Hazards and Risk

What is a hazard?

Anything that has the potential to cause harm or damage

What is the risk associated with a hazard?

The probability of someone (or something) being harmed if they’re exposed to the hazard

Oxidising

Provides oxygen which allows other materials to burn more fiercely e.g. liquid oxygen

Environmental Hazard

Harmful to organisms and to the environment e.g. mercury

Toxic

Can cause death by e.g. being swallowed, breathed in, absorbed through the skin e.g. hydrogen cyanide

Harmful

Can cause irritation, reddening or blistering of the skin e.g. bleach

Highly Flammable

Catches fire easily e.g. petrol

Corrosive

Destroys materials, including living tissues (e.g. eyes and skin) e.g. concentrated sulfuric acid

What are the risks associated with experiments?

• Risks associated with the equipment you’re using

• Risks associated with chemicals

What are the hazards needed to be identified when planning an experiment?

• Working out how likely it is that something could go wrong

• How serious it would be if it did

What is a risk assessment?

Ways to reduce risks in an experiment

What are the two parts of a risk assessment?

Identifying all of the hazards and finding ways to reduce the risks as well as thinking about how the chemicals used may be hazardous