Evaluate
Evaluating risks is a key step in working with hazardous materials, instrumentation, and equipment. A risk assessment will in part examine the probability that an adverse event will occur and the consequence of that event when working with hazardous materials. Ultimately, this can help to determine the proper controls that will be needed to avoid the adverse event. A risk assessment can reduce the likelihood that faculty, staff, or students may be unnecessarily exposed to a laboratory hazard.
Risk Assessment
Review the American Chemical Society's (ACS) recommendations about ways to conduct a risk assessment.. Supervisors are responsible for properly assessing the hazards in their individual lab areas. EHS is available to assist with conducting risk assessments.
An exposure assessment is one part of a risk assessment; it examines the exposure limits of hazardous chemicals in order to help determine appropriate controls. There are a variety of exposure limits that different regulatory agencies use that may be useful. Every worker should be exposed to levels below these limits when working with chemicals.
- PEL, Permissible Exposure Limit - OSHA
- TLV, Threshold Limit Value - ACGIH
- REL, Recommended Exposure Limit - NIOSH
Exposure assessments can be performed in two ways: monitoring and professional opinion.
A proper risk assessment includes the following:
- Perform a comprehensive review of a specific hazard (including an exposure assessment), e.g. chemical or biological material to be used or hazardous activity or procedure to be performed,
- Document the review (see below),
- Submit specific protocols to appropriate UVM review boards as needed (IBC, IRB, IACUC, etc.), and
- Re-evaluate lab tasks when changes are made to current procedures.
Contact EHS if you would like us to help conduct a comprehensive review of your lab materials or activities. Always be sure to have proper controls in place before performing a lab experiment or procedure.
Documentation
Risk assessments should be documented. Two ways to document a risk assessment options include the following:
CUPFs should be used to assess a specific chemical or groups of chemicals that have the same exact hazards and will be used in the same way. This means they will be used with the same engineering and administrative controls and the same PPE. SOPs are a more specific way to document safe use of a chemical, a piece of lab equipment or how to conduct a specific activity; they include a step-by-step procedural in detail.
Control
After lab hazards have been identified and evalutated, they must be controlled to avoid exposure.
OSHA recommends following the hierarchy of controls to implement feasible and effective controls for any hazard. Control methods at the top of the hierarchy are generallt more effective and protective than those at the bottom. This is why it is important to always follow the order when considering how to control any and all laboratory hazards. Following the hierarchy of controls can lead to an inherently safer system, where the risk of illness or injury can be substantially reduced. The sections below describe the individual portions of the hierarchy in order: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment.
Elimination
First always consider if you can eliminate the hazard. Eliminating the hazard means not using, or physically removing the hazard from the procedure or the work area. Eliminating the hazard is the most effective method of minimizing an exposure to any hazard. However, elimination is not often a viable option.
Examples:
- Dispose of an old hazardous chemical
- Remove an extension cord from laying across a traveled path
- Lock and Tag a dangerous machine out of service
Substitution
Substitution is where a hazard is replaced with an action or material that is less hazardous. Examples of Substitution include the folowing:
- Replace ethidium bromide (a mutagen) with GelRed, SafeRed, or SYBR Safe*.
- Replacing a solvent-based paint with a water-based alternative.
- Vacuuming vs sweeping up a dust hazard.
*Eethidium bromide replacements must still be collected as hazardous waste per UVM waste management program. Label and collect gels as lab waste.
NOTE: Be wary of marketing terms such as "natural", "green", etc. on products. Carefully review Safety Data Sheets for any replacement product. Contact EHS to review SDSs to ensure the substituted product is actually a safer choice.
Engineering Controls
Engineering controls are used to remove a hazard or place a barrier between the user and the hazard. Engineering controls may be ducted and exhausted out of the building or may use a filter to capture aerosols, particles, etc. Well-designed engineering controls can provide highly effective protection to the user.
Examples of primary engineering controls used in laboratories include the following:
- Chemical fume hood
- Biological safety cabinet
- Local exhaust/task ventilation (such as a snorkle trunk)
- Glove box
- Downdraft table
The initial cost of an engineering control can often be higher than the cost of administrative controls or personal protective equipment. However, over the long term, operating costs are frequently lower. Engineering controls often require some form of maintenance such as calibration of monitors and alarms, filter replacement, and/or specific airflow certifications upon installation or annually.
Visit the general laboratory ventilation webpage, or task-oriented ventilation webpage, for more information. Your building may already have specific features designed to control hazards, find these at the Building-specific Safety Features webpage.
If you need/want to add an engineering control that affects part of any UVM building system (HVAC, electrical, plumbing), the control must be installed by UVM Facilities, Design, and Construction (FD&C) services group or UVM's Physical Plant Department (PPD).
Work Practices
Work practices, or "administrative controls," include altering the way in which a procedure is done, monitored, and/or restricted.
Examples:
- Using proper labeling and signage to communicate the hazard to others
- Conducting monthly lab self-inspections to regularly eliminate any noticeable hazards
- Instituting a "buddy system" when hazardous work is being performed
- Having an emergency plan: considering the "What if...." then train lab users before an emergency happens
- Relocating a piece of equipment so the flow of work can be done safely and more efficiently
- Restricting the length of time that a person is exposed to noise, a particular substance, or a specific activity
- Enforcing rules about daily housekeeping
- Performing regular equipment maintenance
- Following the Working Alone Procedures (PDF)
- Following Unattended Operations Procedures (PDF)
- Creating a written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
For more information on writing an SOP for your lab and to view some guidelines for specific chemical hazards, visit the Specific Hazard webpage.
As you can see, administrative controls are a crucial part of controlling any hazard.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is often referred to as the last line of defense. As a control method, PPE has proven to be less effective than other control measures, which is why it is generally used with some form of engineering and/or administrative control.
Proper PPE must be made available for an emergency response or cleanup procedure as well. Proper PPE increases the level of safety protection from a chemical, biological, or physical hazard during an unexpected event.
More information about personal protective equipment is available.