Handling and storage of chemical substances

The handling and storage of chemical substances may present risks to staff which, left unmanaged, could cause accidents and potentially put you on the wrong side of the law. 

Managing the risks

To help you identify the hazards associated with handling and storage operations involving chemicals etc. and the appropriate ways of controlling them, use our example Risk Assessment - Handling and Storage of Chemical Substances. It covers the generic hazards associated with this type of activity and suggests control measures to reduce risks to an acceptable level.

Note. This risk assessment only deals with the risks involved with handling and storage of chemical substances. You should prepare a separate assessment for using the substances as required by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended 2004).

You should ensure that your document only addresses “significant” hazards, i.e. any that could, and more importantly are likely to, cause an accident or injury.

Make your instructions clear

Don’t include activities in your document that simply don’t need to be there. Work to the principle that if there is any chance of your staff being unaware of the safe way of doing something, then you will need to make it clear in your document. Finally, always ensure that any control measures you identify and follow only go so far “as is reasonably practicable”.

Note. The list of potential hazards is not exhaustive. For your risk assessment to be considered suitable and sufficient in the eyes of the law it must accurately reflect the “significant” hazards found in your workplace.