FREEZE DRIER RISK ASSESSMENT

RISK REF NO ...................................ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH RISK ASSOCIATED WITH PROPOSED PROCEDURE
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Freeze Drier Operating Instructions
 

Personnel Involved: (Persons at Risk)

Staff / Students
Title of Experiment / Procedure:

Aim:Food Processing Procedure - Freeze Drying using Edwards Freeze Drier
Brief Description of Procedure:

Previously frozen food at a temperature of -18ºC to -25ºC is placed onto the machine on drying trays. Vacuum pressure is applied and the drying trays are locally heated causing sublimation of the ice thereby removing moisture from the food. As sublimation commences latent heat from within the sample will be extracted and thus reduce the sample temperature even further. The process is completed when the sample remains at a constant weight.

Hazards identified:

1 Contact with very cold surfaces

 

2 Vacuum pressure used in operation

3 Electrical fault may lead to malfunction

 

Associated Risks: (level: low, med, high)

1 LOW : LEVEL 1: Instruction in safe operation of equipment. Use of insulated gauntlets at all times when filling and removing food from the drying chamber

2 LOW : LEVEL 1 : Ensure safe working practice employed

3 Medium : LEVEL 2 : If wiring damage

Information sources:
Machine operating instructions

 

For CHEMICAL HAZARDS attach COSHH Assessment

Control Measures to be adopted:

Students must be trained in safe operation of the freeze drying machine

Do not deviate from method shown in practical sheet
Follow Instruction in safe working practice


Is there a less hazardous method? No - Standard industrial process
If YES - what is it?

Required checks and their frequency,on the adequacy and maintenance of control measures during the course of the experiment:

Control measures to be observed at all times

Disposal procedures during and at the end of experiment:

Disposed as normal food waste - to bin
 
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

If any of the substances or procedures identified overleaf is likely to pose a special hazard in an emergency, then identify below the action to be taken

Spillage/uncontrolled release: .

Clean up spillages promptly to remove slip hazards
Fire:

Not expected with this process

If personnel are affected (fume, contamination, outdoor activity emergency etc) procedure to be adopted:

Not expected with this process

Name of Assessor:

Status of Assessor:

Date:

Signed:

Name of Supervisor: (for students only)

Date:

 

 

Signed:

Head of school, or Nominee:

Date:

 

Signed:

COMPLIANCE WITH THE ABOVE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WILL ENSURE HAZARD ASSOCIATED RISKS ARE MINIMISED

Anyone other than the assessor involved in this procedure should sign the statement below

I have read the document and understand it:

Signed...................................................................

Date........................................................................