Risk assessment
Ethyl ethanoate
Hazards:
Inflammation of the eyes Vapours may make you feel queasy and sleepy liquids and vapours
that are extremely flammable and could catch fire or burn your skin
reducing the dangers risk
There should be clear fire exits and plans in place in case of a fire. There should also be first
responders available to treat any skin burns that may occur in order to prevent further harm
to the student. The chemical should be stored in a fume cupboard when in use to prevent
inhalation of the fumes.
Wear gloves, a lab coat that is completely buttoned, goggles, and closed-toed shoes to
prevent any of the chemical from touching your skin.
In case of an injury
If it gets in the eye Irrigate the eye with gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes and
Call 999/111.
If it gets in the mouth or swallowed Do no more than rinse and spit with drinking water. Do
not induce vomiting. Call 999/111.
If it's Spilt on the skin or clothing Remove contaminated clothing. Quickly use a dry cloth or
paper towel to wipe as much liquid off the skin as possible. Irrigate the affected area with
gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes. If a large area is affected or symptoms
occur, call 999/111.
If it's Spilt on the floor, bench, etc Wipe up small amounts with a damp cloth and rinse it
well. For larger amounts, and especially for (moderately) concentrated acid, cover with
mineral absorbent (e.g., cat litter) and scoop into a bucket. Neutralise with sodium
carbonate. Rinse with plenty of water
Conclusion
If these measures are being followed to a high standard, then the risk of damage or harm is
significantly going to be reduced and there will be a much less chance of anyone being
injured.
Sulphuric acid 1
Hazards
It is very corrosive and could cause severe eye burns if acid contacts your skin or eyes.
It reacts with water aggressively and can create lots of heat which can cause skin burns
Reducing the risk of hazards
1
sss022-sulfuric-vi-acid.pdf (cleapss.org.uk)
1
BTEC Assignment Brief v3.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM December 2017
, Always keep the chemical in a fume cupboard and only use the chemical inside a fume
cupboard.
Make sure you wear gloves, a fully done up lab coat, goggles and closed toe shoes to
prevent any qasida from coming into contact with the skin.
If your gloves happen to come into contact with the acid, make sure you remove them
straight away and replace them so the acid cannot corrode away the gloves and cause
damage to your skin.
Keep all water away from the chemicals and make sure they never get mixed because
violent reactions can occur, and burns can happen due to excessive heat on the skin.
Keep all chemicals away from the edges of the fume cupboard to prevent spills, if a spill does
occur then immediately clean it up and let the lecturer know.
Have first aiders on hand to treat any chemical burns or skin burns that occur to prevent
damage to the student or lecturer.
In case of an injury
If it gets in the eye Irrigate the eye with gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes and
Call 999/111.
If it gets in the mouth or swallowed Do no more than rinse and spit with drinking water. Do
not induce vomiting. Call 999/111.
If it's Spilt on the skin or clothing Remove contaminated clothing. Quickly use a dry cloth or
paper towel to wipe as much liquid off the skin as possible. Irrigate the affected area with
gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes. If a large area is affected or symptoms
occur, call 999/111.
If it's Spilt on the floor, bench, etc Wipe up small amounts with a damp cloth and rinse it
well. For larger amounts, and especially for (moderately) concentrated acid, cover with
mineral absorbent (e.g., cat litter) and scoop into a bucket. Neutralise with sodium
carbonate. Rinse with plenty of water
Conclusion
If these measures are being followed to a high standard, then the risk of damage or harm is
significantly going to be reduced and there will be a much less chance of anyone being
injured.
Ethanoic acid2
Hazards
Can cause severe skin burns and eye damage if it makes contact with either of these areas as
it is highly corrosive
Highly flammable in vapour and liquid form so could cause skin burns and start fires if you
aren't careful.
Reducing risk of hazards
2
https://science.cleapss.org.uk/resource/sss023-ethanoic-acetic-acid.pdf
2
BTEC Assignment Brief v3.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM December 2017
, You should wear a lab coat and goggles to reduce the risk of it getting in your Eyes, on your
skin or on your clothes to protect you from harm
You should always use the lowest concentration that you can help reduce the corrosiveness
and how flammable it is to reduce the risk of harming yourself or others in the case of a spill
or it is getting on your clothes.
You should also use the smallest volume possible to reduce the risk of harm once again in
the case of it spilling as there will be much less spilled than if you used a high volume so it
will be easier to clean up and it will be much less of a hazard.
You should always use a fume cupboard while using ethanoic acid because you should try to
avoid breathing the gasses or fumes in as they can be very dangerous.
You should also wear gloves in case you get it on your skin to avoid it causing skin burns, if
you do happen to get some on your gloves you should remove them immediately and it is a
very corrosive chemical and may corrode through the gloves and onto your skin if you don’t
change your gloves straight away.
You should always have a first aider on hand in the case of someone getting injured so the
correct procedures can be followed to help minimise the damage.
In case of an injury
If it gets in the eye, you should Irrigate the eye with gently running tap water for at least 20
minutes and Call 999/111.
If the Vapour is breathed in, you should Remove the student outside to get fresh air and Call
999/111 if breathing is difficult.
In the case of it getting in the mouth or swallowed Do no more than rinse and spit with
drinking water, make sure that you Do not induce vomiting and Call 999/111.
If it gets Split on the skin or clothing Remove contaminated clothing and quickly use a dry
cloth or paper towel to wipe as much liquid off the skin as possible, then you should Irrigate
the affected area with gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes. If a large area is
affected or symptoms occur, call 999/111.
If it gets Spilt on the floor, bench, etc Wipe up small amounts with a damp cloth and rinse it
well. For larger amounts, and especially for (moderately) concentrated acid, cover with
mineral absorbent (e.g., cat litter) and scoop into a bucket. Neutralise with sodium
carbonate. Rinse with plenty of water
Conclusion
As long as these measures are always being closely followed then the risk of someone being
harmed by the chemical should be reduced because these measures should help to reduce it
if they're being applied to the practical, so people won't get injured.
3
Ethanol
Hazards
3
sss060-ethanol.pdf (cleapss.org.uk)
3
BTEC Assignment Brief v3.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM December 2017
Ethyl ethanoate
Hazards:
Inflammation of the eyes Vapours may make you feel queasy and sleepy liquids and vapours
that are extremely flammable and could catch fire or burn your skin
reducing the dangers risk
There should be clear fire exits and plans in place in case of a fire. There should also be first
responders available to treat any skin burns that may occur in order to prevent further harm
to the student. The chemical should be stored in a fume cupboard when in use to prevent
inhalation of the fumes.
Wear gloves, a lab coat that is completely buttoned, goggles, and closed-toed shoes to
prevent any of the chemical from touching your skin.
In case of an injury
If it gets in the eye Irrigate the eye with gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes and
Call 999/111.
If it gets in the mouth or swallowed Do no more than rinse and spit with drinking water. Do
not induce vomiting. Call 999/111.
If it's Spilt on the skin or clothing Remove contaminated clothing. Quickly use a dry cloth or
paper towel to wipe as much liquid off the skin as possible. Irrigate the affected area with
gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes. If a large area is affected or symptoms
occur, call 999/111.
If it's Spilt on the floor, bench, etc Wipe up small amounts with a damp cloth and rinse it
well. For larger amounts, and especially for (moderately) concentrated acid, cover with
mineral absorbent (e.g., cat litter) and scoop into a bucket. Neutralise with sodium
carbonate. Rinse with plenty of water
Conclusion
If these measures are being followed to a high standard, then the risk of damage or harm is
significantly going to be reduced and there will be a much less chance of anyone being
injured.
Sulphuric acid 1
Hazards
It is very corrosive and could cause severe eye burns if acid contacts your skin or eyes.
It reacts with water aggressively and can create lots of heat which can cause skin burns
Reducing the risk of hazards
1
sss022-sulfuric-vi-acid.pdf (cleapss.org.uk)
1
BTEC Assignment Brief v3.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM December 2017
, Always keep the chemical in a fume cupboard and only use the chemical inside a fume
cupboard.
Make sure you wear gloves, a fully done up lab coat, goggles and closed toe shoes to
prevent any qasida from coming into contact with the skin.
If your gloves happen to come into contact with the acid, make sure you remove them
straight away and replace them so the acid cannot corrode away the gloves and cause
damage to your skin.
Keep all water away from the chemicals and make sure they never get mixed because
violent reactions can occur, and burns can happen due to excessive heat on the skin.
Keep all chemicals away from the edges of the fume cupboard to prevent spills, if a spill does
occur then immediately clean it up and let the lecturer know.
Have first aiders on hand to treat any chemical burns or skin burns that occur to prevent
damage to the student or lecturer.
In case of an injury
If it gets in the eye Irrigate the eye with gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes and
Call 999/111.
If it gets in the mouth or swallowed Do no more than rinse and spit with drinking water. Do
not induce vomiting. Call 999/111.
If it's Spilt on the skin or clothing Remove contaminated clothing. Quickly use a dry cloth or
paper towel to wipe as much liquid off the skin as possible. Irrigate the affected area with
gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes. If a large area is affected or symptoms
occur, call 999/111.
If it's Spilt on the floor, bench, etc Wipe up small amounts with a damp cloth and rinse it
well. For larger amounts, and especially for (moderately) concentrated acid, cover with
mineral absorbent (e.g., cat litter) and scoop into a bucket. Neutralise with sodium
carbonate. Rinse with plenty of water
Conclusion
If these measures are being followed to a high standard, then the risk of damage or harm is
significantly going to be reduced and there will be a much less chance of anyone being
injured.
Ethanoic acid2
Hazards
Can cause severe skin burns and eye damage if it makes contact with either of these areas as
it is highly corrosive
Highly flammable in vapour and liquid form so could cause skin burns and start fires if you
aren't careful.
Reducing risk of hazards
2
https://science.cleapss.org.uk/resource/sss023-ethanoic-acetic-acid.pdf
2
BTEC Assignment Brief v3.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM December 2017
, You should wear a lab coat and goggles to reduce the risk of it getting in your Eyes, on your
skin or on your clothes to protect you from harm
You should always use the lowest concentration that you can help reduce the corrosiveness
and how flammable it is to reduce the risk of harming yourself or others in the case of a spill
or it is getting on your clothes.
You should also use the smallest volume possible to reduce the risk of harm once again in
the case of it spilling as there will be much less spilled than if you used a high volume so it
will be easier to clean up and it will be much less of a hazard.
You should always use a fume cupboard while using ethanoic acid because you should try to
avoid breathing the gasses or fumes in as they can be very dangerous.
You should also wear gloves in case you get it on your skin to avoid it causing skin burns, if
you do happen to get some on your gloves you should remove them immediately and it is a
very corrosive chemical and may corrode through the gloves and onto your skin if you don’t
change your gloves straight away.
You should always have a first aider on hand in the case of someone getting injured so the
correct procedures can be followed to help minimise the damage.
In case of an injury
If it gets in the eye, you should Irrigate the eye with gently running tap water for at least 20
minutes and Call 999/111.
If the Vapour is breathed in, you should Remove the student outside to get fresh air and Call
999/111 if breathing is difficult.
In the case of it getting in the mouth or swallowed Do no more than rinse and spit with
drinking water, make sure that you Do not induce vomiting and Call 999/111.
If it gets Split on the skin or clothing Remove contaminated clothing and quickly use a dry
cloth or paper towel to wipe as much liquid off the skin as possible, then you should Irrigate
the affected area with gently running tap water for at least 20 minutes. If a large area is
affected or symptoms occur, call 999/111.
If it gets Spilt on the floor, bench, etc Wipe up small amounts with a damp cloth and rinse it
well. For larger amounts, and especially for (moderately) concentrated acid, cover with
mineral absorbent (e.g., cat litter) and scoop into a bucket. Neutralise with sodium
carbonate. Rinse with plenty of water
Conclusion
As long as these measures are always being closely followed then the risk of someone being
harmed by the chemical should be reduced because these measures should help to reduce it
if they're being applied to the practical, so people won't get injured.
3
Ethanol
Hazards
3
sss060-ethanol.pdf (cleapss.org.uk)
3
BTEC Assignment Brief v3.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM December 2017
