6b. How to improve chemical safety

To improve chemical safety and manage WHS risks you should: 

1. Identify hazards - Hazards are things and situations that could harm a person.
2. Assess risks - How severe is the risk? Are control measures effective? Is it urgent?
3. Control risks - Aim to eliminate risks. Where this is not possible, you must minimise risks so far as is ‘reasonably practicable’. We’ll define this shortly.
4. Review control measures - Check to make sure control measures are working as planned.

Now, let’s look closely at number 3 above. To improve chemical safety we need to look at our workplace safety controls.

Workplace safety controls are the procedures, systems and strategies we implement, maintain and improve, to protect workers from hazards and reduce the risk of injury, illness, or accidents in the workplace. 

These controls are designed to either eliminate the hazard, reduce exposure, or at least minimise the impact of hazardous conditions so far as is ‘reasonably practicable’. There’s that term again!

Workplace safety controls for chemicals are typically organised into a hierarchy, ranging from the most effective to the least effective. The levels are:

1st Option: Eliminate the risks

Is the chemical really needed? Can it be eliminated? If the chemical is not present, it poses no risk. If it can’t be eliminated, look at the 2nd option.

2nd Option: Substitute or replace

Can you replace the chemical with a safer alternative? If you can’t replace it with a safer option look at the 3rd option.

3rd Option: Use engineering controls

For example…. Would safety be improved if you installed better exhaust ventilation? Or could you eliminate exposure by using more RTU (ready-to-use) products or a chemical mixing station?

4th Option: Use administrative controls

For example… Could the procedure for the task be improved or changed to make it safer? Or perhaps staff safety training could be held more regularly? Could scheduling work to limit the duration of exposure be helpful? Would maintaining better labelling and signage improve safety?

5th Option: Use personal protective equipment (The Last Line of Defence)

For example… Wear gloves, respirator, mask, goggles, hard hat or apron. If you can’t eliminate, substitute or change the way you use or handle a chemical then you must wear your personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever you are using that chemical.

Notice PPE is the last option, not the first! While important, PPE is not as effective as other controls because it relies on proper usage by individuals.

Can you use a combination of the control measures?

Absolutely. Using a combination of these safety controls, starting from the most effective, helps ensure a safer workplace when dealing with hazardous chemicals. This is not something we do once. It’s a constant process of improving. The goal is to create a safe and healthy work environment that just keeps getting better.

What does ‘Reasonably Practicable’ mean?

This is best defined by Safe Work Australia...

“What you must do to manage WHS risks depends on what is reasonably practicable. To decide if something is reasonably practicable you should think about all the relevant matters, for example: 

• the likelihood of the hazard or risk 
• the harm that could occur 
• knowledge about the hazard or risk 
• ways to minimise or eliminate the risk, and if these are available and suitable 
• cost, including whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk.”

There you have it…

Now… Do you have any ideas for chemical safety improvements at your workplace?