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 Principal Investigator Name of Lab Officer in Charge Module / Expt No.
Dr. Ship Chee Peng
Activity being assessed:
Yeo Boon Hee
Preparation and Spectrophotometric Analysis of a Nickel (II) complex.
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.
CM2111 Expt 3
1) Conc. ammonia solution, 10mL used
Toxic. Harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Can cause permanent eye injury or blindness, and permanent scarring of the skin.
2) Nickel chloride, 3.5g used
Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Causes irritation to skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Can be absorbed through skin. Cancer hazard.
3) Ethanol, 30mL used
Flammable liquid and vapour. Causes respiratory tract irritation. Causes severe eye irritation and moderate skin irritation. ingestion can cause nausea, vomitting and inebriation; chronic use can cause serious liver damage.
4) Diethyl ether, 10mL used
Extremely flammable liquid and vapour. Slowly can forms explosive peroxides in the presence of light and air and in the absence of inhibitors. May cause headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion. May be an aspiration hazard. Swallowing or vomiting of the liquid may result in aspiration into the lungs.
5) Std 0.28M HCl, 50 mL used
Irritates eyes and skin.
Page 1 of 5
Printed on: 17 April 2020

6) Std 0.1M NaOH, 50mL used
Causes burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes.
7) Methyl Red, indicator
No hazardous product.
Incompatible materials (special precautions):
1) Std 0.28M HCl
Stores away from incompatible materials such as oxidizing materials, reducing materials, strong bases.
2) Std 0.1M NaOH
Segregate from acids, ammonium salts strong oxidisers and organic materials / compounds.
3) Conc. ammonia solution
Stores away from incompatible materials, such as oxidising agents, heavy metals and their salts, halogens, nitromethane, acids, acid anhydrides, acid chlorides, dimethyl sulfate, calcium, acrolein, propiolactone, or propylene oxide.
4) Nickel chloride
Segregate from potassium.
5) Diethyl ether
Stores away from strong oxidisers, halogens, interhalogens,sulfur or sulfur compounds, methyl lithium, peroxyacetic acid and non-metal azides.
6) Ethanol
Stable. Substances to be avoided include strong oxidising agents,peroxides, acids, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, alkali metals, ammonia, moisture. Forms explosive mixtures with air.
7) Methyl Red
No information available.
The risk of injury and its severity likely to arise from these hazards:
Page 2 of 5
Printed on: 17 April 2020

Spillage and accidental breakage of flasks containing the reagents.
Who is at risk?
Persons directly in contact with the above stated chemicals.
Measure to be taken to reduce the level of risk:
Proper laboratory attire and safety measures must always be used in order to reduce the level of risk.
Training prerequisites:
Advise students on the hazards of reagents used. Refer to prepared risk assessments on use of glassware, use of fume hoods and use of standard electrical equipment.
Use of Glassware
Use of Standard Electrical Equipment
Level of risk remaining:
Low
Emergency action if :
Spill:
1 ) Std 0.28M HCl
Contain and soak up spill with absorbent material which does not react with spilled chemical.
Put material in suitable, covered, labelled containers. Flush area with water.
2) Std 0.1M NaOH
Contain and absorb on absorbent material. Place in waste disposal container.
3) Conc. ammonia solution
Soak up with sand or other noncombustible absorbent material and shovel into containers for later disposal. Keep containers closed. Flush area with water.
Fire:
1) Std 0.1M NaOH
Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, foam or water.
2) Conc. ammonia solution
Ammonium hydroxide will not burn. If ammonia gas is burning, use dry chemical powder or carbon dioxide for small fires and water spray, fog or foam for large fires.
Page 3 of 5
Printed on: 17 April 2020

3) Diethyl ether
Carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder, "alcohol resistant" foam or polymer foam. Water may be ineffective because it may not cool diethyl ether below its flash point. Fire fighting foams, such as "alcohol resistant" foams are the extinguishing agent of choice for most flammable liquid fires.
4) Ethanol
Carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder.
Is the experiment suitable for out-of-hours operation?
References if any:
Yes No
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.
Page 4 of 5
Printed on: 17 April 2020

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.).
Page 5 of 5
Printed on: 17 April 2020