DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
TEACHING LAB EXPERIMENT RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
This form must be completed jointly by the Lab Officer in charge and the Lecturer in charge. A
hardcopy of the completed form should be kept in a file together with the Project Risk
Assessment.
Name of Lecturer in Charge
Name of Lab Officer in Charge
Module / Expt No.
Irene Teo
CM 1401 Expt 4
Activity being assessed:
Separation and identification of two organic compounds.
Known or expected hazards associated with the activity:
Hazards of reagents, solvents and known reaction products.
State each substance and the approximate amounts to be used/produced.
Benzoic acid, 2g - combustible. Eyes,skin and respiratory tract irritant. Harmful if swallowed.
Benzil, 2g - Skin, eye and respiratory irritant.
Benzanilide, 2g - May cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation.
Benzoin, 2g - Toxic to lung, mucous membranes.
Acetanilide, 2g - combustible. Irritant, may be harmful if swallowed.
Cinnamic Acid, 2g - combustible. Eyes,skin and respiratory irritant.
o-chlorobenzoic acid, 2g - Combustible. Harmful by ingestion, inhalation and through skin contact. Skin,
eye and respiratory irritant.
m-Toluic Acid, 2g- highly toxic. May be fatal if swallowed. Causes serious burns.
Salicylic acid, 2g - combustible, irritates the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
Dichloromethane, 80ml - Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Eye and skin irritant. Readily absorbed
through the skin. Asphyxiant. Causes CNS depression. Possibly carcinogenic in humans. Possible
mutagen. Experimental reproductive effects.
Ethanol, 100ml - Irritating to eyes.
Conc. HCl, 5ml - Causes severe burns, permanent visual damage, corrosive to respiratory tract.
2% NaOH, 80ml - Harmful by ingestion.
Anhydrous Sodium Sulphate, 2g - May act as an irritant. May be harmful if swallowed.
Incompatible materials (special precautions):
Acetanilide / Benzoin / o-Chlorobenzoic Acid - Avoid reaction with oxidising agents.
Benzil - Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
Benzoic Acid - Avoid reaction with oxidising agents, bases and strong reducing agents.
Ethanol - Segregate from strong oxidisers peroxides and alkali metals e.g. sodium, potassium, lithium.
Incompatible with aluminium. DO NOT heat above 49ºC in aluminium equipment.
Salicylic Acid - Avoid reaction with oxidising agents. Avoid strong acids, bases. Avoid storage with
organic nitrites, iodine, iron salts or lead acetate.
m-Toluic Acid - Avoid storage with oxidisers. Avoid strong bases.
Dichloromethane - Al, Mg powders, K & Na; conc. HNO3.
2% NaOH - Avoid storage with acids, ammonium salts.
Conc. HCl - Segregate from alkalies, oxidising agents and chemicals readily decomposed by acids.
Anhydrous Sodium Sulphate - Store away from strong acids and aluminium.
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The risk of injury and its severity likely to arise from these hazards:
Spillage and accidental breakage of flasks containing the reagents which may cause irritation to eyes,
skin and respiratory tract, in serious cases burns by conc. HCl.
Who is at risk?
Students handling the chemicals as well as staff in the vicinity.
Measure to be taken to reduce the level of risk:
Proper PPE must be worn.
Exact volume dispensers are provided for NaOH, methylene chloride and conc HCl to minimise handling
as well as exposure to the vapours.
Refer to prepared risk assessment on Use of Glassware.
Please
refer
to
PSSO
Safety
Information
Centre
website
on
safety
measures:
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/PSSO/Safety.htm.
Training prerequisites:
Please
refer
to
Completed
Risk
Assessment
on
Common
Activities:
http://www.chemistry.nus.edu.sg/PSSO/Safety/Risk/risk.htm#Common.
Level of risk remaining:
Low
Emergency action if :
Spill:
Ventilate area. Remove all sources of ignition. Wear appropriate PPE. Isolate hazard area. Keep
unnecessary and unprotected personnel from entering. Contain and recover liquid when possible or
absorb with an inert material (eg Vermiculite, dry sand, earth), and place in a chemical waste container.
Fire:
Use ABC extinguisher available in the lab.
Water spray may be used to keep fire exposed containers cool to prevent pressure build-up, auto ignition
or explosion, protect personnel.
Is the experiment suitable for out-of-hours operation ?
Yes
No
References if any:
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/
Signature of Lab Officer in Charge:………………………………………………………………..
Date:…………………………
Signature of Lecturer in Charge:………… ……………………………………..
Date:… ……………………..
Prepared Risks Assessments for standard equipment and operation are with the kind permission of Dr. Ken MacNeil,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol.
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Activity being assessed:
Note any activity to be used which entail risk (e.g. use of glass vacuum apparatus, high pressures, high
voltage, radiation, high temperatures). Give reference to any special protocols to be followed, and if
appropriate attach copies to the risk assessment form. State any additional precautions taken to minimise
risk.
Known or expected hazards associated with the activity:
FOR EACH CHEMICAL, read the MSDS and note:a) Particular hazards (e.g. highly toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive, flammable, pyrophoric, explosive, volatile,
dust hazard). Note any dangerous combinations of properties (e.g. volatile and toxic).
b) Requirements for safe handling (e.g. fume cupboard, inert atmosphere, low temperature).
c) How to dispose of residuals
 Dispose to drain, with water dilution
 Neutralise, then to drain with suitable dilution
 To flammable liquid waste receptacle
 To non-flammable liquid waste receptacle
 Keep for recovery/recycling
 Keep for special disposal later (e.g. heavy metals)
 Double bag and dispose to dry waste
 Special procedure (specify)
Incompatible materials (special precautions)
Note any dangerously incompatible materials and hazards arising from contact of any reagents and
substances used with common materials such as paper, benches, hoses, etc.
Measures to be taken to reduce the level of risk
Include hazards of previously unknown products.
Location of work – laboratory, open bench, fume cupboard
Level of risk remaining:
Likelihood and consequences of any accident or unforeseen events whilst carrying out the activity. When
this has been done, choose the appropriate procedure:a) Close supervision and/or attendance of trained first-aider needed.
b) Specific approval of supervisor needed.
c) Training is needed prior-to or during the operations specified.
d) Training is complete and only general laboratory competence required.
e) No risk perceived.
Emergency action:
a) Any special requirements to deal with accidental spillage or leakage.
b) What to do in the event of accidental exposure (skin contact, inhalation, etc.).
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