General Workplace Inspection

• University of Tasmania Workplace Inspection Checklist- Laboratory

• Client / Site

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

• Personnel

1.0 - Previous inspection

• 1.1 - Has the last inspection been reviewed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 1.2 - Are there no outstanding actions?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Yes

  No

  N/A

General Housekeeping

• The general area is tidy (benches, floors, cupboards and shelves) and free of obstructions and mess such as slip/trip hazards (uneven floors, power leads etc.)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All aisles are unobstructed and of sufficient width ( 1m minimum)<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Spaces between and under benches, cabinets and equipment are accessible for cleaning<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Lighting is functional and adequate<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Hand basin or alternative means of decontaminating hands is available within the laboratory (must be hands free in PC2 laboratories)<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• The laboratory safety manual is clearly available eg on line, hard copy at central location <br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Facilities for the storage of outer garments and personal items are available outside of the laboratory<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• There is a procedure for waste disposal and sufficient and appropriate segregated waste disposal containers<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• There are appropriate Sharps disposal containers available<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Exposure to noise is prevented<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• General ventilation, temperature and humidity is sufficient<br><br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Signage Requirements

• Entrance signage indicates:<br>Laboratory Manager contact details<br>Authorised access only<br>No food or drink allowed<br>Warning signs are posted for ie chemical, biological, radiation<br>Any other information such as PPE required

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• First aid signage is visible and contains details of first aid officers for the area

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Fire wardens with current contact details signage is visible

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Emergency exits are clearly marked with exit doors being clearly visible, egress clear and closed but not locked from the inside

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Emergency exit plans in prominent positions

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Safe work procedures are available, ideally displayed next to equipment

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Emergency Requirements

• A first aid kit is available in the near vicinity in the adequate for the type of work undertaken

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Fire equipment is appropriate, accessible and free of obstructions

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Fire extinguishers have been inspected/ tagged within the last 6 months

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Safety shower is functional and checked regularly

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Emergency eyewash station is available and checked regularly

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where an experiment is to be left unattended overnight or at weekends, are signs attached to equipment indicating the relevant person to be contacted in the event if a failure/ problem

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Furniture and Equipment Requirements

• Electrical equipment is inspected, tested, tagged and in date

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Equipment is in good order

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Double adapters are not in use

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Extension leads are inky used for temporary, short term connection

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Power boards with RCD protection are used if not enough GPOs (power points)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Fume cupboards and bio safety cabinets have been tested and are in date

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Fume cupboard/s free of clutter and bit used for storage of chemicals

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Chairs/stools in area are if appropriate height

  Yes

  No

  N/A

PPE/Manual Handling

• PPE is available, in good condition and stored appropriately

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Frequently used or heavy items are stored between knee and shoulder height

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Ladders are accessible to access items stored on high shelves if required. Short ladders are allowed but must comply with AS/NZS 1892 (2000)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Manual handling aids are available if required, such as Winchester carriers, lifting trolleys etc

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Chemical Aspects

• A register of chemicals and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are available on line and/or central hard copy

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Documented Risk Assessments are available for chemical use

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Appropriate labels are present on containers that are used for hazardous substances

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All containers are labelled correctly according tot the current Code of Practice

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All chemicals are stored according to compatibility

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Chemicals not in use are placed in correct storage locations eg flammable, corrosive cabinets

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Flammable sand corrosives are stored in approved cabinets. Toxic/S8 chemicals are stored in locked cabinet

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Estimate and record the total volume of flammable liquids stored in this laboratory -assume that all bottles present are full

  type volume here

• Refrigerators are suitably labelled, such as 'no food and drink to be stored' or 'biohazard'

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are flammable a stored in refrigerators? Has fridge been modified or of not has a risk assessment been completed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there bunding or spill trays (such as kitty litter trays) for the storage of hazardous liquids

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Spill kits are available and maintained. Kits include avid/base kit, bucket of sand or vermiculite and PPE such as gloves and respirators with in date cartridges

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Segregated waste disposal containers are available and labelled correctly

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Compressed /Liquified Gas Aspects

• Compressed gas cylinder contents are appropriately identified and in good general order

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All cylinders are at least 3m away from ignition sources and combustible material<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Cylinders are secured appropriately by brackets/chain

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Empty cylinders are separated from full ones and clearly labelled

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Appropriate resources are available for transporting gas cylinders

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• The pressure regulator is appropriate for the gas being used

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Gas lines are labelled and free of leaks, kinks or signs of wear and tear

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All cylinders in the laboratory are connected to equipment ie no storage in the laboratory

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All reticulated gas lines are clearly labelled

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Gas Cylinder Storage Aspects

• Cylinder storage areas are well ventilated ( in open air preferably )

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Cylinder storage area are protected from heat sources and fire risks

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Cylinders are stoop red upright and properly secured

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Cylinders are segregated according to Dangerous Goods class

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Cryogenic Aspects

• Dewars <25L have handles and loose fitting lids

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Dewars >25L have wheels and pressure release valves

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Cryogenic storage areas are appropriately ventilated

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Policies and procedures for transport and decanting of liquid nitrogen are available to all staff and students

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All cryogenic storage records are current, adequate and accessible

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Biosafety Aspects

• There is appropriate Biosafety signage at the laboratory entrance and storage rooms

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Safety documents including licences and permits are current and available eg AQIS and GMO

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All cultures or bio hazardous materials are correctly labelled

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• A supply of disinfectant for decontamination purposes is available and clearly labelled

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All keyboards have protective covers

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Documented risk assessments for use of biological hazards are available

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Appropriate waste segregation is provided

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Appropriate waste handling procedures are in place such as autoclaving, disinfecting etc

  Yes

  No

  N/A

PC2 laboratories

• There is appropriate PC2 signage at the laboratory entrance and certification licence displayed along with Laboratory Manager/Technician contact details

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Biohazard stickers are posted on storage units for microorganisms or recombinant or manipulated DNA products

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Laboratory gowns are stored in a manner to prevent cross-contamination

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Biological safety cabinet are provided and are in working order and current test

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• A supply of clearly labelled disinfectants for decontamination purposes are available

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Radiation Areas

• There is appropriate Radiation signage at the laboratory entrance. This includes approved Premise Certification and Licence details, Radiation Safety Officer contact details and Radiation hazard placards

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All Radiation Licence details are correct

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All Radiation Certificate of Compliance are current

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Lasers- Non ionising Radiation

• Documented risk assessments and safe work procedures are in place and current

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All warning symbols are fixed, legible and clearly visible,e on equipment

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Correct warning labels are attached to the equipment according to the class of laser used

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Guarding on lasers is effective and in good condition ie beam stops and other fail safe devices

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All laser Certificate of Compliance current

  Yes

  No

  N/A

X-ray and Ionising Radiation Aspects

• Access to area/room is limited on,y to authorised persons

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Suitable radiation/contamination monitoring equipment is available and in working condition

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Decontamination /emergency procedures clearly displayed

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Documented risk assessments and safe work procedures available and current

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Work surfaces are impervious and not wooden benches or tiled surfaces

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Appropriate shielding is available and in good condition

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All sources are labelled and stored in secure labelled locations

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Ultraviolet Radiation Aspects

• Appropriate warning labelling in place

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Appropriate shielding and/or interlocks in place

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Risk assessment and safe work procedures clearly displayed and current

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Machinery Safety Aspects

• All hazardous parts of machines guarded

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• The guards are adequate to prevent injury

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• The guards are adequate to prevent flying debris causing injury

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• There is easy access to emergency stop buttons

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All instrument logs are up to date

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Standard operating procedures for machinery and other equipment is current and easily available for users

  Yes

  No

  N/A

For HSR or Officer in Charge to complete

• All projects are covered by risk assessments

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All tasks covered by up to date task risk assessments

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• All task risk assessment documentation available and easily locatable

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are induction records available for this laboratory/suite and if so, where are they filed

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• What licences or permits cover this workplace/area? List and detail specific items ( type in text box after choosing no response)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• List all routine monitoring and inspections carried out for this laboratory/suite. Provide file references and frequency (enter details after choosing no response)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Sign Off

• On site representative

  Sign

• Auditor's signature

  Sign