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.
Mdm Irene Teo
CM 1131/Expt 4
Activity being assessed:
The hydrolysis of t-butyl chloride : Solvent effect
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.
Bromothymol blue indicator (in ethanol)
Flammable. Keep away from flame.
t-Butyl Chloride: 1ml
Highly flammable. Avoid breathing vapours. Ensure adequate ventilation. Remove all sources of ignition.
0.04M Sodium Hydroxide: 150ml
Contact may cause burns on sensitive skin, eyes. May cause digestive tract burns if swallowed.
Acetone: 50ml
Extremely flammable liquid and vapour. Harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Causes eye and skin irritation.
Isopropanol : 50ml
Flammable liquid and vapor. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Causes irritation to eyes and respiratory
tract. Affects central nervous system. May be harmful if absorbed through skin. May cause irritation to
skin.
* Above stated amount are computed for the whole experiment.
Incompatible materials (special precautions):
t-Butyl Chloride :Strong oxidizing agents, Strong bases
Acetone: Extremely reactive or incompatible with oxidizing agents, acids.
0.04M Sodium Hydroxide: Reacts with mineral acids to form corresponding salts
Isopropanol: strong oxidizers, acetaldehyde, acids
The risk of injury and its severity likely to arise from these hazards:
Accidental breakage of flasks may lead to cuts while spillage of the solvents/reagents may cause irritation
to eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
Who is at risk?
Persons handling the chemicals as well as those in the vicinity.
Measure to be taken to reduce the level of risk:
Proper PPE must be worn.
Refer to prepared risk assessment on Use of Glassware.
Please
refer
to
PSSO
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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: For t-butyl chloride, acetone or isopropanol, ventilate area. 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 extinguishers available in the lab.
Is the experiment suitable for out-of-hours operation ?
Yes
No
References if any:
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/b5380.htm
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/MSDS/MSDS/DisplayMSDSPage.do
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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