RISK ASSESSMENT
School
Activity
Assessment completed by:
Name:
Hazard
Persons
Exposed and
How
Unauthorised
access to
laboratory
Uncontrolled
exposure to
hazardous
properties of
laboratory
chemicals
Staff
Pupils
Limited or
poor
information on
hazardous
chemicals in
use
Inadvertent
exposure to
unknown
hazardous
properties of
laboratory
chemicals
Inadvertent/inc
orrect use of
incorrect
Date:
Current Controls

Unauthorised access to the laboratory is
controlled e.g. locked when not in use

Up-to-date chemical inventory readily
available
Safety data sheets readily available for
all hazardous chemicals
All hazardous chemicals labelled
correctly – labels intact, understood and
legible


Science - chemicals
Review Date:
Signature:
Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by
When
Completed

Page 1
Hazard
Limited or
poor
information on
labels
Use of
hazardous
chemicals
Poor storage
arrangements
for laboratory
chemicals
Incorrect
storage of
chemicals
Persons
Exposed and
How
chemicals
Staff
Pupils
Inadvertent use
of incorrect
chemicals
Staff
Pupils
Exposure to
toxic or very
hazardous
substances
Staff
Pupils
Uncontrolled
access and
exposure to
hazardous
properties of
laboratory
chemicals
Staff
Pupils
Current Controls

Containers with non-hazardous
substances e.g. water clearly labelled to
avoid confusion

Elimination/substitution considered e.g.
toxic/carcinogenic substances

Chemicals are stored in separate and
well ventilated room – access controlled

Chemicals not stored on benches or in
fume cupboards
Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by
When
Completed
Chemical
reaction or
Page 2
Hazard
Chemical spills
or reactions of
chemicals in
storage
Fire
Risk of fire
Persons
Exposed and
How
exposure to
chemicals
Staff
Pupils
Current Controls

Established conventions used e.g.
incompatible chemicals are segregated
and stored in compatible hazard classes;
chemicals stored below eye level;
secondary containment is provided for
liquid chemicals and ant-roll lips on
shelves, etc

Fire, smoke and heat detectors fitted in
store rooms – appropriate fire
extinguishers available

Quantities kept to a minimum especially
flammable liquids

Inspection undertaken at regular
intervals for the purposes of disposal of
Chemicals
being
inadvertently
knocked off
shelves
Chemical with
specific storage
requirements
not being
adhered to
resulting in an
incident
Staff
Pupils
Fire
Staff
Pupils
Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by
When
Completed
Fire
Out of date
chemicals in
Staff
Pupils
Page 3
Hazard
Persons
Exposed and
How
Current Controls
use
Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by
When
Completed
out-of-date chemicals
Chemicals
being used
outside of
manufacturer’s
specifications
Broken
glassware
Staff
Pupils

All glassware and storage vessels
examined for star cracks

Specific storage containers provided for
o Chemical waste
o Recyclable solvents
o Sharps

Cleaner made aware of hazard warning
symbol on chemicals and care required
when cleaning the laboratory and or
science area
Lacerations
Burns
Chemical
exposure
Inappropriate
disposal or
storage
Staff
Pupils
Lacerations
Needlestick
injuries
Environmental
damage
Contact with
chemicals
Staff
Exposure to
chemicals
Page 4
Hazard
Persons
Exposed and
How
Inadequate
administrative
controls
Staff
Pupils
Lack of
knowledge of
risks in
relation to
laboratory
experiments
Uncontrolled
exposure to
hazardous
properties of
laboratory
chemicals to
pupils and
cleaning staff
Staff
Pupils
Personal injury
to persons
working in the
laboratory
Current Controls

General laboratory rules are understood
and followed by pupils

Particular risks identifies for an
experiment to be communicated to pupils
Relevant sections of safety data sheets
conveyed to pupils

Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by
When
Completed
Incorrect use of
chemicals
leading to
chemical
exposure
Cluttered
bench tops and
dirty
laboratory
environment
Staff
Pupils

Bench tops clean, organised and
environs maintained to eliminate
harmful exposure or unsafe conditions
Contact with
chemicals
Page 5
Hazard
Persons
Exposed and
How
Incorrect
disposal of
chemicals
Staff
Pupils
Current Controls

Correct disposal procedures in place for
chemical waste and glass waste

Appropriate PPE available e.g. face
shields, goggles, lab coats and
appropriate hand protection

Appropriate PPE available e.g. face
shields, goggles, lab coats and
appropriate hand protection, etc

Fume cupboard inspected regularly,
tested and maintained with test labels
affixed – records stored appropriately
and easily retrievable
Regular checks are made to ensure the
average face velocity on these units is
adequate
Safety data sheets consulted for correct
engineering controls
Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by
When
Completed
Cuts, abrasions
and
environmental
contamination
Poor PPE
controls
Lack of PPE
Inadequate
maintenance
of fume
cupboard
Poor
engineering
controls
Staff
Pupils
Contamination
in chemicals
Staff
Pupils
Contamination
in chemicals
Staff
Pupils
Exposure to
chemicals/fume
s
Staff
Pupils


Uncontrolled
Page 6
Hazard
Persons
Exposed and
How
Current Controls
Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by
When
Completed
exposure to
hazardous
properties of
laboratory
chemicals
Poor hygiene
controls
Staff
Pupils

General laboratory rules are understood
and followed by pupils e.g. no eating,
drinking or taste anything in the
laboratory or any food brought into the
laboratory

Safety bulbs to be used for pipetting to
avoid inadvertent ingestion

Safety items to be available in the
laboratory e.g.
o Safety screen
o Fire extinguishers
Inadvertent
exposure to
hazardous
properties of
laboratory
chemicals
Chemical
ingestion
Staff
Pupils
Chemical
ingestion
resulting in
illness or
chemical
poisoning
Lack of other
essential
safety items in
laboratory
Staff
Pupils
Reduced ability
Page 7
Hazard
Persons
Exposed and
How
Current Controls
to manage
emergencies,
incidents/spilla
ges
Ingestion/
adsorption of
chemicals
Staff
Pupils
Illness or
chemical
poisoning
Further Action
Necessary
Action by Whom
Action by
When
Completed
Fire blankets
Fire buckets with sand
Chemical spill clean- up kit –
absorbing agent
o First aid kit
o Warning notices
o Contact notice for emergency
services
Adequate hand wash facilities and eye
wash station available, unobstructed and
maintained
o
o
o

Page 8