General Risk Assessment Form

Date: (1) Assessed by: (2) Checked / Validated* by: (3) Location: (4) Assessment ref no (5) Review date: (6)

Task / premises: (7)

Handling of Sharps (including scalpels and hypodermic needles and broken glass)

Activity (8) Hazard (9) Who might be Existing measures to control risk (11) Risk rating (12) Result
harmed and how (13)
(10)
Disposing of Sharp blades, User, risk of cuts, Always cut away from yourself. Low A
sharps needle and pins lacerations and
needle stick injury. Those under 18 must be supervised at all times when
Risk of exposure using scalpels blades.
to hazardous
materials. Sharps should never be left unattended on benches,
never left on the edges of benches where they may fall
All other staff, and and when the sharp is put down the blade / needle points
students, cleaning away from the user and those in the vicinity.
staff and
contractors - cuts, Sharps should NEVER carried in pockets, not kept
lacerations and loose in drawers / on benches and are stored
needle stick injury either in the original packet or a plastic box with a
risk of exposure to lid.
hazardous
materials if waste When a blade or needle is dropped it is picked up it must
is disposed of be picked up immediately with tweezers or blunt
incorrectly or due forceps - not unprotected hand.
to careless users.
If a sharp is noted on the floor it’s not ignored but
picked up with tweezers and disposed of in a
sharps bin.

Result : T = trivial, A = adequately controlled, N = not adequately controlled, action required, U = unknown risk

University risk assessment form and guidance notes.

Revised Aug07
Activity (8) Hazard (9) Who might be Existing measures to control risk (11) Risk rating (12) Result
harmed and how (13)
(10)
Used blades and needles are disposed of in a designated
yellow sharps bin (clinical waste bin).

The bin must not be filled to beyond the appropriate

point.

Items are not left to stick out of the tip of a bin.

As soon as bins are full the lids are firmly secured, put in
a yellow bin for incineration (clinical waste bin on 3rd or
basement floor).

Changing / Sharp blade User, cuts, Users are warned not to get distracted from the task and Low A
removing and lacerations and others in the vicinity will not distract them.
fitting a scalpel exposure to
blade hazardous The following "lift and push" technique is used:
materials.
1. Grasp the handle of the scalpel with one hand
All other staff, and and the round point forceps with the other hand.
students, cleaning 2. Grip the part of the blade held down by the
staff and safety tab with the forceps and very carefully pry
contractors - cuts, the blade up, sliding it off the safety tab and
lacerations and handle.
needle stick injury 3. Dispose the used blade in a sharps bin.
risk of exposure to 4. Peel the ends of the package holding the
hazardous replacement blade apart at the end that slides
materials if waste onto the handle; do not remove the blade for the
is disposed of packaging from the blade end.
incorrectly or due 5. Hold the blade end with the forceps and carefully
to carless users slide the blade onto the handle until it snaps in
place.

Changing / use / Needle User, needle stick Hypodermic needles are not be used where a safer Low A
removing / fitting injury and alternative is available.

Result : T = trivial, A = adequately controlled, N = not adequately controlled, action required, U = unknown risk

University risk assessment form and guidance notes.

Revised Aug07
Activity (8) Hazard (9) Who might be Existing measures to control risk (11) Risk rating (12) Result
harmed and how (13)
(10)
a needle. exposure to
hazardous Needles are fitted to the syringe while still sheathed, and
materials. are not re-sheathed.

All other staff, and When un-sheathing needles the following is done: rotate
students, cleaning needle within protective case (using packaging), to
staff and release needle from case safely.
contractors - cuts,
lacerations and Needles are disposed of in a sharps bin as soon as
needle stick injury possible.
risk of exposure to
hazardous Never pass unsheathed needles around.
materials if waste
is disposed of If a hypodermic is dropped then it is immediately
incorrectly or due picked up using blunt nose tweezers and disposed of in a
to carless users sharps bin.

First aiders available throughout the building, call

Security on 69966 out of hours for first aid treatment.
First aid boxes available close to all main labs.

If a needle stick injury occurs, encourage the wound to

gently bleed, ideally holding it under running water, dry
the wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or
dressing. Report the injury.
Disposing of Sharp objects User, all others in Broken glass is cleaned using a dust pan and brush and Low A
broken glass and potentially vicinity. Cuts, safety spectacles are worn if there are large pieces to
hazardous lacerations, eye pick up; cut resistant gloves are worn.
materials injuries and
potential exposure Users know that special care is needed when clearing
to hazardous broken glass from a sink where water can make sharp
material edges invisible: tongs or round nose forceps are used to
pick out pieces.
All other staff, and

Result : T = trivial, A = adequately controlled, N = not adequately controlled, action required, U = unknown risk

University risk assessment form and guidance notes.

Revised Aug07
Activity (8) Hazard (9) Who might be Existing measures to control risk (11) Risk rating (12) Result
harmed and how (13)
(10)
students, cleaning Broken glass is disposed of in a yellow sharps bin (clinical
staff and waste bin).
contractors - cuts,
lacerations
Media prep staff –
cuts

Authorisation by PI or Line Manager (15)

I confirm that I have considered and understand the experiment and the associated hazards. I am satisfied that all of the hazards have been identified and
that the control measures to be followed will reduce the risks to as low as is reasonably practicable.
Print name: Signed:
Date:

(17)
Validated by:

Signature:
Date:

Result : T = trivial, A = adequately controlled, N = not adequately controlled, action required, U = unknown risk

University risk assessment form and guidance notes.

Revised Aug07
Authorisation by PI / line manager
I confirm that I have considered and understand the risks and agree to abide by the control
measures My counter-signature indicates that I am happy for the work to proceed and confirms
my staff and students will be appropriately trained.
Print name: Signed:

Date:

Name (please print) signed PI countersignature date

University risk assessment form and guidance notes.

July07