RISK ASSESSMENT Clairvaux MacKillop College Students

Effect of Different glucose concentrations on Saccharomyces cerevisiae

growth
Written by: Jacob Richardson, Ruby Commenced on: 20 Feb 2021 Expires: 20 May 2022
Geake, Anthony Hoang,
Ashton O'Brien, Zachary
Stathis
Classes for which experiment is required
Teacher: Ms Palmer Year Group: 12 Biology
Items to be prepared by laboratory technician
* 3 x 250ml beakers
* 30g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer's yeast)
* 3 x stirring rods
* 2 x microscopes
* 1 x 150ml of glucose
* 3 x graph grids
* 12 x coverslips
* 12 x Microscope slides
* 3 x pipettes
* 1 x Digital Scale
* 2 x Spoon

Procedure or reference, including variations

https://static.nsta.org/extras/adi-lifescience/Lab9Handout-PopulationGrowth.pdf

Equipment to be used
electronic balance
Potential hazards
Can be knocked off bench, with potential injury to feet.
Keep back from edge of bench. Danger of electrocution
in wet areas or if wiring is defective.
Standard handling procedures
Keep clean and tidy; remove spilled chemicals
immediately. Check wiring for damage each time before
use. Test and tag at regular intervals.

glass beaker, 250 mL to 1 L

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Breakage of beaker. Cuts from chipped rims. Inspect and discard any chipped or cracked beakers, no
matter how small the damage. Sweep up broken glass
with brush and dustpan; do not use fingers.

cover slip (coverslip)

Potential hazards
Cover slips are fragile and edges may be sharp. A
broken cover slip is extremely sharp and likely to cut
fingers. Cover slips are easily dropped.
Standard handling procedures
Lowering a microscope lens against a cover slip is a
common cause of breakage, so begin with the lens close
to the specimen and adjust the lens upward to focus.
Inspect and discard any chipped or cracked cover slips,
no matter how small the damage.

microscope
Potential hazards
May transfer pathogens from one user to the next, e.g.
eye infections, flu or coronavirus, which may enter the
body through the conjunctiva. Lowering the lens too far
can break cover slips, then fingers can be cut removing
the broken cover slips.
Standard handling procedures
Ensure that the eyepiece of the microscope is disinfected
between users. Store securely. If mains power is used for
illumination, check for electrical safety each time before
use. Test and tag at regular intervals.

microscope slide
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
A slide may break, forming sharp glass pieces that can Inspect and discard any chipped or cracked slides. Sweep
cause cuts, or may crack if microscope lens is lowered up broken glass with brush and dustpan; do not use
into slide. fingers.

disposable plastic pipette (disposable plastic pipet)

 Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Organic solvents may dissolve or swell the plastic, Do not use with organic solvents.
causing it to leak.

metal spoon
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Spoons should not be shared between students when Do not eat in a laboratory, due to the possibility of
used for eating food, due to the possibility of spreading contamination.
infection. Spoons that have been in contact with
chemicals should not be used for food, due to the
possibility of cross-contamination.

glass stirring rod

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Glass rod may break in hand causing deep cuts. Inspect and discard any chipped or cracked rods, no
matter how small the damage. Sweep up broken glass
with brush and dustpan; do not use fingers.

brewer's yeast
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Dust may cause lung irritation if inhaled. May cause an Wash hands after use. Do not eat in class, due to the
allergic reaction in some individuals. possibility of contamination.

Biologicals and food to be used

glucose (dextrose)
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Not toxic. Do not eat in the classroom due to the possibility of
contamination.

Knowledge
I/we have read and understood the potential hazards and standard handling procedures of all the equipment, chemicals
and biological items, including living organisms.
I/we have read and understood the Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous chemicals used in the experiment.
I/we have copies of the Safety Data Sheets of all the hazardous chemicals available in or near the laboratory.
Agreement by student(s)
I/we, Jacob Richardson, Ruby Geake, Anthony Hoang, Ashton O'Brien, Zachary Stathis, agree to conduct this experiment
safely in accordance with school rules and teacher instructions.

Risk assessment
I/we have considered the risks of:
fire or explosion breakage of equipment exposure to pathogens waste disposal
chemicals in eyes injuries from equipment injuries from animals improper labelling/storage
inhalation of gas/dust rotating equipment intense light/lasers inappropriate behaviour
chemicals on skin electrical shock UV, IR, nuclear radiation communication issues
ingestion of chemicals vibration or noise pressure inside equipment allergies
runaway reaction sharp objects heavy lifting special needs
heat or cold falling or flying objects slipping, tripping, falling other risks
Assessment by Student(s)
I/we have assessed the risks associated with performing this experiment in the classroom on the basis of likelihood and
consequences using the School's risk matrix , according to International Organization for Standardization Standard ISO
31000:2018.

I/we consider the inherent level of risk (risk level without control measures) to be:
Low risk Medium risk High risk Extreme risk

Risks will therefore be managed by routine procedures in the classroom.

Certification by Teacher
I have assessed the risks associated with performing this experiment in the classroom on the basis of likelihood and
consequences using the School's risk matrix , according to International Organization for Standardization Standard ISO
31000:2018. I confirm that the risk level and control measures entered by student(s) above are correct and appropriate.
Name: Signature: Date:

Certification by Laboratory Technician

I have assessed the risks associated with preparing the equipment, chemicals and and biological items, including living
organisms, for this experiment and subsequently cleaning up after the experiment and disposing of wastes, on the basis
of likelihood and consequences using the School's risk matrix , according to International Organization for Standardization
Standard ISO 31000:2018.

I consider the inherent level of risk (risk level without control measures) to be:
Low risk Medium risk High risk Extreme risk

Where the risk level is "medium risk", "high risk" or "extreme risk", the following control measures will be employed:

Control measures (attach further pages as required):

safety glasses gloves lab coat apron fume cupboard

With the specified control measures in place, I have found that all the risks are "low risk". Risks will therefore be managed
by routine procedures in the laboratory, in combination with the specified control measures.
Name: Signature: Date:

Monitoring and review

This risk assessment will be monitored using comments below and will be reviewed within 15 months from the date of
certification.

Attach further pages as required