Table 6 COSHH risk assessment - University of Oxford COSHH assessment form

Description of procedure

Substances used

Semi-quantitative culture of CSF for HIV and storage of isolates

Sabouraud’s agar

CSF

Cryptococcus sp.

Quantities used

Frequency of use

Up to 8 ml CSF

Daily

Hazards identified

Could a less hazardous substance be used instead?

1. Blood-borne viruses: CSF samples for this study will be from patients with HIV and possibly other blood-borne viruses.

No

2. Cryptococcus neoformans var grubii and Cryptococcus gattii are ACDP category 2 organisms. They pose a small risk of infection to workers, treatment is available, and there is no risk of person to person transmission.

What measures have you taken to control risk? A laboratory coat, gloves and goggles or glasses must be worn at all times when working on specimens. All patient samples and cultures should be handled within a Class II biological safety cabinet. All staff must be checked for hepatitis B virus immunity before commencing work as per local procedures, and vaccinated as appropriate. In the event of a splash or other injury, work will be stopped immediately, and local guidelines will; be followed.

Checks on control measures

Observation and supervision by senior staff.

Is health surveillance required?

Training requirements:

No

All staff to be trained in the above SOP prior to use.

Emergency procedures:

Waste disposal procedures:

Local guidelines for splashes and inoculation injuries.

All waste will be autoclaved prior to disposal.