Chemical Safety
The incorrect or unsafe use of chemical agents can give rise to a risk of significant injury or bodily harm. Some chemicals have the ability to pose an immediate threat to life itself if used incorrectly; whilst others such as carcinogens can give rise to long term health effects. The University requires that all chemicals are used in a safe manner. To this end a number of guidance documents have been prepared (see below).
Chemical Agents Risk Assessments
The University has prepared a number of general risk assessments for chemical agents to aid workers is addressing the hazards posed by various classes of chemicals. The ultimate aim of a Chemical Agents Risk Assessment is to assess the risk from the use / presence of a chemical agent in the University to the health and safety of persons and to identify control measures designed to reduce the risk from those chemicals to as low a level as possible.
These documents must be reviewed by chemical users in order to ensure that they adequately manage the risks posed by the specific chemicals that they use and the processes that they undertake. In the event that a general chemical agent risk assessment is not sufficient to control the risk posed by a chemical then there are two options available to a chemical user. General chemical agents risk assessments can be modified to include additional risk control measures and more specific information on the chemical in question (not applicable to carcinogens and / or mutagens) or the chemical user can complete a new risk assessment using the Pro Forma Chemical Agents Risk Assessment Template. In order to complete a risk assessment the MSDS for every chemical under review along with the UCD Chemical Safety Manual must be available for consultation.
Use Of Carcinogens / Mutagens
The use of carcinogens and mutagens must be subjected to a specific risk assessment. The use of a carcinogen or mutagen must be fully justifiable over the use of a less hazardous chemical.
UCD Chemical Safety Manual
The University Safety Office has prepared a Chemical Safety Manualas a source of information and for persons working with chemical agents within the University.
Pro Forma Chemical Agents Risk Assessment Template
A Pro Forma Chemical Agents Risk Assessment Template is available to aid chemical users in completing risk assessments.
In addition the following specific chemical safety guides have been prepared:
UCD Guide To The Safe Use Of Liquid Nitrogen
UCD Guide To The Use Of Hydrofluoric Acid
You can download the University's Manual for Chemical Safety here.