Chemical Risk Assessment

Chemical Management Key Topics: Risk Assessment

On this page:

Chemical Risk Assessment: Why, Who, What and When?
Types of chemical risk assessment
- Individual vs Generic
- Chemical Risk Assessment vs Process Chemical Risk Assessment
Chemical Risk Assessment templates
More information

Chemical Risk Assessment: Why, Who, What and When?

Why do a Risk Assessment?

A Chemical Risk Assessment is required as a record of the identification of hazards and risks associated with chemicals, and of the risk controls that have been implemented to mitigate these factors.

A Chemical Risk Assessment must be kept where all staff and students performing work associated with the chemical can access it. Chemical users need to consult the Risk Assessment to safely manage the chemical, and to know how to respond in the event of an adverse incident.

The EHS Procedure Chemical Risk Management (UOM 320) requires the Manager/Supervisor to ensure that all chemicals located in their area of responsibility have chemical risk assessments completed prior to use. Detailed guidance is at section 1.10 Chemical Risk Assessment in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf].

Who does the Risk Assessment?

Chemical Risk Assessments must be completed by staff or students who are competent in the risk assessment process, and familiar with the chemical in question and the interaction of that chemical with the activity.

Training may be required - refer to section 1.16 Training in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf].

What needs to be done?

Pre-purchase Risk Assessment

Before purchasing a chemical for the first time, a preliminary risk assessment must be performed using the EHS Pre-purchase Risk Assessment Checklist [.pdf].

Chemical Risk Assessment (post-purchase)

Before using a chemical for the first time, a detailed Chemical Risk Assessment is required.

The risk assessment that is required may be Individual or Generic, or may be a Chemical Risk Assessment vs a Process Chemical Risk Assessment. Refer to Types of chemical risk assesssment to determine this.

For chemicals that have been used before and processes that have been completed before, your area should have a suitable existing risk assessment available. Consult your laboratory manager, EHS Coordinator or supervisor to confirm. If a suitable risk assessment is available, and has been reviewed on the required occasions (refer to When below), you do not need to complete another.

If you need to complete a new risk assessment, use the Chemical Risk Assessment Worksheet . Detailed guidance is available at section 1.10 Chemical Risk Assessment in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf].

When should the Risk Assessment be done?

Before first purchase

A preliminary risk assessment must be performed using the EHS Pre-purchase Risk Assessment Checklist [.pdf] before purchasing a chemical for the first time.

Before first use

A detailed Risk Assessment must be completed before using a chemical for the first time.

Subsequent review

An existing Risk Assessment should be reviewed at regularly scheduled intervals. Frequency should be determined based on the level of risk, and must not exceed 5 years.

Review is also required when changes to the environment or systems of work occur that affect the effectiveness of previous controls - for examples, see section 1.10.7 Review the Risk Assessment in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf]

Types of chemical risk assessment

Individual vs Generic

Individual

Individual chemical risk assessments are required when chemicals:

have unique risks
have unique controls
are used in a manner other than the intended purpose of the manufacturer or supplier
are assessed as high risk because there could be severe physical or environmental outcomes from an adverse incident.

When creating a new individual chemical risk assessment, use the Chemical Risk Assessment Worksheet .

Individual CRA for Lab/Workshop

Example individual chemical risk assessments for Lab/Workshop are available.

Generic

When a group of chemicals has the same associated risks and controls, and does not meet the criteria for an individual risk assessment, the group may be accounted for collectively using a generic risk assessment.

In deciding whether to use a generic risk assessment, it is important to confirm that the general risk assessment genuinely accounts for all situations and conditions in which each chemical will be used or stored in practice.

The following example generic risk assessments are available. If adopting these in your workplace, ensure you adapt them to reflect local conditions and work practices.

Chemical Risk Assessment vs Process Chemical Risk Assessment

Chemical risk assessment, here, means the risk assessment of a single chemical considered individually. This is most suitable when neither the processes the chemical will undergo, nor interaction with other chemicals, will cause any significant change to risks or required controls.

Create a chemical risk assessment using the the Chemical Risk Assessment template.

Process Chemical Risk Assessment

A process chemical risk assessment is a risk assessment of a chemical process in which multiple activities and/or multiple chemicals may interact. In these cases, it may not be valid or reasonably practicable to complete a separate risk assessment for each chemical involved. Instead, complete a risk assessment setting out the process steps of the activity.

An example of a process chemical risk assessment is available in the Laboratory Notebook sample [.doc]
See also: Chemical Risk Assessment template.