Safety and risk evaluation of chemical handling using HIRARC model

Abstract

Chemical usage is a requirement for the education and research purpose at the laboratories of School of Environmental Engineering, especially to Environmental Engineering students and employees. The purpose of this assessment is to identify and evaluate the hazard identified from chemical handling at the laboratory. Besides, also to determine the control measures based on the data collected in order to derive a comprehensive HIRARC model for the safety and risk evaluation for chemical handling in School of Environmental Engineering laboratory. The primary tools of the model consist of workplace inspection schemes which include task observation and interview and Chemical Hazard Review (CHR) that emphases on the hazard identified from the chemicals used in the laboratory process, and the possible hazardous environment of the settings required to execute the synthesis. A total twenty main hazards were identified from the hazard identification method. The results were classified into three levels; High, Medium, Low. 55% of the hazards were medium risk, followed by 30% for low risk and15% at high risk. Based on the risk assessment, Chemical Management Plan (CMP) is proposed to enhance safety knowledge to related individuals regarding the hazardous material exposure and dangerous work practice. Components such as chemical storage, handling, inventory, transportation, and disposal of chemical waste were included in the plan.