Science Lab health-and-safety-risk-assesment final
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HEALTH & SAFETY IN THE SCIENCE LAB: RISK ASSESSMENT For use in conjunction with the Lab Safety Manual. Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Receipt of chemicals into the laboratory Unknown chemical properties and safe handling/storage requirements Handling and managing toxic/dangerous chemicals Chemicals that require special permits, licensing requirements and so on Inadequate and/or unavailable storage facilities Chemicals delivered to wrong area or an area not appropriately set up for receipt of chemicals Temporary storage are inappropriate location/facilities Damaged packaging: physical exposure fume spills and leaks Risk Rating Medium Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls Additional Controls Required Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Visitors Lab Technician Health & Safety Officer Maintenance Team Risk assessment of area where chemicals are delivered Chemical risk assessments Rationalizing chemical supplies to ensure: o ordering minimum quantities o compatibility of chemicals o adequate storage facilities and space available o all required signage and PPE is available Substituting less toxic chemicals where possible Use of purpose built chemical cupboards Use personal protective equipment as described in the MSDS Emergency procedures in place First aid kits Training provided for maintenance team/personnel who receive chemical deliveries Local induction and emergency training Spill kits Trained first aiders Periodic inspection of firefighting equipment Residual Risk Rating Low Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Storage of chemicals Incompatible chemicals stored together leading to fire and or explosion Damaged, removed or incorrect labels Damaged containers Chemicals stored in inappropriate areas. For example corrosive chemicals stored under a sink and not a purpose built corrosives locker Toxic fumes Chemical spills and leaks Manual handling hazards associated with large heavy containers of chemical Time sensitive chemicals – properties of chemicals alter, can become unstable Risk Rating Medium Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls Additional Controls Required Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Lab Technician Health & Safety Officer Risk assessments to determine appropriate storage arrangements and packaging requirements Use of chemical lockers: o corrosives locker o poisons locker Where ever possible chemicals stored in their original containers/packaging. Where this is not appropriate a risk assessment is undertaken to ensure correct packaging and labeling Signage where required Time sensitive chemicals dated and monitored through scheduled workplace inspections Use personal protective equipment described in the SDS Training for workers responsible for storing and accessing chemicals Access to chemical storage restricted to authorized personnel only First aid kits Training provided for maintenance team/personnel who receive chemical deliveries Local induction and emergency training Spill kits Trained first aiders Periodic inspection of fire equipment Residual Risk Rating Low Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Using and handling chemicals Incompatible chemicals mixed together: fire explosion release of toxic fumes Creating unknown new chemicals Damaged, removed or incorrect labels Chemicals used in inappropriate containers Chemicals used in inappropriate areas Toxic fumes and leakage from chemical experiments Fire and explosion during decanting Physical contact with a chemical; poisoning Manual handling hazards associated with large heavy containers of chemical Manual handling injuries from moving and setting up gas cylinders Risk Rating Extreme Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls Additional Controls Required Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Visitors Lab Technician Science Teachers Risk assessments to determine chemical properties and appropriate handling arrangements - Teachers Training provided for Teachers/maintenance team/personnel Local induction and emergency training Spill kits Trained first aiders Periodic inspection of fire equipment Maintenance documents installed for fume cupboard, eye wash stations, housekeeping should be aware of activities in which flammable gases such as hydrogen may be produced. Compatible equipment used with chemicals Fume cupboards Use personal protective equipment described in the MSDS Access to chemical storage restricted to authorized workers only Students encouraged to take responsibility in handling chemicals safely. Adequate supervision with regards to level of training and experience local exhaust ventilation (LEV) Residual Risk Rating Medium system installed Sand bucket in place Eye wash in place First aid kits Preparation of different strengths of Acids from Concentrated Personal injury chemical burns, eye injury High Lab Technician Lab Technician Conc. HCl /HNO3 /H2SO4 must be used in the fume cupboard with proper ventilation Nitric acid should be stored in Local induction and emergency training Spill kits Trained first aiders Low Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Risk Rating Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls its own acid cabinet because of its incompatibility. Acid Always add acid to water Clear up any spillages immediately according to COSHH guidelines. Ensure that all disposable pipettes that have come into contact with the acid are rinsed immediately after use and before disposal. Additional Controls Required Residual Risk Rating Periodic inspection of chemical storage Maintenance documents installed for fume cupboard, eye wash stations, housekeeping Trained First aiders Training provided to Lab Technician Fume cupboard installed Sand bucket in place Eye wash in place First aid kits Use PPE Flammable Chemicals Fire Burns High Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Lab Technician Science Teachers Risk assessments to determine chemical properties and appropriate handling arrangements - Teachers should be aware of activities in which flammable gases such as hydrogen may be produced. Do not store flammable liquids with any of the following: Concentrated acids, e.g. nitric acid, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid Chlorinated solvents oxidising agents, e.g. halogenated substances, Training provided for maintenance team/personnel who receive chemical deliveries Local induction and emergency training Spill kits Trained first aiders Periodic inspection of fire equipment Low Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Risk Rating Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls Additional Controls Required Residual Risk Rating Disposable petri dishes are Low peroxides, perchlorates, nitrates) reducing agents, e.g. sodium borohydride, lithium aluminium hydride Compatible equipment used with chemicals Fume cupboards Use personal protective equipment described in the MSDS Access to chemical storage restricted to authorized workers only Students encouraged to take responsibility in handling chemicals safely. Adequate supervision with regards to level of training and experience local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system installed Sand bucket in place Eye wash in place First aid kits Handling Microorganisms Students Teachers Lab Technician Lab Technician Science Teachers Avoid bacteria, fungi, etc. known to be pathogenic but treat ALL microorganisms with as much care as if they were pathogenic. Lab Technician trained to handle/dispose microbes recommended Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Risk Rating Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls Additional Controls Required Residual Risk Rating Cultures of microorganisms should be grown at or near room temperature. Do not grow cultures at 37 C Petri dishes containing cultures should be autoclaved before disposal. Do not pipette by mouth - use a pipette bulb or other pipetting device. Using a pipette Repetitive motion of hands Long duration of activity Contamination Medium Students Teachers Lab Technician Lab Technician Science Teachers Where ever possible use: o Multi-pipette to reduce repetitive motions Use PPE First aid kits Strictly advise students against mouth pipetting Low Using a fume cupboard Fume cupboard not appropriate for laboratory use Contamination to atmosphere either outside environment or within laboratory Power failure or other failure (eg mechanical) of cupboard Using fume cupboard for storing chemicals not in use Medium Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Lab Technician Science Teachers Good housekeeping and cleaning procedures Use PPE Chemicals not stored in fume cupboards and controls adopted for storage of chemicals (see above) Risk assessment to determine type of fume cupboard: o bench-type o recirculating cupboard o walk-in cupboard Scheduled maintenance and inspection Alarmed and procedures in place where cupboard “fails” Filter systems and appropriate extraction Maintenance documents installed for fume cupboard, eye wash stations, housekeeping Low Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Inhalation of fumes from chemicals Choking Poisoning Risk Rating High Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls Additional Controls Required Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Lab Technician Science Teachers Risk assessments to determine chemical properties and appropriate handling arrangements - Teachers Training provided for Teachers/maintenance team/personnel Local induction and emergency training Spill kits Trained first aiders Periodic inspection of fire equipment Maintenance documents installed for fume cupboard, eye wash stations, housekeeping should be aware of activities in which flammable gases such as hydrogen may be produced. Compatible equipment used with chemicals Fume cupboards Use personal protective equipment described in the MSDS Access to chemical storage restricted to authorized workers only Students encouraged to take responsibility in handling chemicals safely. Adequate supervision with regards to level of training and experience local exhaust ventilation (LEV) Residual Risk Rating system installed First aid kits Disposal of chemicals Damaged, removed or incorrect labels Chemicals stored in inappropriate containers Uncontrolled access to chemical wastes Manual handling injuries from large containers High Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Lab Technician Health & Safety Officer Maintenance Team Chemicals labeled and disposed of in appropriate containers Appropriate chemical waste neutralized before disposal. Sand bucket in place Removed by licensed contractor Risk assessment of area where chemicals are picked up for disposal Restricted access where Low Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Risk Rating Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls Additional Controls Required First aid kits appropriate Local induction and emergency training Emergency procedures in place Spill kits Trained first aiders Residual Risk Rating Handling glassware Lacerations from broken glass Burns from handling heated glass Poisoning from contaminated glass Medium Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Lab Technician Science Teachers Maintenance Team Students Personnel training in basic use and care of glassware Use laboratory glassware Students encouraged to take responsibility in handling glassware safely. All glassware checked prior to use Use PPE First aid kits Damaged and broken glass disposed of in designated waste Trained first aiders Low Housekeeping/ Maintenance Injury due to Spillage Fire due to spillage, cardboard and faulty equipment Electrocution Medium Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Visitors Lab Technician Science Teachers Maintenance Team Regular cleaning of Lab areas Students encouraged to take responsibility and clean up after themselves Chemicals stored in separate chemical room with COSHH. Separate waste containers for general and lab waste. Firefighting equipment in place Sand bucket in place Training provided for maintenance team/personnel Trailing cables eliminated through strategic placement Maintenance documents installed for fume cupboard, eye wash stations, housekeeping Power sockets close to water needs to be capped Central electric shut off Low Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Risk Rating Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls Additional Controls Required Residual Risk Rating system installed Trained first aiders Hot plate Burns to hands and forearms High Electrical fires Electrical Hazards electrical shock High Electrical fires Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Students encouraged to take responsibility while handling equipment carefully Firefighting equipment in place First aid kits Students encouraged to take responsibility while handling equipment carefully Firefighting equipment in place Avoid the use of extension cords. Firefighting equipment in place First aid kits If leaving the empty hotplate switched on and unattended (i.e. to warm up/cool down), place a sign indicating that it is hot. Low Trained first aiders Trailing cables eliminated through strategic placement Power sockets close to water to be capped Central electric shut off system installed Periodically check electrical Low equipment for dangers such as frayed cords, exposed live wires or leakage of current and repair or replace faulty equipment. Trained first aiders Unauthorized entry to chemical room Injury Poisoning Medium Students Teachers Lab Technician Maintenance Teachers Lab Technician Chemical room locked at all times Signage displayed on door Keys kept safe local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system installed Firefighting equipment in place CCTV installation Low Activity Associated Hazards/Risks Risk Rating Who/What might be at risk Responsible Person Controls Additional Controls Required Residual Risk Rating
