Farm Name
Farm logo / Subject / Hazardous Chemical Substances Risk Assessment / Date / April 2016
Farm Name
Farm logo / Subject / Hazardous Chemical Substances Risk Assessment / Date / April 2016

Hazardous Chemical Substances Risk Assessment

GUIDE TO HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT (HIRA)

1.  INTRODUCTION

As with all other health and safety issues the Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Substances requires that a hazardous chemical substances risk assessment be done. Based on the risk associated with the chemicals used the employer is then required to implmenet additional measures such as air monitoring, medical evaluations and others as to ensure the safety of staff.

2.  WHERE TO START

Following the following steps may assist employers in conducting a comprehensive Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment:

a.  The Regulation require that prior to starting with the risk assessment the Health and Safety Representatives or Health and Safety Committee be informed of the intention to conduct the said risk assessment. To ensure the validity of the process it may be advisable to table this issue at the Health and Safety Representative Committee Meeting. After discussing the matter the chairperson of the committee should be asked to sign Annexure A as attached;

b.  Obtain a list of all chemicals used from each department. The list obtained should contain details on all chemicals used irrespective of quantity used or dangers associated with the chemical used. The information should be populated on Annexure C as attached;

c.  Copies of Material Safety Data Sheets in the prescribed format to be obtained from the manufacturer or supplier of all chemicals used;

d.  Based on the information obtained from the Material Safety Data Sheets Annexure D as attached should be populated.

ANNEXURE A –

LETTER TO BE SIGNED BY THE HEALTH AND SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE

Letter to Health and Safety Representative or Health and Safety Committee

Mr / Me ……………………………………………. Health and Safety Representative of the …………………………………….. Area of………………………………………...

You are hereby officially informed in writing that an assessment of potential exposure to Hazardous Chemical Substances will be conducted in your area of responsibility. The Company has attained the services of The Safety Network (Africa) cc, an Approved Inspection Authority, to conduct this assessment and you have the opportunity to comment on this arrangement.

Please indicate if you have any comments:

(Comments / no comments): ……………………………………………………..……….

……………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………….

SIGNATURE:…….……...... …DESIGNATION (AREA): … ……….……......

(H&S Representative )

DATE:…………………......

ANNEXURE B

RISK RATING SHEET TO BE USED

LIKELIHOOD

(THE PROBABILITY OF AN INCIDENT WHEN THE EVENT DOES OCCUR)
VALUE
MIGHT AS WELL BE EXPECTED (HAPPENS OFTEN)
QUITE POSSIBLE
UNUSUAL, BUT QUITE POSSIBLE
ONLY REMOTELY POSSIBLE (HAS HAPPEND SOMEWHERE) CONCEIVABLE, BUT VERY UNLIKELY (HASN’T HAPPENED YET)
PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE (ONE IN A MILLION)
VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE (APPROACHES THE IMPOSSIBLE) / 10
6
3
1
0.5
0.2
0.1

EXPOSURE

(THE FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF THE EVENT)
CONTINUOUS
FREQUENT (DAILY) OCCASIONAL (WEEKLY)
UNUSUAL (MONTHLY)
RARE (A FEW PER YEAR)
VERY RARE (YEARLY)
NO EXPOSURE / 10
6
3
2
1
0.5
0.1
CONSEQUENCE
CATASTROPHIC (MANY FATALITIES, OR DAMAGE OVER - R 10 000 000,00)
DISASTER (A FEW FATALITIES, OR DAMAGE OVER - R1 000 000,00)
VERY SERIOUS (ONE FATALITY, OR DAMAGE OVER – R 100 000,00)
SERIOUS (SERIOUS INJURY, PERMANENT DISABILITY, OR DAMAGE OVER- R 10 000,00)
IMPORTANT (TEMPORARY DISABILITY, OR DAMAGE OVER- R 1 000,00)
NOTICEABLE (MINOR FIRST AID, OR DAMAGE OVER - R 100,00)
NEGLIGIBLE / 100
40
15
7
3
1
0.4
RISK SCORE
/
RISK CLASSIFICATION
OVER 400
200- 400
70-200
20-70
UNDER 20 / VERY HIGH RISK: CONSIDER DISCONTINUING OPERATION
HIGH RISK: IMMIDIATE CORRECTION REQUIRED
SUBSTANTIAL RISK: CORRECTION NEEDED
POSSIBLE RISK: ATTENTION INDICATED
ACCEPTABLE RISK

ANNEXURE C

LIST OF ALL HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES ASSESSED

No. / HCS / MSDS /
YES / NO /
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Farm Name
Farm logo / Subject / Hazardous Chemical Substances Risk Assessment / Date / April 2016

ANNEXURE D

HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES RISK ASSESSMENT

MSDS
N0. / Brand Name of Substance / HCS in product to which exposed (Active ingredient) / Quantity
Kg / Liters / Supplier / Physical Form
(Liquid, solid) / HCS
Table 1, 2 or 3 / Risk Class / Current Control Measures / Route of intake / Effects of HCS on employees / Medical surveillance / Nature of Work and exposure. / Flash point < 55ºC / Compatibility / Storage /
1 / Antichlor / Dichloro-1, 3, 5- Triazinetrione, Sodium Salt
Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate
Adipic Acid
Sodium Sulphate / 50lt / Ecolab / Solid / # / 3X3X3= 27 Possible risk / Respiratory, skin, body, hand and eye protection / Eye, skin, ingestion and inhalation / Irritating to eyes, skin and respiratory system. Harmful if swallowed. If inhaled there may be congestion of the lungs, causing shortness of breath. There may be loss of consciousness. Convulsions may occur. / No, unless prescribed by Occupational Health Practitioner or after employees contracted occupational diseases due to over exposure / Used in toilets and washbasins as chlorine disinfectant. / Not Classified as a flammable substance. / Keep away from strong oxidising agents, Nitrates and organic materials. Contact with acids liberates toxic gas. Product is not flammable itself but contact with combustible material may cause fire. / Store in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Avoid contact with water or humidity.