The purpose of a risk assessment is to reflect on what can go wrong, what measures we should take to avoid accidents and what we can do to reduce the consequences if an accident does occur. The goal is not to achieve a risk-free learning environment, but to ensure that risks are managed in a good way.
After you complete this module
- you should know what risk assessment of practical laboratory elements involves
- you should be able to write a risk assessment of an activity that you or your students are going to perform
- You should be familiar with your school’s routines for risk assessment of practical laboratory work
Preparation (10 min)
Make a note of a few keywords or short sentences about:
- Why is risk assessment important?
- What dangers worry you most when you or your students are doing hands-on labs?
- What are you doing to reduce the risks associated with these hazards?
If you are working with others, form groups of three to four people and discuss what you have noted.
Test yourself (15 min)
Read about risk assessment on chesse.org. Complete the self-test tasks before moving on to the skills module. Note that the tasks can be viewed in full-screen mode.
Risk assessment of laboratory work (10 min)
All forms of practical laboratory work must be risk assessed, including student experiments, demonstrations and preparation of solutions in the preparation room. The risk assessment must be documented in writing, but there is no definitive answer to what a risk assessment should look like. You can use other people’s templates or you can create your own risk assessment document.
A risk assessment consists of three steps:
- Map the hazards associated with the chemicals, exposure conditions, equipment and work operations in the preparation for and implementation of the activity.
- Assess the risks associated with each part of the activity.
- Determine what measures need to be taken to ensure that the risk is at an acceptable level.
Whichever form you choose, your risk assessment should include:
- all the hazards that have been mapped
- the measures that should be taken to reduce the risk to an acceptable level
- what equipment should be available, or on standby, during the practical laboratory work
- measures to be taken in the event of an accident
- special precautions that need to be taken due to the group/class, group size, time, room to be used, or other factors
Ready-made risk assessments
For some practical work, you will find a risk assessment included in the instructions, for others you may receive it from a colleague. Ready-made risk assessments are a good starting point, but:
- Remember that risk assessment is something you do, not something you have.
- Consider whether the completed risk assessment is suitable for your use. Please note that safety considerations may change over time and vary with factors such as class size, classroom facilities, and age group.
- Make necessary changes. For example, there may be remarks or precautions that you need to implement in the given group/class, or the room to be used.
- If you believe that the risk assessment does not need any changes and that it is suitable for your use, use it as is, note the date and class that will do the activity and sign.
- Keep your risk assessment and notes as documentation.
Do the risk assessment of the acid-base titration below before proceeding in the competence module.
Make your own risk assessments (30 min)
Watch the video below, and then do Task 1 or Task 2. Do task 1 if you work alone.
Exercise 1
In this assignment, you can download and use the CheSSE template:
Download also the instructions for the experiment Production of hydrogen and make a risk assessment:
If there are several of you working together, go together in groups of two or three people and discuss the assessments you make.
If you work alone, do the risk assessment before comparing your risk assessment with the risk assessment below. Consider whether there is anything you would consider somewhat differently after comparing.
Exercise 2
In this assignment, you can download and use the CheSSE template:
Choose something to prepare, demonstrate, or an activity students will do. Risk assess the activity. Then go together in pairs or groups of three or four people and discuss what you have noted.
Routines for risk assessment (15 min)
Risk assessment of practical work in science and chemistry must be part of the HSE routines at school. If the school does not have routines for risk assessment, you can create your own routines or adapt these routines to your school:
Routines should both shape and describe practice at the school. If the routines do not describe how things are done, you must either change your practice or change the routines. Set aside enough time to familiarize yourself with existing routines or create a new routine for risk assessment before continuing with the next module.