Implementation of Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) program at Chemical Laboratories of a University

Abstract

The use of chemicals in academic/research laboratories is obvious which need proper university’s safety management. It is the prime responsibility of university top management to protect laboratory staff from chemical health risks during their work. This study elaborate a methodology for the implementation of a Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) programme in a University’s chemical laboratories. The objective of this CHRA programme is to identify and evaluate the risk of chemical exposure among laboratory staff. The qualitative observation of CHRA programme identified two categories of risk, one is a significant risk but already adequately controlled could increase in future, second is risk significant now, and not adequately controlled. Based on the conclusion of CHRA programme proactive suggestion were made to reduce the risks of chemical exposure among laboratory staff in the selected Saudi university. This study can be useful to implement CHRA programme in chemical laboratories of a university to assess risk of chemical exposure and required control measures for the protection of laboratory staff.