrases? (Including containers of decanted substances in smaller containers for convenience, e.g. spray bottles of cleaner)

c) General Laboratory Storage

Is there segregation of incompatible classes of chemicals?



Area Response


Are poisons, drugs, carcinogens, corrosives, etc. stored separately and where necessary in locked cabinets?

Are cabinets used for storage of large quantity chemicals?

Are all chemical stocks kept to a minimum (i.e. no excessive storage of stocks)?

Are all containers in cabinets less than 25L in size?

Are all storage surfaces compatible with chemicals stored or covered with protective coating?

Are all containers on open shelves less than 5kg or 5L in size?

For shelves over 1.5m high are all glass containers less than 1kg or 1L?

Is there no more than one 250 L flammable liquid cabinet per 150m2 of floor space?

Is flammable liquid storage well away from exits, heat and ignition sources?

Are only approved pumps, drawing from the top of the storage containers, used to transfer flammable liquids?

Are only approved self-closing valves or faucets used in gravity transfer of flammable liquids?

Are containers of flammable and combustible liquids covered when not in use?

Are open flames prohibited, especially in flammable and combustible liquids storage areas?

Are portable fire extinguishers available at storage point of flammable or combustible liquids?

Is air or gas pressure prohibited for transfer of flammable liquids?



Area Response


d) Chemical Store (not a laboratory or workshop)

Are all storage refrigerators spark proof?

Are cabinets used for storage of large quantity chemicals?

Is there security/restricted access to storage areas?

Are chemicals stored in completely separate storage rooms from gas cylinders?

Is fire protection available?

Is ventilation sufficient to prevent the build-up of offensive/dangerous odours, i.e. either a gravity or mechanical exhaust ventilation system?

Is there appropriate secondary containment to prevent the spread of major spills?

Are all chemicals stored according to compatibility and or licence requirements?

e) Prevention

Is monitoring carried out where there is the possibility of exceeding chemical exposure limits?

Is there appropriate ventilation for the types of chemicals in use (e.g. general exhaust, local exhaust, dust extraction, fume cupboards, glove boxes, etc.)?

Has the need for personal protective equipment been assessed?

Have the following PPE items been provided? (Consider correct selection, location, information & warning signs & maintenance)

Coats/overalls

Eye protection



Area Response


Gloves

Safety footwear

Respirators etc.

Hearing protection

Helmets/Hard hats

Are procedures, absorbents and neutralising agents available in the event of a spill?

f) Hazardous Waste Disposal

Are there approved methods of disposal for all chemicals?

Are there sufficient and appropriate waste disposal containers?

Are combustible waste materials and residues kept to a minimum, stored in metal receptacles and disposed of daily?

g) Training

Are staff and students aware of procedures in place for the use of high-risk chemicals (i.e. flammable, explosives, cytotoxins, poisons, HF, carcinogens, etc.)?

Are staff/students familiar with spill clean-up requirements for their chemicals?

Are staff/students trained for the use of PPE used in their area?

3. Gas and Gas Cylinder Safety

a) In a Storage Facility

If in storage, are cylinders segregated by hazard, with different hazard classes separated by fire-resistant partition or stored at least 5m apart? (e.g. flammable gases separated from oxidizing gases)



Area Response


Are gas storage areas secured and separated from other chemical storage?

Are gas cylinders securely restrained and supply valves closed and covered if not in use?

Are unused gas cylinders labelled and stored in a dry, cool and well-ventilated area?

Are gas cylinders stored away from salt and other corrosive substances that may subject them to damage?

Do all compressed gas cylinders have safety relief valve?

Does storage of cylinders not interfere with exit paths?

Is a cylinder trolley available for transporting cylinders?

Are cryogenics appropriately stored?

Are all compressed gas cylinders subjected to periodic hydrostatic testing?

Are all compressed gas cylinders regularly inspected for corrosion, pitting, cuts, gouges, digs, bulges, neck defects and general distortion?

b) In Laboratories, Workshops, etc.

Is the number of cylinders inside rooms kept to a minimum?

Are all gas cylinders in labs connected for use (i.e. no laboratory storage)?

Are all compressed gas cylinder connections such as pressure regulators, hoses, gauges and relief valves regularly checked for integrity and tightness?

Are gas cylinders securely restrained and supply valves closed and covered if not in use?



Area Response


Are cryogenics appropriately stored?

Are fuel gas services installed to required standards (AG601 & AS1596)?

Is gas use confined to areas with good local exhaust systems?

Are gas systems periodically pressure and leak tested?

4. Biological Safety

a) General Biological Safety

Are high-risk specimens’ isolated (i.e. appropriate containment laboratories)?

Where chemicals are used in work with infectious micro-organisms, does the biohazard cabinet prevent escape of chemical vapours into the work area?

Are safe work practices in place for lab techniques (including minimisation of aerosols)?

Are cleaning procedures established for normal cleaning and emergency spills?

Are autoclave procedures available for disinfection?

Are staff aware of decontamination procedures?

Are sharps bins and bio-hazardous waste receptacles available and clearly marked?

Is waste management established & implemented?

Are all research projects approved (if needed) by the appropriate agency/ ethics committee?

Is specialised personal protective equipment available for use by staff/students?



Area Response


Have all staff/students been provided with information on appropriate vaccinations?

Are centrifuges in good order & clean?

Are biohazard cabinets provided where required?

Are biological hazard tags used to identify equipment, containers, rooms and experimental animals that may include a hazardous biological agent?

Is manipulation of oral or topical medicines containing cytotoxic drugs restricted to a controlled environment, (i.e. a pharmacy department)?

Are all cytotoxic drugs clearly labelled and packaged?

Is health surveillance available for staff handling cytotoxic drugs?

b) Laminar Flow Cabinets

Have all laminar flow cabinets been certified within the last 12 months?

Are procedures for appropriate use of cabinets posted?

Is the cabinet located away from entrances and chemical fume hoods?

Are staff properly trained to use laminar flow cabinets? Do the cabinets look clean and tidy (i.e. routine cleaning performed regularly)?

Are workers protected from exposure to UV radiation?

Is appropriate PPE provided to staff working with laminar flow cabinets?



Area Response


Is adequate clearance provided behind and on each side of the cabinet to allow easy access for maintenance, and to ensure that the air return to the laboratory is not hindered?

Are HEPA filters of the exhaust system, including the cabinet itself, periodically checked to ensure sufficient air flow?

Are HEPA filters decontaminated before removal for replacement?

5. Radiation Safety

a) Ionizing Radiation Hazards

Is there a current radiation license for the work (radioactive substance or irradiating apparatus)?

Has a Radiation Safety Officer been appointed?

Do all operators have appropriate training?

Are there approved safe working rules?

Is appropriate monitoring equipment available?

Is appropriate monitoring equipment calibrated?

Is appropriate personal dosimetry available?

Where required, is approved shielding installed?

Is access to radiation hazard areas restricted?

Are there warning signs for radiation hazards?

Are "sealed" radiation sources maintained in good order?

Are "unsealed" radiation sources correctly stored?

Is a risk assessment carried out when a new radiation source first arrives?



Area Response


Are work surfaces impervious?

Is personal protective equipment available?

Are there appropriate waste disposal procedures?

Is X-ray equipment tested & maintained?

Is there a current possession/transport/storage licence?

b) Non-ionizing Radiation Hazards

Are workers protected from exposure to UV equipment?

Have workers been trained in UV transilluminator safety?

Is appropriate eye protection available?

Are eye protection devices regularly checked for scratches, damage and colour change?

Do the laboratory gloves provide UV protection?

Are UV sources fitted with protective shields?

Are germicidal lamps interlocked to prevent exposure?

6. Laser Safety

Is access to Class 3b or Class 4 lasers controlled?

Are appropriate laser safety procedures in place?

Are laser-warning signs displayed?

Are protective interlocks effective?

Is eye protection provided?

Are eye examinations provided in accordance with AS/NZ Standard 2211:1?



Area Response


Has a Laser Safety Officer been appointed?

Is access to NMR magnets controlled?

Are warning signs posted?

Is the 0.5 mT line appropriately marked?

Are only carbon dioxide fire extinguishers used in NMR magnet areas?

Are only very experienced technicians allowed to fill the magnets with liquid cryogens?

Are arc-welding operators provided with helmets (with filter lens), fire resistant gauntlet gloves, apron, boots, spats, skullcap and boilermakers’ coverall or bib, brace & shirt?

Are eye protection devices regularly checked for scratches, damage and colour change?

Do the laboratory gloves provide UV protection?

Are UV sources fitted with protective shields?

Are germicidal lamps interlocked to prevent exposure?

7. Nursing Safety

Are all imitation drugs and medicines adequately labelled as such?

Is there a system in place to ensure that there is no diagnostic use of the equipment and stores?

Are infection control procedures in place and practised?

Are safe systems in place for safe handling of sharps?

Are bed adjustment handles pushed in and bedside furniture not creating a hazard? (including drawers and cupboards closed)



Area Response


Are there loose or polished surfaces that could cause slips or trips?

Are passageways clear and equipment stored away correctly?

Are floor traffic patterns developed to prevent collisions for all persons?

Are doors and drawers closed, furniture correctly positioned (not causing obstruction) and no sharp edges on surfaces and corners?

Is there adequate lighting in all work areas?

Are beds, trolleys, wheelchairs and commodes (patient equipment) maintained (especially wheels and brakes) and work appropriately?

Are there appropriate patient support aids such as grab bars and non-slip mats?

Is appropriate equipment provided for handling hot items (e.g. pan room) and patients (e.g. hoists)?

Is training provided in use of lifting aids? (e.g. patient hoists)

Are medical gas cylinders secured in place when in use and moved using appropriate trolley?

Is medical equipment for use on subjects connected to a Type 1 Safety Switch?

8. Machine/Workshop Safety

a) Basic Safety

Are machines built in accordance with relevant Australian Standards?



Area Response


Are safe operating procedures (SOP) and warning signs clearly visible?

Are machines guarded/protected to prevent contact, entanglement or damage?

Is all machinery designed for a fixed location securely anchored to prevent moving?

Are all machines constructed, installed and maintained so as to be free from excessive vibration?

Are all machines and equipment requiring the presence of an operator not left unattended while in operation?

Have preventative maintenance arrangements been made (if required)?

Is there an electrical isolation switch on all machines?

b) Miscellaneous

Are machines appropriate for the area of use (i.e. explosive proof, etc.)?

Are lighting levels sufficient for operators to run equipment safely?

Are residual current devices in use for portable equipment?

Are separate bays provided for welding and grinding?

Are aisles marked and of sufficient width?

Are revolving drums, barrels and containers guarded by an enclosure that is interlocked so that they cannot revolve?

Are all power tools and machines which generate dust connected to a dust collection system?



Area Response


Are hand tools inspected regularly for physical damage?

If hand tools are used, are they designed to be easily handled without a need to place hands in a danger zone?

Are spray booth filters inspected and changed regularly?

Are spray booths inspected annually to ensure the extraction system is operating effectively?

Is the floor clear of waste, oil & water?

9. Drama, Music and Television Studio Safety

Are all lanterns and/or droppers secured to the lighting grid using industry approved scaffold and/or G-clamps?

Do all lanterns and/or droppers have a secondary restraint in the form of an industry approved safety cable attached to the grid?

Are all lanterns operating in the correct plane ie lamp base is horizontal?

Are only silicon (heat resistant) extension leads in the lighting grid?

Are all lantern power cables free from binding and/or chafing?

Are all barn doors properly secured?

Are all shutters and/or lighting frames properly secured?

Are all three phases balanced on the dimmer rack?

Are all dimmer channels loaded up to a maximum of 20 Amps?

Are all DMX cables secured/ covered when portable lighting controllers are in use?

Are lighting poles removed from lanterns and stored in the correct locations?



Area Response


Are all gel holders stored correctly and secured with a chain when not in use?

Are all ladders stored correctly and secured with a chain when not in use?

Are relevant warnings put in place when and where required?

Are safety lights operating to allow safe passage of audience members, crew and actors?

Are all leads on the floor gaffed down as per industry standards?

Are exit lights operating and clearly visible?

Are Fire Extinguishers and First Aid Kits available?

Are all props secured and in the correct position?

Is all seating correctly set up and locked off?

Are centre plates for seating correctly installed and locked off?

Are handrails correctly installed and locked off?

Are all passageways clear of obstructions?

Is the rigging system only operated by properly trained staff?

Have audio SPL checks been completed and a maximum level set?

Is access to drama & television studio controlled to prevent unauthorised use or theft of equipment?



Action Plan (attach extra pages if necessary)

Area Corrective Action Responsible Person

Date Completed

Follow Up Action

Inspecting person/s signature/s: ____________________________________ Date: / /

Provide copy to Head of School/Manager. This inspection checklist should be kept on file for review and audit purposes.

Head of School/Element signature: __________________________________ Date: / /



guidelines - griffith.edu.au€¦ · web viewchecklist sections these include general safety, ......

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