Autoclave Risk Assessment

Activity

This assessment covers the use of laboratory autoclaves for sterilising infected materials other than hazard group 4 biological agents, medical devices and equipment for use in human or animal healthcare.

Hazard and Risk

The principal hazards are:

• infectious disease caused by failure to sterilise

• contamination of products and other materials through failure to sterilise

• trauma injury by explosive displacement or opening of a door or lid

• trauma injury by explosion of sealed glass or other containers

• puncture injury by needles and other sharps protruding through the walls of autoclaved containers

• scalding by hot liquids, vaporised liquid or steam.