Hazards and risks

• 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)

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