Chemical Management

3. Assessing the risk

The principal or their delegate must:

• complete a risk assessment for any dangerous good or hazardous substance that is found to have a rating of high (3) or above in Chemwatch GoldFFX (staff login required) or
• complete a risk assessment using the Risk assessment template (DOCX) for dangerous goods and hazardous substances that are likely to be rated as high or extreme.

The principal or their delegate must understand and assess the level of risk posed by all dangerous goods and hazardous substances at the school. The principal or delegate must make the chemical register readily available to school staff who may be exposed to a hazardous substance in workplace.

Risks associated with chemical use include but are not limited to:

• injury to eyes or skin from contact with chemicals
• exposure to hazardous fumes, which can lead to loss of consciousness or chronic illness
• damage to flooring, furniture, or school buildings from chemical spills
• fire caused by chemicals interacting and combusting
• damage to the environment, especially waterways, from incorrect chemical disposal.

The Chemwatch GoldFFX (staff login required) chemical management system has many functions built into the platform to help schools assess the risks.

Once a product or chemical is added to the Chemwatch chemical register, there are columns that will identify if it is a dangerous good or hazardous substance. All dangerous goods and hazardous substances in a school’s chemical register (called ‘manifest’ by Chemwatch) are automatically assigned a hazard rating. The system uses a colour code and numbering system from 0, being no risk, to 4+, being extreme.

If a dangerous good or hazardous substance listed is found to have a rating of high (3) or above, a risk assessment must be completed. This can be done within the platform or by completing the department’s Risk assessment template (DOCX) or equivalent and uploading it to eduSafe Plus.

Specific settings, such as specialist schools, chemistry labs, and facilities maintenance sheds, will require close attention due to the higher level of risk.

If a dangerous good or hazardous substance listed is found to have a rating of high (3) or above, a safe work procedure must also be completed (refer to Chapter 4 – Controlling the risk).

Risk assessments for science experiments

Science rooms and school laboratories contain a range of risks in addition to the use of chemicals. All hazards must be identified and the risks of those hazards controlled. It is good practice to document and formalise risk assessments for experiments and demonstrations.

Documenting risk assessments clarifies the task, helps uncover hidden or unexpected hazards and ensures the right controls are in place. Documenting a risk assessment also makes it easier to collaborate and seek feedback on experiments and demonstration. Risk assessments can be documented using Chemwatch GoldFFX (staff login required), the available department risk assessment templates or equivalent.

This can help teachers and lab technicians identify risks for assessment, including:

• individual chemicals and their mixtures
• hazardous products that might be produced, including fumes and vapours
• equipment being used, such as glassware or sharps
• the use of naked flame or other heat sources
• electrical hazards
• lifting and manual handling tasks
• the skill and experience of the cohort.

Laboratory technicians preparing chemicals for experiments must ensure all hazards are identified and risks controlled. For risks that are complex or that are likely to be rated as high or extreme, school staff are encouraged to document their assessment process using the available risk assessment templates. If a risk assessment identifies a demonstration or experiment as high or above, then a safe work procedure (SWP) must be completed using the department’s safe work procedure templates or equivalent.

Science teachers conducting classroom experiments and demonstrations must ensure all hazards are identified and the risks controlled. For risks that are complex or that are likely to be rated as high or extreme, school staff are encouraged to document their assessment process using the department’s risk assessment templates available in the Resources Tab. When undertaking risk assessments consider the students’ level of experience, their skills and behaviours. If a risk assessment identifies a demonstration or experiment as high or above, then a SWP must be completed using the available templates or equivalent.