Overview
This lecture explains risk assessment in laboratory settings, focusing on understanding hazards, evaluating and minimizing risk, and practicing safe lab techniques using the RAMP protocol.
Laboratory Hazards and Risks
- Chemicals can be corrosive, toxic, reactive, or flammable, and lab equipment may present hazards, especially at high temperatures or pressures.
- Hazards are intrinsic properties of chemicals; risk arises from both the severity of the hazard and the likelihood of exposure.
- The risk equation: Risk = Severity of hazard × Likelihood of occurrence.
- Risk matrices use axes of severity and likelihood to classify risk as low, medium, or high.
The RAMP Protocol
- RAMP stands for: Recognize hazards, Assess risks, Minimize risks, and Prepare for emergencies.
- Recognizing hazards is the first RAMP step and should be completed before risk assessment.
- Minimizing risk can involve redesigning experiments, using appropriate equipment, and wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
Examples of Risk Assessment
- Pouring strong acid into a burette is medium to high risk; risk is reduced by using funnels, lowering the burette, and wearing eye protection and gloves.
- Diluting concentrated sulfuric acid is high risk due to corrosivity and exothermic reaction; add acid to water slowly while stirring, and wear acid-resistant gloves and eye protection.
Challenges in Risk Assessment
- Assessing severity and likelihood can be subjective and depends on the skill and experience of the chemist.
- Quantitative hazard measurements (e.g., LD50, permissible exposure limit, flash point) require understanding to properly assess risk.
- Acceptable risk levels vary between individuals; generally, risks should be kept low.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Hazard — A source of potential harm, intrinsic to the chemical or process.
- Risk — The combination of severity of hazard and likelihood of occurrence.
- Risk Matrix — A tool to classify risk based on severity and likelihood.
- RAMP — An acronym for Recognize hazards, Assess risks, Minimize risks, Prepare for emergencies.
- LD50 — The dose of a chemical that kills 50% of test subjects.
- Permissible Exposure Limit — The maximum amount of a chemical a worker can be exposed to by law.
- Flash Point — The lowest temperature at which a substance can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review other videos in the RAMP series for more details on minimizing lab risks.
- Learn the definitions and implications of hazard measurements like LD50, permissible exposure limit, and flash point.