University of Auckland HSW Service Workplace Inspection - Laboratories

• Audit Title

• Document No.

• Client / Site

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

• Personnel

1 Safety Administration

• Policy. Are copies of the University Health and Safety Policy readily accessible to staff and students?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Evaluation. Is there evidence of previously conducted safety surveys or regular safety checks?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Follow up. Have all actions from previous inspections and audits been completed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Hazards and Risk. Where required, is access to work areas restricted to authorised people only?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Hazards and Risk. Have approved risk assessments been carried out within the last three years <br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Hazards and Risk. Are copies of the current risk assessments and relevant safety documentation readily accessible

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Hazards and Risk. Is everyone working or studying in the area familiar with those risk assessments, especially in the case of work involving hazardous substances, radioactive substances, biological agents, and other potentially high risk activities?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Information. Is induction, awareness training and supervision (particularly for chemical, biological and radiological work, and work involving class 3 and 4 lasers) being provided?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Information. Are staff and students informed of any required safe methods of work?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Information. Are procedures in place for the safe management of authorised visitors?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Information. Are procedures in place for the safe management of faculty commissioned contractors?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Supervision. Are Laboratory Supervisors aware of their responsibilities as per the University Safety and Health Policy?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Supervision. Are procedures in place to safeguard lone workers and/or people conducting work outside of normal working hours?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Supervision. Are procedures in place to control apparatus and/or experiments running overnight and/or at weekends?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Incident Reporting. Are procedures in place for reporting incidents such as accidents, near misses, spills of hazardous substances and instances of occupational ill health?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Incident Reporting. Is there evidence of the reporting of incidents such as accidents, near misses, spills of hazardous substances and instances of occupational ill health (Vault records or an accident register)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Emergency Planning. Is there an emergency response plan that caters for likely emergencies such as fire, earthquakes and bomb threats, and specific laboratory emergencies such as spills and exposure to hazardous materials?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Emergency Planning. Is the location of all hazardous substance storage areas clearly marked on the emergency response plan?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Legal Requirements. Has the laboratory or laboratory suite been designated as a Containment Laboratory for pathogen and/or genetic modification work?<br>If so, additional specific risk assessments are to be carried out<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Legal Requirements. Where necessary, has occupational health monitoring of staff and students been implemented via the University’s referral process?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

2 High Profile Signage

• Is a hazardous substance summary and mandatory hazard pictograms displayed on the exterior of laboratory access doors?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is emergency instruction signage in place?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are fire exits clearly identified?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are evacuation instructions clearly displayed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are emergency contact numbers clearly displayed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the locations of fire extinguishers, first aid kits, eye wash stations, and spill kits clearly identified?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

3 Fire Safety

• Are fire exits able to be opened without keys or combinations?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all smoke and fire doors kept closed when not in use? (except doors on magnetic catches linked to the fire alarm system)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are potential ignition sources eliminated or minimised?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do staff and students know what to do in the event of a fire?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have personal evacuation plans been developed for any person with disabilities who are regularly in the area (staff or students)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is fire fighting equipment readily available, and is the fire fighting equipment suitable for use with the likely types of fire (CO2 extinguishers for energised fires, foam for flammable liquids etc.)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are people working in this area familiar with the location of fire fighting equipment and do they know how to use it?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have Building and Floor Wardens been appointed to cover this area?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are monthly fire checks being carried out by wardens?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a biannual (semester) fire drill carried out and recorded?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

4 First Aid

• Are there sufficient trained first aiders (1/20 staff) available or on call?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are any unusual first aid considerations catered for? (such as neutralising of hazardous substances, containment of biological contamination, requirements for supplementary oxygen, etc.)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are first aid kits (appropriate for the work area) readily available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are first aid kits checked monthly to ensure that they are kept well stocked, with contents in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

5 Hygiene Control

• Are there adequate washing facilities, with soap and towels/dryers?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there facilities available near this area where people can eat and/or drink, and do these facilities include an adequate supply of wholesome water for drinking or filling kettles etc?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is eating, drinking, smoking and applying cosmetics banned in laboratory areas?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Can outdoor/street clothing be stored in such a way that there is no risk of contamination?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

6 Lighting

• Are lighting levels sufficient for the tasks being performed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is glare from both external and internal sources adequately controlled?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are light fittings, diffusers and tubes/bulbs clean and in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

7 Ventilation/Thermal comfort

• Is general ventilation of the laboratory adequate?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are ambient temperatures in the laboratory suitable for the work being carried out?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

8 Noise

• Is excessive noise in the workplace prevented?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are noise controls adequate?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are photocopiers located away from personal workstations?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

9 General Laboratory Area

• Are the interior surfaces, structures and equipment suitable for the work being undertaken?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are worktops intact and easily cleaned?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are floor coverings intact and non-slip?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are floor coverings impermeable and sealed to prevent leakage around walls, pipes and inspection hatches?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are floors clean?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all working areas clear of obstructions, clutter, and tripping/slipping hazards e.g. cables, stock, rubbish, junk, etc.?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are general rubbish receptacles free from hazardous, healthcare or offensive wastes?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is all other hazardous waste disposed of in accordance with the University standard?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is healthcare waste disposed of in accordance with the University standard?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all waste containers emptied regularly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

10 Equipment

• Have all staff using laboratory equipment received suitable instruction, training, and where necessary, certification?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all large items of laboratory equipment suitably placed to avoid overcrowding and anchored to ensure stability?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has all fixed wire electrical equipment been electrically tested and labelled with the date of test?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are safe lock out and/or isolation systems established where required?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all interlocks and other safety devices fully functional and adequately maintained?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are hand tools serviceable and properly maintained?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all ladders rated for industrial use and suitable for the tasks to be undertaken? (Compliant with AS/NZS 1892 and rated greater than 120kg)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all ladders and access equipment serviceable?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are users trained in the safe use of ladders?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If exposed Class 3B or Class 4 Lasers are being operated, does the laboratory meet the requirements of the University's laser safety protocol?

  Safe

  At Risk

  N/A

11 Local Exhaust Ventilation

• Where applicable, are suitable Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems available to remove hazardous or nuisance substances or materials?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where fume cupboards are used to control exposure to hazardous substances, are they labelled as having been inspected and tested within the past 12 calendar months?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are automatic maximum height stops fitted to the sash on the fume cupboard(s) in this area?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If no, have arrowed labels been affixed to indicate the safe door working height?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where microbiological safety cabinets are used to control exposure to biological agents:<br>Are they subject to containment and filter penetration tests, at mandatory intervals?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a valid operator protection test certificate available for each microbiological safety cabinet in this area?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

12 Handling & storage of materials

• Are cabinets and shelving uncluttered and securely fixed in place?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are heavy items stored on/in low shelves or cupboards?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are spill trays regularly inspected and emptied and cleaned as needed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are bagged dry powders stored in a hard container or tray?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are bottles/Winchesters stored where they cannot be knocked or kicked over?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

13 Hazardous Substances Management

• Are hazardous substances within the laboratory managed by a competent person?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there an inventory of hazardous substances that are stored within the laboratory?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all hazardous substances clearly labelled with chemical name and associated hazards as a minimum?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are full safety data sheets for each substance readily available? (These may include data sheets from other laboratories if part of a suite)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are mini safety data sheets for each substance printed out and held in a readily accessible folder at the point of storage?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are containers of hazardous substances stacked or stored in such a way that they will not spill their contents?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are incompatible chemicals stored separately?<br>(this includes acids/alkalis; cyanides/acid; sulphides/acids: flammables/oxidisers; reducing agents/oxidisers and; water reactive/aqueous)<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are bottles containing strong acids, strong alkalis, flammable liquids or other high hazard chemicals kept on spill trays when not in storage?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are very toxic and other high hazard chemicals kept in locked fire resistant cupboards or cabinets?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are corrosives kept in a non-metallic cupboard or cabinet?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are eyewash facilities located near where corrosives are being used?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all pressurised gas cylinders secured by restraining chains, bench clamps or similar?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are gas cylinders sited away from doors, escape routes or hazardous substance storage areas?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there properly designed gas cylinder trolleys to transport heavy gas cylinders?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there systems in place to dispose of chemicals or substances that have expired?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there clear systems in place to prevent inappropriate disposal of chemicals, oils or solvents down drains (e.g. signage over sinks and clear disposal procedures)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

14 Spills and Leaks

• Is there an approved spill/leak emergency response plan? (This plan may include the requirement to seal rooms to prevent gas escape and/or closing off drains to prevent the escape of liquids)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• In the case of biological agents do the plans specify appropriate decontamination and disinfection procedures?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there people with experience and knowledge, designated to deal with spills/leaks involving very hazardous substances?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do people know what to do in the event of a spill or leak?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are appropriate spill kits and personal protective equipment readily available to deal with spills/leaks of hazardous substances?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are spill kits checked regularly to ensure that they are kept well stocked, with contents in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there evidence that the spill/leak emergency response plan has been practised in the last year?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where required, is there a suitable and accessible eye wash station/emergency shower installed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where plumbed eye wash stations and emergency showers are installed, are they functionally tested and flushed on a regular basis? (Monthly or as per manufacturers recommendations)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

15 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Does the PPE in use by staff and students match that specified in Laboratory Risk Assessments and Safe Work Instructions?<br>(e.g. overalls, eye protection, gloves, respirators etc.)<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are persons using PPE trained in its safe use?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are persons using PPE correctly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If it is not "one shift" disposable, is the PPE regularly inspected, cleaned and maintained?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there suitable arrangements in place for the cleaning and /or decontaminating of protective clothing?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• In the case of PPE which may be contaminated by biological agents, is it always removed on leaving the work area?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the protective equipment stored where it cannot be contaminated by hazardous substances and where it will not contaminate outdoor clothing or equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• In the case of respiratory or hearing protection is it personal to an individual?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is protective footwear in use fully enclosed, safety capped and chemically resistant (where required)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A