Assess

Once you have recognized the risks associated with particular actions in the

laboratory, the next step is to assess how working with different materials can be

potentially hazardous. GHS symbols and NFPA diamonds are a first step in

assessing risks for chemicals, but they usually do not provide enough information

to fully assess the risk. Remember: NFPA diamonds and GHS symbols are

present to help recognize a potentially risky situation.

Assessing a risk requires us to gather more information. Gathering and

interpreting quality information are universally beneficial skills and are often

called Information Literacy.

In the chemistry lab there are certain well-established tools to aid in assessing

risk. Among the primary tools used are Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or Material

Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) that outline the risks and cautions associated with a

given materials. Companies that sell chemical reagents are required to provide

this information for their products. Places that use hazardous materials are also

required to make Safety Data Sheets available to those who encounter those

materials.

A Chemical Hazard Risk Evaluation Matrix can be helpful in thinking through the

various risks of carrying out a laboratory experiment. Take a look at this

Chemical Hazard Risk Evaluation Matrix from SUNY-Stony Brook

Minimize

Once we have established the risks associated with performing an action in the

laboratory, the next step is to reduce those risks as much as reasonably possible.

We won’t ever be able to fully eliminate risks, but we can take measures to

decrease the likelihood of serious injuries and accidents. The common steps to

minimize risks are as follows:

Replace hazardous substances for less hazardous substances.

In the 20^th century benzene was commonly used in organic chemistry synthesis

but we eventually learned that benzene was quite toxic and carcinogenic. This

knowledge led to benzene being replaced with other, less harmful substances.

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