GC RISK ASSESSMENT

Hazardous procedure: Gas Chromatography

Step 3. Assess the risk
Ref. #
1

List & describe the hazards and hazardous jobs

Priority
3

If damaged, gas cylinders can explode, act as projectiles, or

cause suffocation
If using hydrogen as a carrier gas, risk of explosion exists if leaks
are present, or if carrier gas is flowing but FID detector is not lit
Sharps risk (needlestick injury) due to use of syringes for injecting
samples
Burns from GC oven, or hot injector and detector ports

Possible toxic hazard or biohazard from GC samples

Electrical faults could lead to electrocution or fire

If GC is fitted with an Electron Capture Detector (ECD), this

contains a small amount of radioactive isotope (Nickel-63, a betaemitter), and thus poses a radiation risk

2
3

4
5
5

What makes it hazardous? Consult with the workers to find out which factors are relevant:

X The nature of the hazard itself

X The individual(s) involved

Tick relevant boxes and record observations or comments.

Equipment uses flammable (hydrogen) and asphyxiating (helium,
nitrogen) gases, equipment has several hot surfaces, samples are
injected with sharp needles, the samples themselves may be
hazardous (eg. dissolved in organic solvents or containing other toxic
components), all electrical equipment poses an electrocution and fire
risk if faulty, there is a potential radiation risk from ECD detector if this
are opened.
Workers need to be trained in proper use of equipment by the
equipment custodian.

Record the names of those consulted when assessing the risk

Peter Kerr, Joe Dimauro, Jenny Phuyal, Zia Ahmad, Angela Nikolic, Robert Czolij, Craig Jackson

Date
22/3/2010

Step 4. Control the risk(s)

Describe the risk control(s)

Who is responsible
for implementation

Due by date

Wear personal protective equipment (lab coat, enclosed footwear,

safety glasses or goggles if liquid splash risk exists, gloves if handling
toxic or biohazard samples)

Individual user and

their supervisor

21/4/2010

Take extreme care when handling, connecting, and disconnecting

gas cylinders see Risk Assessment form Transport and Use of
Gas Cylinders for more details.

Individual user and

their supervisor

21/4/2010

Always leak-test gas fittings when installing the GC, changing

columns, or changing detector/injectors. Be aware of the risk of a
hydrogen gas leak into the GC oven or into the room.

Individual user and

their supervisor

21/4/2010

Do not have carrier gas flow switched on without the FID being
ignited this can cause a hydrogen gas explosion

Individual user and

their supervisor

21/4/2010

Know which parts of the machine are HOT (especially the injection
port and the FID detector) and do not touch these parts

Individual user and

their supervisor

21/4/2010

Take care when handling samples in syringes, be aware of risk of

needlestick injury.

Individual user and

their supervisor

21/4/2010

If injecting samples that contain toxic chemicals (eg. pollutants), and

operating in split mode, ensure that the GC split vent has an
activated carbon trap on it, or exhausts into a fume hood

Individual user and

their supervisor

21/4/2010

Ensure GC machine is serviced regularly and report any faults

immediately to your supervisor, and/or GC service provider

Individual user and

their supervisor

21/4/2010

Do not open or tamper with the ECD detector this can expose you to
hazardous beta-radiation. If disposing of the GC machine, the ECD
must be removed and disposed of separately as radioactive waste

Individual user and

their supervisor

Proper training of users

Supervisor of
researcher

21/4/2010

Development of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

SMB Safety
Commitee

21/4/2010

Reading and following the SOP

Individual user and

their supervisor

21/4/2010

Record the names of those consulted when deciding on risk control measures
Peter Kerr, Joe Dimauro, Jenny Phuyal, Zia Ahmad, Angela Nikolic, Robert Czolij, Craig Jackson

PART B completed by:

Nick Coleman

Date:

22/3/2010