3. Guideline to Complete Chemical Risk Assessment

8/11/2019 3. Guideline to Complete Chemical Risk Assessment

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Chemical Risk Assessment (CRA) Guide

Department of Chemical Engineering

IntroductionPage 1

How to obtain an SDSPage 2

The CRA Form

o Section 1:Identify the chemicalPage 3

o Sections 2 and 3: Chemical usage and exposurePage 4

o Section 4: How dangerous is the chemical?Page 5

o Section 6: How can I keep myself and others safe?Page 6

o Section 7: Details of Safety PrecautionsPage 7

o

Section 5: How Dangerous will my work be?Page 8

Contact details for submission of CRA formsPage 9

Introduction:

A Chemical Risk Assessment (CRA) form must be completed for each chemical that a researcher requires before they are permitted to handle it. A

completed CRA form is proof that a researcher has read the Chemicals Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and understands the hazards associated with the chemical

they are requesting. For this reason the technical staff cannot release a chemical to any researcher until we have approved the completed CRA form.

The following is a guide that has been designed to help you complete the Chemical Risk Assessment (CRA) form correctly. It is important that every area of

the form is completed before you hand the form in (with the exception of some chemicals, see notes on Section 2 for details).


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How to obtain an SDS:

When filling out a CRA you will need to refer to the chemicals SDS (Safety Data Sheet, also known as a MSDS), these can be accessed from our Chemical

database on ChemAlert.

To access ChemAlert please follow this link:https://chemalert.rmt.com.au/curtin/from any computer on the Curtin Computer Network (please make surethat pop-ups are enabled on your web browser). Use the product name/synonym search field to search for the chemical you require. Once you have

found the correct chemical you can double-click on the chemicals name to bring up the products details, click on the Reports tab, and then the

Manufacturer SDS link. This will open the MSDSas a PDF file (again, ensure pop-up blockers are disabled).

If you cannot find the SDS on ChemAlert, and you are completing a CRA for a chemical that you have recently ordered, please find an electronic copy of the

SDS on the manufacturers website and email it, with your completed CRA to the relevant technical officer.
https://chemalert.rmt.com.au/curtin/https://chemalert.rmt.com.au/curtin/https://chemalert.rmt.com.au/curtin/https://chemalert.rmt.com.au/curtin/


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Write the name of the

chemical.

Write the name of the

chemicals manufacturer.

Tick Yes if the SDS

(Safety Data Sheet) is

available on ChemAlert.

If the SDS is not on

ChemAlert then you must

obtain a copy and send it

with your CRA via email to

the lab staff.

Write todays date here.

Write your full name here.

Write here the building and room number that the chemical will be stored in.

Building 205 Lab users please write 205:147 (unless working in lab 307);

Becher Building Lab users please write Becher building, Building 500 users

please also include your room number 2244, 2227, or 2237.

Write here the Building

and room in which you

will be using the chemical.

Tick Yes or No to

indicate if the chemical is

Hazardous or not. Refer to

section 2 of the SDS for

details.

Tick Yes or No to

indicate if the chemical is

Dangerous or not. Refer to

section 2 of the SDS for

details.

Specify the DG class of your chemical here, if the

chemical has a Subsidiary Risk (or secondary class)

then write it under Sub Class. Refer to Section 14

of the SDS to find the DG (or UNDG Transport Class)

number for the chemical. If the chemical has no DG

class then write N/A (not applicable).

Write the full name of

your supervisor here.

The CRA Form, Section 1:Identify the Chemical


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Attention: If you are filling out this CRA for a chemical that is non-dangerous, and non-hazardous

then you only need to fill in Sections 1 and 2 of the CRA . Refer to Section 2 of the SDS to see if your

chemical is Hazardous or Dangerous.

Who could be exposed to the chemical that you are using? List all the relevant descriptions here.

Examples are provided on the form.

The CRA Form, Sections 2 and 3: Chemical Usage and Exposure

Write here the highest

concentration of the

chemical that you will use.

For example: If you are

making a 10% v/v solution

of Acetic acid from a bottleof 100% Acetic acid, then

you will need to state

100% here.

In this section you must provide details regarding:

- What task the chemical will be used for.

Describe briefly what you will use the chemical for.

For example: Used as a reagent in chemical synthesis o f a catalyst.

- How the chemical must be stored.Refer to section 7 of the SDS for details about storage. Also refer to section 10 for details about what

chemicals/materials are incompatible with your chemical and cannot be stored with them.

For example: many acids are incompatible with Oxid isers and cannot be stored in the same cupboard.

- How chemical waste will be disposed of.

No chemicals can go down the sink, only water and detergent. The

procedure for ChemEng labs is stated below:

All chemical waste must be stored in a container separate from other

types of chemical waste. The container must be clearly labelled withthe names of the chemicals inside the container, t he name of the

person who made the waste, and the words Hazardous Waste.

Hazardous waste must be provided to lab staff for safe disposal.

Consider how you or other

personnel can be exposed

to the chemical and tick

the boxes that are

appropriate.

Examples are provided onthe form.

To provide details of

Chemical quantities and

usage please write under

the relevant sections:

Frequency:How often will

you use the chemical?

(e.g. daily, weekly, 2-3

times a week, monthly).

Duration: How long you

will use the chemical for?

(e.g. 1 semester, 1 year, 3

years).

Quantity: How much will

you require at the

frequency you have

specified? (e.g., 100mls,

1kg, 4L).

For example one

researcher might use a

Quantity of 100mls, at a

Frequency of once a

month, for a Duration of 3

years.


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Tick the relevant health hazards that apply to your chemical, remember to include immediate and

long-term health effects. Read section 11 of the chemicals SDS for detailsregarding health hazards.

If the SDS mentions acute or chronic health hazards that are not covered by a tick-box, please tick

Other and write the details of that hazard in the field provided. Some examples are: Blood

disease, heart disease, blindness, degradation of tooth enamel, etc.

The CRA Form, Section 4: How Dangerous is the Chemical?

Please Note:

An Asphyxiantis a

substance that will displace

oxygen in the air (such as

compressed nitrogen gas),

or that will remove oxygen

from your bloodcausing

you to suffocate even

when oxygen is available

(such as Carbon

monoxide, or cyanide).

Please Note:

A Carcinogen is a

substance that can cause

cancer. If your Chemical is

a definite, probable or

possible carcinogen please

tick this box.

Please Note:

Tick Reproductive System

Disease if your chemical is

classed as a: Teratogen

(will damage an embryo),

or if the SDS mentions any

other reproductive effects.

Please Note:

Tick Respiratory Tract

Irritantif your chemical is

an irritant when inhaled or

if it produces corrosive

fumes.


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Tick the relevant control categories that you can use to make your work safe. Please note

that if you select a category you must also select the remaining categories under it. For

example: selecting 3. Isolation will also require you to select o ptions 4, 5 and 6.Specific

notes are provided for each section below.

The CRA Form, Section 6: How Can I Keep Myself and Others Safe?

Can you completely

Eliminatechemicals from

the task or process that

you intend to undertake?

Can you Substitute thischemical for a safer one?

Can you Isolate yourself

and other lab users from

this chemical? Consider the

examples listed on the

form.

Can you Engineer a

process or use equipment

to make this task or

process safer? Consider

the examples listed on the

form.

Can you perform

Administrative tasks tobetter prepare for your

task/process? Consider the

examples listed on the

form.

Can you use PPE (Personal

Protective Equipment) to

keep yourself save when

using this chemical?


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Please provide details for the control groups that you ticked in the above section. What will

you do to make your work with this chemical safe? Please do not write any comments for

the controls that you did not tick in the above section. Consider the examples provided

below for each control group.

List all PPEthat you will require. Minimum PPE when working with any chemical in the lab

includes: Safety glasses, latex/nitrile gloves, lab coat/long sleeves, long pants, and enclosed

shoes. Other PPE may be required depending on your task, some examples include:

butyl/PVA chemical gloves, goggles, chemical apron, face shield, and dust mask.

The CRA Form, Section 7: Details of Safety Precautions

Can you Isolate yourself

and other lab users fromthis chemical? Some

examples are provided on

the form. Please note that

using your chemical in a

fume cupboard is not

isolation unless your

task/process is the only

work being carried out in

the fume cupboard. This

action is usually only

required for chemicals that

present substantial ahazard.

See section 6 of the CRA

form for other examples.

Can you Engineer a

process or use equipment

to make this task or

process safer? Some

examples include: Using

the chemical in a fume

cupboard to extract fumes

and dusts, using another

ventilation source to dilute

fumes. See section 6 of the

CRA form for other

examples.

What Administrative work

can you do to better

prepare for your

task/process? Include good

lab practices here, such as:

removing clutter from your

work area, cleaning

surfaces before and after

working with chemicals,

washing hands after work

(even when wearinggloves).

See section 6 of the CRA

form for other examples.

If you have selected

Elimination or Substitution

then no further work is

required. Selecting eitherof these options means

that you will not be using

the chemical as you have

selected an alternative

process or chemical,

therefore no CRA is

required for your original

chemical.


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Attention:

Please first complete Sections 6 and 7 of the CRA, this section should be completed last.

What would be the Consequencesif you were to be exposed to the chemical during your

work? Choose a consequence level from the left side of the table and write your answer in the

box below. When you choose the correct key-word consider the controls that you have

mentioned above (PPE, Administration, Engineering etc.) as these measures should make your

work safer.

What is the Likelihood of being exposed to this chemical during your work? Choose a

consequence level from the top of the table and write your answer in the box below. When

you choose the correct key-word consider the controls that you have mentioned above (PPE,

Administration, Engineering etc.) as these measures should make your work safer.

What is the Risk Ratingthat results from your planned work with thechemical? Using the table

to the right, find the intersection of your Consequence and Likelihoodlevels, this key-word is

your Risk Rating. For example, if I choose Minor and Unlikely, then my Risk Rating is Low.

Write the Risk Ratin in the box below.

Please note:You will not be permitted to begin work if you risk rating is higher

than Mediumas several safety meetings would need to be arranged. This is

described in the table to the left which is found on the same page as Section 6

on the CRA form.

The CRA Form, Section 5: How Dangerous Will My Work Be?


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Contact Details for Submission of CRA Forms:

When you have completed the CRA form please email it to the technical officer that is responsible for the area you are working in (see below). The

technical staff will reply and provide feedback if your form requires revision or will otherwise inform you that the form has been accepted.

Building 205 Laboratories:

Ann Carroll

Technical Officer

[email protected]

Tomoko Radomirovic

Technical Officer

[email protected]

Becher Building and Building 500 Laboratories:

Jason Wright

Technical Officer

[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

3. Guideline to Complete Chemical Risk Assessment

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