Transcript Risk Assessment - University of Edinburgh

Risk Assessment
Neil Robertson
Academic Safety Officer
School of Chemistry
Background
• 1992 “The Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations”
• 2002 “The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations”
• Accidents and ill health can ruin lives and affect your
business too if output is lost, machinery is damaged,
insurance costs increase or you have to go to court. You
are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace
so that you put in place a plan to control the risks.
• Not just bureaucracy!
Information
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf
• University of Edinburgh
http://www.safety.ed.ac.uk/safenet/risk_assess/R
A1_Notes.shtm
• School of Chemistry
http://www.chem.ed.ac.uk/safety/index.html
– Safety handbook
– Risk assessment form
Hazard and Risk (HSE)
• a hazard is anything that may cause
harm, such as chemicals, electricity,
working from ladders, an open drawer etc;
• the risk is the chance, high or low, that
somebody could be harmed by these and
other hazards, together with an indication
of how serious the harm could be.
How to assess the risks in your
workplace (HSE)
• Identify the hazards
• Decide who might be harmed and how
• Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
• Record your findings and implement them
• Review your assessment and update if
necessary
Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Precautions
• Can I get rid of the hazard altogether?
• If not, how can I control the risks so that harm is
unlikely?
• When controlling risks, apply the principles below, if
possible in the following order:
• try a less risky option (eg switch to using a less
hazardous chemical);
• prevent access to the hazard;
• organise work to reduce exposure to the hazard
• issue personal protective equipment
• provide welfare facilities (eg first aid and washing
facilities for removal of contamination).
Completing the SoC Risk Assessment Form
• The law was not specifically written just for us – need to
use some judgement (The law requires you to do
everything ‘reasonably practicable’ to protect people from
harm. - HSE)
• Complete online or on paper (except in the most trivial of
cases)
– Must be signed in advance by Research Supervisor (or nominated
deputy)
– display a copy beside your experiment,
– email/send a copy to [email protected] or Room 246.
• Avoid generic forms that drift with time
– Cu, Fe…….Cr
– BF4-, PF6-…..ClO4– Methanol…..CH2Cl2......ether….heating
• Make sure you can defend the decisions you have taken.
Summary
• It’s the law
• It’s also common sense
• Complete form and have signed in advance
• Renew forms every year
• Ask for advice whenever needed