Difference between hazard and risk:

• Hazard - anything that can cause harm [chemicals, ladders etc]

• Risk - how great the chance that someone will be harmed by the hazard

• Risk - a situation involving danger

• Risk assessment - an investigation of risks involved with a certain procedure, and an analysis of whether an alternative 'safer' method can be used

Safe working practices in the science laboratory

• In order to work safely in a laboratory there are a number of factors that need to be taken into account

• The activities and processes

• The hazards associated with the substances involved

• The risks involved

Risk assessment

• The aim of a risk assessment is to minimise the risks of a procedure to an acceptable level

• Risk can never be taken away completely but ricks can be minimised

• What factor do you think the college considers when carrying out risk assessments for your practical work?

Practical risk assessment

• Equipment

• Chemicals - how are they classified

• Your abilities and confidence with equipment

• Your maturity during practical's - you are allowed to do practical work that year 9 students would not be allowed to do

how can we minimise the risk?

• Use a safer alternative

• Use a lower concentration

• Computer stimulation rather than a experiment

• Watch a demonstration

• Use PPE (personal protective equipment)