Pathology Laboratory SWMS

Diagnostic pathology laboratories combine concentrated hazardous chemical exposure with infectious biological agents in a single high-throughput workflow. Routine tasks — xylene clearing, formaldehyde fixation, cryostat sectioning, PC2 microbiology culture, specimen receipt and sharps handling — generate inhalation, dermal, sharps-injury and biohazard transmission risks every shift. Under WHS Regulation 2025 Part 7.1 (Hazardous Chemicals) and Part 3.1, a PCBU must identify, assess and control these risks through a documented Safe Work Method Statement before work commences, with worker consultation under s47–49. Because the work simultaneously involves section 291 high-risk construction-equivalent activities (hazardous chemicals above exposure standards and PC2 biological containment), a SWMS is mandatory, not discretionary. This document satisfies the written risk control requirement, integrates AS/NZS 2243.3:2022 containment duties, and provides the auditable record SafeWork inspectors request during laboratory audits.

Hazards identified

7 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Elimination — Replace open xylene coverslipping with fully automated enclosed coverslippers and eliminate manual decanting of formaldehyde by using sealed pre-filled cassette systems where workflow permits.
2. 2Elimination — Remove glass capillary tubes from haematology workflow and use plastic micro-collection devices to eliminate the highest-frequency sharps injury source identified in incident data.
3. 3Substitution — Substitute xylene with limonene-based or isoparaffin clearing agents in histology processors where downstream staining quality permits, reducing inhalation exposure standard pressure.
4. 4Substitution — Replace 10% buffered formalin open pours with closed-system pre-dispensed containers and neutral buffered fixative cassettes to suppress vapour at the grossing bench.
5. 5Engineering — Install Class I ducted fume cabinets over grossing stations and Class II Type A2 biosafety cabinets for PC2 work, certified annually to AS 2252.4 with face velocity records retained.
6. 6Engineering — Fit cryostats with HEPA-filtered local exhaust ventilation, interlocked blade guards and dedicated decontamination protocols using 70% ethanol followed by virucidal disinfectant.
7. 7Administrative — Conduct atmospheric monitoring for xylene and formaldehyde at least annually per AS 2986, maintain a hazardous chemicals register under WHS Reg 346, and review SDS at five-yearly intervals.
8. 8Administrative — Mandate buddy system for after-hours PC2 work, pre-shift biosafety cabinet airflow checks, immediate spill response drills quarterly, and documented competency sign-off before cryostat use.
9. 9PPE — Provide nitrile gloves (double-gloved for PC2), AS/NZS 1337.1 splash-rated safety glasses, fluid-resistant lab coats with cuffed sleeves, and P2 respirators for spill response per AS/NZS 1715.
10. 10PPE — Supply cryogenic gauntlets and face shields for liquid nitrogen handling, and chemical-resistant aprons rated for formaldehyde during bulk fixative transfers and waste consolidation tasks.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

At a metropolitan private pathology laboratory commencing a Monday morning shift, the histology supervisor runs a pre-start brief at the grossing bench for four scientists rotating through cut-up, processing and cryostat duties. She opens this SWMS on the bench tablet and walks the team through the seven hazards, pausing on xylene vapour and cryostat sharps because the daily workload includes a melanoma frozen section panel. The team confirms the Class I fume cabinet face velocity reading from the morning log sits within tolerance, the cryostat blade guard interlock is functional, and double-gloving is in place for the PC2 mycobacterial culture work scheduled at 10am. Each scientist signs the SWMS sign-on register on the tablet, acknowledging the limonene substitution trial is paused this week due to a staining quality issue, so xylene controls remain at full engineering level. Mid-morning, a formalin container is dropped during grossing — the supervisor pauses work, retrieves the spill response section of the SWMS, deploys the formaldehyde neutralising spill kit, dons a P2 respirator and chemical apron as specified, and documents the event in the chemical incident log. The SWMS is re-reviewed at handover to the afternoon shift with the spill noted as a control verification trigger requiring monitoring data refresh within thirty days.

Related legislation

• WHS Act 2011 (model)
• WHS Regulation 2025
• Code of Practice — Hazardous Manual Tasks

Frequently asked questions