Department of Chemistry and Department of Biology and Biochemistry
The assessor should assign values for (a) the level of harm (hazard severity) that could result from using the hazard, and (b) the likelihood of it
occurring (taking into account the frequency and duration of exposure) on a scale of 1 to 5, then multiply them together to give the rating band:
Degree of Harm
(A)
Likelihood of Occurrence
1 – Trivial
(eg discomfort, irritation, slight bruising, self-help recovery)
2 – Minor
(eg small cut, burn or abrasion, basic first aid need)
3 – Moderate (eg strain, sprain, infection, poisoning, incapacitation > 3 days, fire)
4 – Serious (eg fracture, hospitalisation >24 hrs, incapacitation >4 weeks, severe
damage to building)
5 – Fatal
(single or multiple)
1 – Remote
2 – Unlikely
3 – Possible
4 – Likely
5 – Very likely
(B)
(almost never, not expected at all)
(foreseeable, but only occurring rarely)
(could occur, but uncommon)
(recurrent but not frequent)
(could occur frequently)
The risk rating (high, medium or low) indicates the level of response required to be taken when designing the action plan.
Risk Assessment Matrix
(B)
(A)
Risk Rating Bands (A x B)
Trivial
Minor
Moderate Serious
Fatal
Remote
1
2
3
4
5
Unlikely
2
4
6
8
10
Possible
3
6
9
12
15
Likely
4
8
12
16
20
Very likely
5
10
15
20
25
LOW RISK
(1 – 8)
MEDIUM RISK
(9 - 12)
HIGH RISK
(15 - 25)
Continue,
but review
periodically to
ensure controls
remain effective
Continue,
but implement
additional reasonably
practicable controls
where possible and
monitor regularly
STOP THE ACTIVITY
Identify new controls.
Activity must not proceed
until risks are reduced to a
low or medium level
Risk Assessment of: Working with hazardous waste
and working in the 1 South hazardous waste store.
Overview of activity / location / equipment /
conditions being assessed:
Assessor(s):
Work Authorised by:
Date:
Marianne Harkins, Robyn Bott and
April 2015
Russel Barlow
A risk assessment of work in the 1 South hazardous waste store. The hazardous waste store is the place where
unwanted hazardous waste is to be taken (by people working in the Department of Chemistry and Department
of Biology and Biochemistry), to be sorted and categorised before being handed over to the University
Hazardous Waste Manager.
Note: Staff may contact the technical team who deal with hazardous waste on bbcwaste@lists.bath.ac.uk.
Hazard
Who could be
harmed?
Control measures needed to minimise risk
Chemicals general
Depending on the hazard
category of the chemical
in question, there are a
wide range of possible
effects: skin and eye
irritation/ corrosion/
permeation. Tissue
damage of mucous
membranes/ respiratory
tract, dermatitis from
prolonged or repeated
skin exposure and in
severe cases central
nervous system
depression or organ
effects. Unconsciousness
and even death can result
from exposure to some
hazardous chemicals.
Laboratory
users, staff,
support staff,
PG and UG
students,
contractors
and/ or visitors
to the
laboratory.
Waste store
and waste
compound
users. The
environment.
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Anyone working in the Department will have a health and safety induction.
Staff are informed about how to deal with hazardous waste, regular reminders are sent out and
information is available in all labs.
All work will be Risk Assessed.
Staff are asked to list chemicals (including their hazard category) and segregate chemicals before
bringing them to the store.
At a minimum a lab coat and safety glasses should be worn in the store at all times. Any PPE specified
for working with specific chemicals should be word/ used.
Safety Data Sheets should be referred to when assessing the risks associated with particular chemicals.
Check labels and safety data sheets for physical properties and incompatibility with other materials.
There are fire extinguishers in the store and outside the store
There is a spill kits and accessible/ properly functioning safety shower in the store.
Risk after
controls
implemented
A B AxB
2 3 6
Solid/ liquid chemical
waste
See potential health
effects listed for
‘chemicals – general’.
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Unknown solid/ liquid
chemical waste
See potential health
effects listed for
‘chemicals – general’.
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Exposure to acids and
bases
Skin and eye irritation/
corrosion/ permeation.
Tissue damage of mucous
membranes/ respiratory
tract, dermatitis from
prolonged or repeated
skin exposure and in
severe cases central
nervous system

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Ensure to read the hazard category on the chemical you are working with.
Where possibly, do not open chemical containers.
Chemical containers should be stored upright in plastic trays in the back store room.
Any flammables should be stored in trays the flammables cabinet.
Different types of solid chemical waste should be segregated in to categories in different trays.
Any offensive solid chemicals (for example ones that have strong smells) should be removed as an
absolute priority to the hazardous waste compound.
Ensure that the door of the store is always open when working in the store to ensure good ventilation.
Ensure that a spill kit is nearby.
Chemicals should be listed and boxed and moved to the hazardous waste compound on a regular basis.
Where possible the back store should remain free of chemicals.
2
5
10
Unless you know differently, assume that the chemicals you are working with are flammable, very toxic,
corrosive, carcinogenic and are environmentally damaging.
Where possibly, do not open chemical containers.
Any unknown chemicals should be stored in trays the flammables cupboard.
Unknown chemicals should be listed and boxed and moved to the hazardous waste compound as an
absolute priority.
Ensure that the front door is open for good ventilation.
Ensure that a spill kit is nearby.
2
5
10
Avoid breathing the gas or fumes from concentrated solutions. If RA specified or where possible, use a
fume cupboard.
Ensure that adequate spill kits and absorbent material are available before working with acids.
Ensure that an eyewash station is located nearby.
Remember that acids reacts violently with water.
2
3
6
Emergency procedures:
Eye Contact: Check for and remove any contact lenses. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with
plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Cold water may be used. Get medical attention immediately.
depression or organ
effects.
Skin Contact: In case of contact, immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while
removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. Cold water may be
used. Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean shoes before reuse. Get medical attention immediately.
Serious Skin Contact: Wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the contaminated skin with an anti-bacterial
cream. Seek immediate medical attention.
Inhalation: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult,
give oxygen. Get medical attention immediately.
Serious Inhalation: Evacuate the victim to a safe area as soon as possible. Loosen tight clothing such as a
collar, tie, belt or waistband. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. If the victim is not breathing,
perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. WARNING: It may be hazardous to the person providing aid to give
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when the inhaled material is toxic, infectious or corrosive. Seek immediate
medical attention.
Ingestion: If swallowed, do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Never give
anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband.
Get medical attention immediately.
Exposure to solvents
Irritation of eyes/
respiratory system/skin.
Headache, nausea,
dizziness. Co-ordination
may become impaired,
which may increase your
chance of having an
accident.
Unconsciousness and
even death can result
from exposure to high
concentrations of solvent
vapours.
Please refer to Solvent Store RA and Solvent Store Good Practice documents.
 Make the most of natural ventilation, where appropriate, by opening doors and windows.
 Prevent unnecessary evaporation of solvents by using the minimum amount for the job, keeping lids on
containers and using sealed containers for solvent-contaminated waste.
 Use procedural controls, e.g. barriers or splashguards, and restricting access.
 Make full use of any local exhaust ventilation (LEV) your employer provides to remove vapours from
your work area.
 Report to your employer any damaged or defective ventilation plant or personal protective equipment
(PPE). Wear any respiratory protective equipment (RPE) which your employer provides. Keep all
protective equipment in a clean place. Make sure it is kept clean so it is fit to use.
 Do not leave solvent-contaminated rags lying around. Dispose of them in closed containers.
 Do not use any materials containing solvents unless the area is adequately ventilated and, where
necessary, you are using suitable respiratory protection.
2
3
6
Exposure to flammables
Inhalation of vapours
causing irritation to
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2
3
6
Store flammable liquids and chemicals in the flammables cupboard in the back store.
Dispense flammable liquids and chemicals, and use them in a place where there is good ventilation and
no source of ignition.
respiratory system.
Irritation/ burns to body
and in worse-case
scenario, death can occur
from exposure to
flammable substances.
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Halogenated/ Nonhalogenated and
aqueous waste
See potential health
effects listed for
‘chemicals – general’.
Whenever possible, halogenated, non-halogenated and aqueous waste should be placed in separate
containers for waste disposal.
1
3
3
Spills
Exposure to any of the
chemicals listed above.
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2
4
8
Loss of containment
Environmental/ human
health impacts
See Spills above.
A drain cover is available for when large volumes of water are needed to clear up a spill.
1
4
4
Unauthorised access to
facility
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Access to the 1 South hazardous waste store is restricted.
There are electrical gates at the back of 1 South.
Visitors should be accompanied by an approved person who should explain the operation of the facility.
The outer and inner doors should be locked when personnel are not present in the facility.
The keys are kept in a secure place.
There is CCTV covering the area and recordings are kept for 14 days before being over-written. Security
also regularly patrol the area during the evening and night.
1
5
5
Biological
Contamination of person
or the environment
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Biological/ contaminated waste to be autoclaved is to be placed in autoclave bags.
All waste to be autoclaved is to be taken to the 3 South autoclave room.
1
2
2
Keep containers closed when not in use.
Dispense liquids over a tray and keep some non-flammable absorbent material handy to mop up spills.
Keep the working area dust-free from flammable dusts by regular cleaning, and dealing with spillages as
they occur
Spills are to be cleaned up as a priority, wearing the correct PPE.
Spill kits are available in the store.
A safety shower is available in the store.
Running water is available in the store.
New flooring is pending for the store to allow for easier clear-ups if a spill should occur.
resulting in illness,
infection or disease.
Sharps
Puncture wounds/
scrapes/ infection.
Fire/ Explosion
Burns/ smoke inhalation
or death. Damage or loss
of infrastructure.
Slips and Trips
Slipping on floors/
tripping on hazards
Manual Handling
Musculoskeletal
problems.
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Sharps are to be placed in sharps bins and sealed when the fill-line is reached.
A working with sharps Generic RA is available.
All electrical installations in the store are spark proof.
 Flammable materials and unknown materials are stored in the flammables cupboard in the back store.
 The store is to be kept free of clutter.
 Empty cardboard boxes will not be kept in the store.
 Spill kits and sand are available in the store.
 A fire extinguisher is available in the store. There is also one outside.
 All obvious ignition sources must be removed.
 Call security on 666 (internal) or 01225 383999 (external) in an emergency.
 Floors are regularly swept top keep them clean.
 Good house-keeping means that clutter is removed.
 A waste management technician is employed to ensure best practice.
The University Manual Handling guidelines should be followed.
1
3
3
2
5
10
2
2
4
1
2
2
Emergency Procedures
In the event of a fire evacuate the store as quickly as possible and set off the fire alarm (to ensure 1 South is also evacuated). Call the security team (666
internal and 0.1125 383999 external) and ensure that the fire services are aware that there is a fire in a hazardous waste store.