A risky business

In our modern, safety-conscious, risk-averse and litigious society, professional chemists are fully indoctrinated in safety matters. COSHH forms are an integral part of our day-to-day laboratory procedures, we habitually seek safe practices in experimentation and we are very aware of the dangers lurking within often innocuous-seeming bottles and cylinders.

Sometimes, however, we fail to apply the same zeal when we step outside the discipline of our laboratories into more public arenas such as meetings, demonstration lectures, school competitions, conferences and the like. 

If we injure ourselves or others at work by, for example, careless technique or unsafe practices or even by simply tripping over an inappropriately located cable, then the outcome can be serious enough. But if a third party is injured at an RSC event the consequences can be more far-reaching.

To assist those who actively organise and participate in RSC events, three documents have been prepared to try to help keep participants safe and to protect those who contribute to or run events. 

These documents are: 

• Procedure for Risk Management of Events
• Transporting Chemicals for Lecture Demonstrations & Similar Purposes 
• Accident/Incident Procedure
    

Risk management

Risk assessment has to be an integral part of the planning process for any RSC meeting. It is:

• Not optional - we have a legal obligation to carry it out.
• Not rocket science - a PhD is not obligatory!
• Not onerous - the forms designed by the RSC are straightforward and easily understandable.
• Not exclusive - if you have your own documentation that fulfils the same purpose as the RSC forms, then use that.
• Not expensive - but the cost of not doing it could well be! 

The information in a Procedure for Risk Management of Events organised by RSC Groups, Local Sections and Subject Groups recognises that some events are inherently more hazardous than others. It identifies three broad types of events, classified as red, blue and green, with discernibly different levels of risk.

It provides good practice guidelines, guidance on pre-event planning and event checklists as well as forms appropriate to each type of event. These documents are available both as hard copy and online (See details at end of article).

Related documentation specifically on procedures for risk management of RSC conferences and related events will also be available on-line soon.

Transporting chemicals for lecture demonstrations & similar purposes

It is often necessary to transport chemicals for lecture demonstrations, competitions and other hands-on activities. Those involved have a variety of backgrounds in schools, industry, further or higher education, or are 'retired'.

Although there are no transport restrictions on some chemicals, especially if carried in small quantities, many are classified as 'Dangerous Goods' and are subject to both complex EU and UK regulation.

Wanting to encourage lecture demonstrations and the like, the RSC has joined with CLEAPSS and SSERC (Scottish Schools Science Equipment Research Centre) to produce a valuable, brief guide specifically orientated towards the transportation of chemicals for these purposes.

The guide contains a set of 'simple rules' which, if followed, should cover most of the likely situations. In summary these are as follows:

• The demonstrator should try to avoid transporting chemicals. Where practicable, ask the host venue to provide them or have them delivered direct by a supplier
• The driver should have an inventory of the chemicals carried
• Chemicals being transported should be kept out of sight
• Vehicles should be kept locked at all times when parked
• If at all possible, chemicals should not be left in vehicles over night
• Transport the smallest amounts of chemicals possible
• Where possible, use the original containers, outer packaging, labels and hazard warnings supplied
• Caps and stoppers on bottles should be securely fastened and, if necessary, appropriately sealed
• Bottles should be supported with suitable packing material in a robust outer container with a fastened lid and a label indicating the contents and the hazard it presents
• Pack and support containers so that none can slide about or tip over
• Chemicals should be separated by hazard type. Incompatible chemicals (e.g. acids and bases) and inflammables should be in separate containers
• The demonstrator should be personally responsible for loading and unloading the chemicals
• For the more hazardous loads, consider carrying a spills kit and know how to use it 

The guide also includes useful information on issues such as the status of the demonstrator, motor insurance, exemptions that apply, the use of specialist carriers, spills kits and specialist cases (regulations pertaining to fireworks, gas cylinders, liquid nitrogen and radioactive materials).

There are useful appendices on, for example, transportation information for a range of chemicals that are commonly used by people carrying out demonstration lectures or schools practical chemistry competitions.

Accident/incident procedures

Should an accident or incident occur at an RSC event and particularly if someone has or could have suffered injury or ill health, it is essential that the RSC is informed so that efforts can be made to prevent a similar accident happening and, if necessary, to enable the RSC to report to the relevant enforcing authority (usually the Health and Safety Executive) and to the RSC's insurers.