Chemical risk evaluation in a Physical Chemistry laboratory

Abstract

In chemical laboratories, research, teaching or analysis tasks are carried out daily in which a wide variety of dangerous substances and mixtures are handled that affect the health and safety of the people exposed to them and that can contaminate the environment. This work was carried out with the objective of evaluating chemical risks in a physical chemistry laboratory using the method of Dangerousness Index in the handling of Chemical Agents (IPMAQ) and based on said evaluation, a classification of the dangerousness of the indispensable laboratory for carry out preventive planning following technical criteria. The aspects of: handling and use of chemical substances, laboratory materials and equipment and activities at work were analyzed, by identifying the processes, danger factors and evaluation of the risk levels to which teachers, workers are exposed, students, administrative staff and visitors using the NTP 937 methodology of the Spanish Institute for Safety and Hygiene at Work and the IPMAQ methodology. The dangerousness index in the laboratory showed that the level of chemical containment is minimal and according to the value obtained from the Dangerous Index in the handling of Chemical Agents, it was considered that the chemical risk in the laboratory is high and that the conditions of the laboratory are not adequate, so it is necessary to immediately take a series of measures to eradicate this situation.