Placenta Encapsulation Risk Assessment

Placenta Encapsulation Risk Assessment Completed 19/08/2010 by Lynnea Shrief Company Director of IPEN DEFINITIONS

Hazard: Anything that has the potential to cause harm

Likelihood: The chance of harm occurring as a result of exposure to a hazard.

Severity: The level of harm that may occur as a result of exposure to or contact with a hazard. This may sometimes be referred to as the ‘Reasonably Foreseeable Worst Case Injury’ (RFWCI).

Risk: The likelihood of harm occurring combined with the potential severity to produce a level of risk or risk rating.

Client: A member of the public who’s placenta is used for the making of placenta smoothies, placenta capsules and/or placenta tincture or homeopathic remedies for their own consumption.

Specialist: An IPEN trained and certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist

Work area Placenta Specialist’s Home Kitchen covered by this assessment Client’s Home Kitchen Hospital ward

Activity or task Placenta Encapsulation and Placenta Smoothies and the persons The Client; The Specialists - Lynnea Shrief, Maggie Vaughan, Julie Hickey, Sally involved Cropper, Michelle Holmes, Laura Jones, Tara Bungard, Krishna Bakrania, Karen Eichorn, Cath Reeves-Jones, Rebekah Reeve-Jones

Assessor Lynnea Shrief Date of 05/08/2010 Date of n/a assessment reassessment

Existing safety  Use of latex free gloves and protective clothing measures and people at risk  Cleaning and sterilisation of equipment before and after each use using STABIMED Instrument Disinfectant and HELIZYME Enzymatic Cleaner

 One time use of handheld blenders – making of placenta smoothies

Clients at risk of contamination through unclean or improperly sterilised equipment

Specialists at risk from contraction of blood borne pathogens when handling blood and placental tissue from the public Hazard Nature of Hazard Who is at Action No. Risk

1 Contamination of placenta by Client Ensure ‘Appropriate Placenta Care’ document is hospital,midwife or birth given to Client in advance to ensure the safe attendant before Specialist handling and storage of the placenta collects the placenta

Contraction of bloodborne virus Specialist or disease through handling Ensure rubber gloves are worn at all times while handling raw placenta. 2 blood and tissue of Client Cuts and grazes should be covered with plaster

Hand washing regularly

Clothes are covered with suitable apron and protective eye goggles are worn when washing raw placenta where splashing may occure

Specialists should not practice placenata smoothies or encapsulations on placentas from clients with a known or suspected bloodborned virus/disease.

Ensure Client is asked in advance to report any 3 Contamination of smoothie from Client allergies to fruits or liquids used when preparing unsuitable fruits or allergic the placenta smoothie. All fruits and liquid used reaction to fruits consumed by must be fresh, organic and in date, fruits washed Client in smoothie before use.

Specialist Smoothie blenders should not be used on more Contamination of smoothie by than one Client. A new blender must be 4 reusing smoothie blender on purchased for each Client and disposed of after more than one Client. washing in the hospital bio-hazard rubbish or after cleaning with bleach and disposing of in general household rubbish.

5 Contamination of placenta from Client Specialists ensure Client is aware that their pathogens resulting from placenta must be kept cool by, between 0-4°C incorrect storage of placenta using ice packs, cooler bag or refrigerator. before Stage 1 of encapsulation Specialists must also ensure placenta is kept at process. the recommended temp. before the steaming process in Stage 1 of encapsulation. Placentas that have not been kept cool for longer than 12- 24 hours must be disposed of and cannot be used for encapsulation because of pathogen invasion.

Dried Placenta slices must be suitably protected 6 Contamination of dried placenta Client from invaders such as insects, household pets slices and/or other animals. Cling film should be used to cover dehydrator after drying is complete if the dried slices cannot be ground into a powder immediately

Ensure placenta storage container is tightly Contamination of food products 7 Specialist sealed and doubled bagged to prevent in kitchen refrigerator from and others contamination of food during storage in food improper storage of placenta in use of refrigerator home refrigerator

All equipment used including cleaning brushes, 8 Contamination of equipment Client P RO P O S E D AC T I O N CO M P L E T I O N DAT E

IPEN requires Specialists to complete ‘Client Report’ for each client to ensure 19/08/2010 high standards are maintained.

IPEN requires Specialists to read and sign below the Code of Practice agreeing to follow guidelines when working as an IPEN Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. 19/08/2010

S CO R I NG SYST E M

Hazard severity Likelihood of occurrence

5 = Very high (multiple deaths) 5 = Very high (100% certain to occur)

4 = High (death or serious injury) 4 = Likey (small change = accident)

3 = Moderate (injury or disease) 3 = Quite possible (may happen)

2 = Slight (minor injury) 2 = Possible (low or minimal risk)

1 = Nil (no risk) 1 = Not likely (no risk present)

0 = Not applicable 0 = Not applicable

Hazard Type

Hazard Type Severity Likelihood Risk Rating

1. Fall of person from height 0 0 0

2. Fall of object or material from height 1 1 1

3. Fall of person on same level (e.g. slip or trip) 2 2 4

4. Manual handling (includes: pushing, pulling, lifting and 2 2 4 carrying

5. Use of machines 2 2 4 Hazard Type Severity Likelihood Risk Rating

6. Operation of vehicles 4 2 8

7. Fire, including that which can be caused by static electricity 2 2 4

8. Electricity or electrical equipment 2 2 4

9. Drowning 0 0 0

10. Excavation work (where this is part of the task) 0 0 0

11. Stored energy (e.g. elastic cords, hydraulic and air 0 0 0 pressured systems)

12. Explosions (e.g. from chemicals or dust) 1 1 1

13. Contact with excessively hot or cold surfaces 2 2 4

14. Compressed air or gasses 0 0 0

15. Mechanical lifting operations 0 0 0

16. Noise 1 1 1

17. Biological agents 3 3 9

18. Ionising radiation 0 0 0

19. Non-ionising radiation 0 0 0

20. Excessive vibration 0 0 0 Hazard Type Severity Likelihood Risk Rating

21. Use of hand tools 2 2 4

22. Adverse weather conditions (where exposure is part of 1 1 1 the task)

23. Chemicals or substances 3 3 9

24. Storage, stacking or shelving 2 2 4

25. Housekeeping 2 2 4

26. Lighting levels (too high or too low, rapid changes) 0 0 0

27. Confined spaces 2 2 4

28. Cleaning (before, during or after the task) 2 2 4

29. Use of display screen equipment 1 1 1

30. Lone or unaccompanied working 0 0 0

31. Exposure to personal violence or aggression 1 1 1

32. Contamination of bloodborne diseases or pathogens 3 3 9

Risk rating = Severity x Likelihood. Transfer all those with a rating of 10 or more back to the previous sheet.