BTEC LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA IN APPLIED SCIENCE UNIT 2 WORKING IN THE SCIENCE INDUSTRY SAFE WORKING PRACTICES IN THE LABORATORY RISK ASSESSMENT

BTEC LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA IN APPLIED SCIENCE

UNIT 2

WORKING IN THE SCIENCE INDUSTRY

SAFE WORKING PRACTICES IN THE LABORATORY

RISK ASSESSMENT

Lesson Aim:

To be able to assess hazards and risks encountered in the scientific workplace.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to :

• Define risk and hazard

• Understand and carry out a risk assessment

• Find chemical safety information such as hazcards and data sheets


Risk


A risk is a situation involving exposure to danger

HazardA hazard is a potential source of danger

Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is the process of evaluating risks tosafety and health from hazards. It considers:

• what could cause injury or harm• whether the hazards could be eliminated and, if not,• what preventive or protective measures are, or should be, in place to control the risks.

A hazard is anything that can cause harm to you. In a laboratory this may mean:

• Chemical hazard

• Fire hazard

• Electrical hazard

• Gas hazard

• Biological hazard


Identifying Hazards

Chemical hazards are identified in the laboratory through use of labelling.

Chemicals are supplied in containers which have detailed labelling, complying with the European CPL chemical labelling system


Identifying Chemical Hazards

Signal word -

DANGER - relating to

the most serious

hazard. In this

example, the hazard

statements show that

it refers to the Health

hazards symbol.

Hazard statements

Precautionary statements

Hazard symbols

CLASSIFICATION, LABELLING AND PACKAGING OF SUBSTANCES AND MIXTURES (CLP REGULATION).

GHS06 (Acutely toxic) GHS02 (Flammable) GHS07 (Moderate hazard)

GHS04 (Gas under pressure) GHS05 (Corrosive)



The labels allow us to risk assess use andstore safely



CLASSIFICATION, LABELLING AND PACKAGING OF SUBSTANCES AND MIXTURES (CLP REGULATION).

GHS01 (Explosive) GHS08 (Health hazards including carcinogens)

GHS09 (Hazardous to the aquatic environment) GHS03 (Oxidising)

The GHS system is a globally harmonised hazard classification and compatible labelling system, including material safety data sheets andeasily understandable symbols



Toxic / Very toxic

Corrosive

Harmful

Irritant

Extremely flammable

Highly flammable

Oxidising

Explosive

Dangerous for the environment

Old CHIP system labels

All new products will have the CLP labelling but older stock will still have CHIP labels above

There are 5 steps to a risk assessment:

• Step 1 Identify the hazards

• Step 2 Decide who might be harmed and how

• Step 3 Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions

• Step 4 Record your findings and implement them

• Step 5 Review your assessment and update if necessary


Carrying out a Risk Assessment

Risks are also categorised into high, medium and low to be able to highlight the most potentially risky practices.

To calculate this the LIKELIHOOD of an accident happening is multiplied by the SEVERITY

e.g.


Carrying out a Risk Assessment

Likelihood of Accident Occurring Likely Severity of Accident Resultant Risk 2 Possible X 3 Major = 6 Likelihood of Accident Occurring X Likely Severity of Accident = Resultant Risk

1 Improbable

1 Trivial

2 Possible 2 Minor 3 Occasional 3 3 day injury 4 Frequent 4 Major 5 Regular 5 Major (several people) 6 Certain 6 Death

Overall Risk potential: High.(15-36) Medium (7-14) Low (1-6)

(Note: If Medium or High risk, you MUST list additional control measures required to reduce risk to a reasonable level. )

Employers have to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 to prevent ill health. There regulations require employers to risk assess anything that is hazardous to health:

substances that are hazardous to health include:

• chemicals

• products containing chemicals

• fumes

• dusts

• vapours

• mists

• nanotechnology

• gases and asphyxiating gases and

• biological agents (germs).


COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

COSHH requires employers to:

assess the risks to health from chemicals and other hazardous materials and decide what controls are needed

use those controls and make sure workers use them

make sure the controls are working properly

inform workers about the risks to their health

train workers.


COSHH- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Information on COSHH is freely available from the website www.coshh-essentials.org.uk or on the Health and Safety Executive Website www.HSE.gov.uk

http://www.coshh-essentials.org.uk/

http://www.hse.gov.uk/

There are several main sources of information on hazardous substances.

1. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

2. CLEAPSS Hazcards

3. Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

There is a wide variety of information available on the HSE website at

www.HSE.gov.uk


Sources of Information

These sheets detail the nature of the chemical, hazards, storage, handling and emergency procedures .They are sent out with every chemical.

These are designed for schools to give information about hazards in school science. There are slightly shorter student versions. These can be downloaded for free at http://www.cleapss.org.uk/attachments/article/0/SSSPrint.pdf?Free Publications




QUIZ

1. What is the meaning of the following hazard symbols?


2. Draw the hazard symbols for oxidising agent, explosive and gas under pressure

3. Name the 5 steps involved in a risk assessment

4. Name 3 substances which have to be assessed for COSHH?

Lesson Aim:

To be able to assess hazards and risks encountered in the scientific workplace.

You now will be able to :

• Define risk and hazard

• Understand and carry out a risk assessment

• Find sources of chemical safety information such as hazcards and data sheets


Documents

BTEC LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA IN APPLIED SCIENCE UNIT 2 WORKING IN THE SCIENCE INDUSTRY SAFE WORKING PRACTICES IN THE LABORATORY RISK ASSESSMENT