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Risk assessment is a fundanental factor of safety management
and law development in European Union.
Concept of risk assessment is not a new one, especially in chemistry where assessment of
risk before attempting to work with chemical substances
was always a part of professional chemist's preparation routine.
However, the new procedure involves formalization of the assessment
by insuring that every essential fact concerning
risk assessment has been written down.
Every organization should have formalized system
which will guide you through the process of risk assessment
and method of recording the facts concerned in the assessment.
Usually, it is realized using risk assessment sheet.
There are many types of risk assessment sheets
used in European Union.
Make sure you have access to specific risk assessment sheets
applicable in your institution or organization.
In the process of risk assessment following steps should be considered:
1. Identify the hazards and the health threats
which may be caused by chemical substances.
Take into consideration hazards such as: fires, explosions or mechanical.
2. Evaluate the risks from the hazards.
Think about cleaning personnel or technical staff
responsible for workstation maintanance.
3. Assess what controls need to be introduced.
Write down everything in the risk assessment sheet.
4. Make sure that the risk assessment sheet is reviewed.
Especially, when new chemical substances has been introduced
or when standard procedures of laboratory pracitice has been altered significantly.
5. Review your risk assessment sheets from time to time
to ensure that nothing was omitted.
While considering what kind of action one should attempt in order to control
specific risk corresponding to chemical substance in use
one has to take into account following steps:
1. Elimination. Is it necessary to use harmful substances?
2. Substitution. Is it possible to substitute harmful substance with less harmful one?
For example, use toluene instead of benzene.
3. Total confinement. For example, use glovebox.
Use this only in case of dealing with extremely toxic substances.
4. Quenching. For example, rinsing with water if substance is in powdered form.
The latter is realized rather in industry than on a laboratory scale.
5. Local ventilation. Ensures wide spectrum of protection.
Fume hood is the most usually encountered ventilation device.
Fume hoods will be discussed in more detail later in this video footage.
It's especially important that the laboratory is equipped with a good overall ventilation system.
Be careful whilst working in the vicinity of windows since wind draft may direct
harmful fumes into your breathing area.
Personal protection equipment such as gloves and labcoats
should be used whenever working in the laboratory.
Equipment for respiratory protection, like breathing masks should be used
only in extreme situations when technical security measures
are not applicable in practice.
Selection of respiratory protection equipment should be made with special care.
Always check if mask and absorber are adequate for the hazard.
Respiratory protection equipment is manufactured for use
against specific types of dust or gases.
More information concerning this topic is available in another part of this video footage.