Chemical Risk Assessment

Worksheet
INTRODUCTION
The questions in this Worksheet are designed to prompt you to think about the risks you face when
using chemicals and whether you believe the current controls will adequately protect you. You
should not proceed with the use of a product if you believe it is unsafe.
There are two elements to the Risk Assessment: You will need a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the
product (obtained from ChemAlert or from the supplier); and you will need to consider
circumstances of use in your area. Complete the Risk Assessment in consultation with your
supervisor. If you are unfamiliar with how to read an SDS refer to the guidance here. If your
chemical is a nanomaterial refer instead to the Nanoparticle Risk Assessment Form.
SECTION 1: SUMMARY
Chemical / Product Name Storage Location
Building: Room:
Manufacturer / Supplier Lab for Intended Use
Building: Room:
Safety Data Sheet Hazardous and Dangerous Goods
Is a current SDS Available? (You must obtain it) Is the chemical classified as Hazardous?
Yes No Refer SDS section 2

Is the SDS loaded onto ChemAlert? Yes No

Yes No
Is the chemical classified as a Dangerous
Assessment Date: Goods? Refer SDS section 14
Yes No (if applicable)
Class: Subsidiary Risk:
Assessor Supervisor

SECTION 2: USE
Task Description:
(Including any storage or disposal requirements)
Concentration: Quantity: Duration Frequency
(%) (including units) of Use: of Use:

NOTE: Substances that are not classified as a Hazardous Chemical or Dangerous Good require
no further assessment (i.e. you do not need to compete the remaining sections).

SECTION 3: HOW CAN EXPOSURE OCCUR?

Dermal (Skin): Eyes: Inhalation: Ingestion: Injection:
Solid Dust Vapour Dust Pressure
Aerosol Aerosol Aerosols Aerosols Sharp objects
Liquid Liquid Gas Liquid Open wounds
Dust Hygiene
Who is potentially exposed? :
(e.g. Students, Lab Staff, Researchers, Others)

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 SECTION 4: POTENTIAL HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS Refer SDS sections 2 & 11
Acute (Immediate) Effects Chronic (Delayed) Effects
Eye and skin Irritant / Corrosion Mutagenic
Aspiration Carcinogenic
Sensitising Agent (Skin/Inhalation) Central Nervous System
Asphyxiant (Inhalation) Liver/Kidney Disease
Respiratory Tract Irritant Brain/Nerve Disease
Toxic by Skin Exposure Respiratory Disease
Toxic by Ingestion Reproductive System Disease
Other (Specify): Other (Specify):
Health Surveillance is required for handling this chemical
PHYSICAL HAZARDS Refer SDS sections 2, 7, & 14
Explosive Gases:
Aerosol Flammable Gas
Flammable: Chemically Unstable Gas
Flammable Solid Corrosive Gas
Flammable Liquid Oxidising Gas
Gas under pressure
Self-Reacting Substance Self-Heating substance
Emits flammable gas on contact with water Desensitised explosive
Pyrophoric Oxidising Substance
Organic Peroxide Radioactive
Corrosive Other (Specify):
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS Refer SDS sections 2 & 12
Hazardous to aquatic environments Hazardous to the ozone layer

SECTION 5: RISK RANKING WITH EXISTING CONTROLS IN PLACE

Assess the risk of your planned chemical activity by referring to the RISK MATRIX in the appendix.
What could be the consequences?
What is the likelihood of that happening?
What is the risk rating?
Note: If the rating is above LOW, Risk
Management action is required as
directed by the risk matrix (refer to the
Appendix).

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 SECTION 6: REQUIRED CONTROL MEASURES TO REDUCE RISK
Control Example Intention to
apply
1. Elimination Eliminate materials or elements of the process that carry
significant risk.
2. Substitution Substitute a safer chemical or safer process.
3. Isolation Barriers, enclosures, remote operation.
4. Engineering Local exhaust ventilation, dilution ventilation.
5. Administrativ Supervision, use of safe work procedures,
e housekeeping, organisation of work to limit contact,
standards, training, signage.
6. PPE Face shields, safety glasses, goggles, gloves, aprons.

SECTION 7: SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO REDUCE RISK

List specific actions that will be carried out for each of the controls you nominated in Section 6.
Control Action
1. Elimination
2. Substitution
3. Isolation
4. Engineering
5. Administrative
6. PPE
Note: If after the implementation of all of the controls above, the risks of using the assessed
chemical remain MODERATE or higher (based on the Risk Matrix in Section 5); expert
advice must be obtained so as to reduce risk before proceeding.

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (1996) require that Risk Assessments are retained.
Risk Assessments must be revised if procedures change and are to be reviewed every 5 years. Save a
copy of this Risk Assessment, to be retained in your area.

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 APPENDIX: HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK MATRIX
Determine the Risk Rating (Level of Risk)
For each Consequence Category selected, determine the Risk Rating (Level of Risk) from the relevant Consequence and Likelihood Levels.
Risk Rating (Level of Risk) = Consequence x Likelihood.
Select the Likelihood. Select the appropriate Likelihood or Frequency rating of the Risk Event occurring for the selected Consequence level, given the controls are in place. Select the
Consequence. For the given Risk Event select the relevant Consequence categories and apply a rating. The ratings are determined with the existing controls in place. Where there are multiple
ratings for a risk, the highest combination of Consequence/Likelihood is taken as the final risk rating (do not average out the ratings).
Note: There are 3 types of risk ratings:
Inherent - no controls in place or total control failure; Current - with existing controls in place; Residual - with proposed treatment action plans (TAPs) in place. Curtin requires the Current risk
rating (as a minimum).
LIKELIHOOD DESCRIPTION
The event may Not expected but the The event could The event will The event is expected
LIKELIHOOD occur only in event may occur at occur at some time. probably occur in most to occur or has
exceptional some time. circumstances. occurred and is
circumstances. continuing to impact.
Less than once in 10 At least once between At least once between Once per year. More than once per
FREQUENCY years. 5 and 10 years. 1 and 5 years. year.

PROBABILITY <10% 10% - <35% 35% - <65% 65% - <90% >90%

IMPACTS Likelihood Level

Environment Rare Unlikely Possible Likely Almost Certain

Health and Safety

Permanent environmental damage to an extensive area Fatality

outside of campus; Sole contributor responsible for
direct GHG emissions AND majority of current practice Permanent Total Disability Critical Extreme
does not meet good practice standards.

Long term environmental damage extending to a large Significant/extensive injury or

area requiring high level of intervention; Significant illness.
Consequence Level

contributor responsible for direct GHG emissions AND

Major High
majority of current practice does not meet good Permanent Partial Disability
practice standards.

Short term environmental damage requiring some Serious injury or illness. Lost
intervention; Partial contributor responsible for
direct GHG emissions AND majority of current time injury >10 days Medium
Moderate
practice does not meet good practice standards.

Short term environmental damage affecting a Injury or illness requiring

small area, easily remediated; Partial contributor medical treatment
responsible for indirect GHG emissions AND Minor Low
majority of current practice does not meet good Lost time injury <10 days
practice standards.

Minimal environmental damage affecting a very Injury or illness requiring First

small area, immediately remediated. Aid treatment
Insignificant
No lost time injury days

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 Risk Acceptance Criteria Table
Make an acceptance decision. Based on the current risk rating, use the Risk Acceptance Criteria Table to determine an appropriate decision and response.

Risk Criteria for Acceptance of Risk and Risk Review Criteria for Risk Criteria for Risk Reporting
Rating Ownership

Risk is Out of Appetite. Requires a control rating of Excellent. Control rating of Inadequate is Owned by the DVC / To be reported immediately to the relevant Executive
unacceptable. Executive Manager. and SET. If a broader organisational response is
Extreme required, risk is to be reported as part of strategic
Immediate management attention required to reduce exposure. risk themes that are submitted to the Planning &
Treatment Action Plans (TAPs) to be developed, implemented and monitored by a designated TAP Management Committee / Executive Committee and
owner(s) to reduce the risk to as low as reasonably practical. Council (or to the University Health & Safety
To be reviewed at least every 1 month. Committee for risks with a Health & Safety impact).

Risk may be Out of Appetite (for risks with an Objectives & Performance and/or Health & Safety Owned by the PVC, To be reported to the relevant Executive. If a
impact rating of ‘3. Moderate’ and above AND likelihood rating of ‘4. Likely’ and above) or Tolerable. Head of School or broader organisational response is required, risk is
High Requires a control rating of Excellent (or Adequate but with justification). Control rating of Inadequate Head of Area (i.e. to be reported as part of strategic risk themes that
is unacceptable. Director). are submitted to the Planning & Management
Committee / Executive Committee and Council (or to
Management attention required (immediately for risks with an Objectives & Performance and/or Health the University Health & Safety Committee for risks
& Safety impact rating of ‘3. Moderate’ and above AND likelihood rating of ‘4. Likely’ and above). with a Health & Safety impact).
Treatment Action Plans (TAPs), where necessary, to be developed, implemented and monitored by a
designated TAP owner(s) (subject to preliminary assessment and cost-benefit justification) to reduce
the risk to as low as reasonably practical.
To be reviewed at least every 3 months (or 1 month for risks with a Health & Safety impact).

Risk is Acceptable. Requires a control rating of Adequate. Control rating of Inadequate is Owned by the PVC, Reported to the DVC / Senior Executive (only for
unacceptable. Head of School, Head risks with an Inadequate controls rating), or to the
of Area (Director) or local area Health & Safety Committee for risks with a
Medium Monitor risk for any change in the operating environment. Treatment Action Plans (TAPs), where Head of Section Health & Safety impact.
necessary, to be developed, implemented and monitored by a designated TAP owner(s) (subject to (Manager/Supervisor).
preliminary assessment and cost-benefit justification).
To be reviewed every 12 months (or 3 months for risks with a Health & Safety impact).

Risk is Acceptable. Requires a control rating of Adequate. Control rating of Inadequate is Owned by the PVC, Reported to the DVC / Senior Executive (only for
unacceptable and will require a Treatment Action Plans (TAPs) to be developed, implemented and Head of School, Head risks with an Inadequate controls rating), or to the
monitored by a designated TAP owner(s) of Area (Director) or local area Health & Safety Committee for risks with a
Low Head of Section Health & Safety impact.
Monitor risk for any change in the operating environment. (Manager/Supervisor).
To be reviewed every 12 months (or 6 months for risks with a Health & Safety impact).

Note: The Risk Acceptance Criteria Table serves as a guide for risk acceptance and should be relevant in most situations. However, there may
be situations where an exception could apply (because of factors outside the control of the organisation or due to the nature of the business).
As with any decision, a justification for this exception needs to be demonstrated and documented.

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 Controls Rating Table

Select the Overall Controls Rating (for ALL controls as a whole)

Controls - A control is any measure or action currently in existence that modifies or manages the risk. Examples of controls could include a policy, procedure,
practice, process, technology, technique, method, or device. A control should be demonstrable, i.e. auditable.
Treatment Action Plans (TAPs) - TAPs are additional controls, where required. It could be an improvement of an existing control and/or a new initiative altogether.
TAPs become controls, or modify existing controls, once they have been implemented.

The adequacy of the controls is assessed on a common sense, qualitative basis. This can be viewed as a reasonableness test, i.e. are you doing what is reasonable
under the circumstances to prevent or minimise the impacts of the risk?

Level Descriptor Foreseeable Detail

More than what a reasonable person would be Controls fully in place and require only ongoing maintenance and monitoring. Protection
expected to do in the circumstances. systems are being continuously reviewed and procedures are regularly tested.
E Excellent

Only what a reasonable person would be Being addressed reasonably. Protection systems are in place and procedures exist for
A Adequate expected to do in the circumstances. common or typical circumstances. Periodic review.

Less than what a reasonable person would be Little to no action being taken. No protection systems exist or they have not been
I Inadequate expected to do in the circumstances. reviewed for some time. No formalised procedures.

Once the Overall Controls Rating (above) has been conducted on ALL controls as a whole, a Controls Assurance should be conducted on EACH control to
determine if the controls are in place and effective.

Controls Assurance Questions:

1. Is the control in use? If you answered ‘Yes’ to all 4 questions, the control is effective (the control text should be Green).
2. Is the control documented? If you answered ‘Yes’ to 2 or 3 questions, the control may require some improvements (the control text should be Blue).
3. Is the control up to date?
If you answered ‘Yes’ to 1 or less questions, the control may require significant improvements (the control text should be Red).
4. Is the control effective?

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