HAZARD REVIEW CHECKLISTS
Appendix X (adapted from NMSU Lab Guide - dls 06/00)

Use the following checklist as a reminder to avoid unsafe practices and conditions in your equipment. This is a sample checklist that may not be suitable for all experiments and equipment. In such a case, an appropriate Hazard Review (prior approval form) should be established by the supervisor.

GENERAL

Yes No N/A

__ __ __ 1) Is test area free from tripping hazards and sharp edges?

__ __ __ 2) Are automatic shutdown devices required to protect personnel and equipment?

__ __ __ 3) Is the test safe if air, electricity, steam, or vacuum is interrupted or fails?

__ __ __ 4) Are area fire extinguisher proper type ("A", paper and wood; "B", oil solvent; "C", electrical) and are additional extinguisher needed?

__ __ __ 5) Is overhead clearance 7 feet?      If not, is obstacle clearly marked?

__ __ __ 6) Are all containers labeled with contents, date, and person responsible?

__ __ __ 7) Are barricades and shields sufficient to prevent injury and protect equipment?

__ __ __ 8) Are signs and/or tags large enough and properly located to be easily seen?

__ __ __ 9) Does test require securing loose clothing and removing jewelry?

__ __ __ 10) Are inspection dates current on ladders, safety belts, or scaffolds required overhead work?

__ __ __ 11) Have you planned an emergency escape route?

__ __ __ 12) Are good housekeeping practices being observed in the test area?

__ __ __ 13) Does noise level exceed 90 dBA?

__ __ __ 14) Are personnel protected from hot/cold surfaces?  (Steam lines, hot plates, etc.)

__ __ __ 15) Is special protective clothing, respirators, or first aid equipment provided and in good repair?

__ __ __ 16) Is dust level within allowable limits (10mg/cm if nontoxic)?

__ __ __ 17) Will there be exposure of personnel to hazardous vapors?

__ __ __ 18) Is a special spill control procedure required?

__ __ __ 19) Is hood face air velocity adequate for the test being conducted?

__ __ __ 20) Is hood function impaired by air disturbances near the hood?

ELECTRICAL

Yes No N/A

__ __ __ 1) Are power cords of adequate design, inspected, and in safe condition?

__ __ __ 2) Are voltages guarded?

__ __ __ 3) Have you considered static electricity hazards?

__ __ __ 4) Are switches labeled and accessible, i.e., not in potentially dangerous areas?

__ __ __ 5) Should electrical plugs and switches be explosion - proof?

__ __ __ 6) Is over-temperature shutdown of heaters necessary, and if so, provided?

__ __ __ 7) Is the test safe if electrical service is interrupted or fails?

__ __ __ 8) Are ground fault interrupters in place where needed?

MECHANICAL

Yes No N/A

__ __ __ 1) Are pinch points and exposed moving parts marked or guarded?

__ __ __ 2) Is the unit physically stable or mechanically anchored?

__ __ __ 3) Are cables, ropes, chainfalls, and/or pulleys the right size and have they been inspected and judged in safe condition?

__ __ __ 4) Is protection against backlash from cables, pulleys, or ropes provided if they break?

__ __ __ 5) Are proper lifting devices being used?  Personnel: 50 lb/man limit.)

__ __ __ 6) Are mechanical shutdown interlocks provided if needed?

__ __ __ 7) Have rotating parts been checked for balance?

PRESSURE - PNEUMATIC, HYDRAULIC AND STEAM

Yes No N/A

__ __ __ 1) Do gauges have blow-out backs and safety fronts, or, alternately, read by mirror?

__ __ __ 2) Are relief ports and gauge block-outs directed so that discharge does not constitute a hazard if they blow?

__ __ __ 3) Are adequate relief devices installed in proper locations?  (No valves between device and source.)

__ __ __ 4) Are pressure ratings adequate? (Piping, fittings, vessels, valves, gauges, etc.)

__ __ __ 5) Do cylinder regulators have required inspections?

__ __ __ 6) Are cylinders properly secured?

__ __ __ 7) Do pressure vessels have current inspections?

__ __ __ 8) Are valves accessible, i.e., not in potentially hazardous areas? (Are valve stems of high pressure valves located above the operator's head or directed upwards?)

__ __ __ 9) Are flexible pressure lines secured to protect personnel in case of failure?

__ __ __ 10) Have safety relief valves been inspected and tested at set-point condition?

__ __ __ 11) Is nonmetallic tubing safe for this service?  (Inert fluids, low pressure, temperature, static discharge.)

CHEMICAL

Yes No N/A

__ __ __ 1) Have you reviewed the ACS Safety Manual and N. I. Sax, ``Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials," 5th ed., to determine hazards and handling procedures for test materials?

__ __ __ 2) Have you posted a "Hazardous Chemical in Use" tag next to the work area?

__ __ __ 3) Are materials of construction proper considering their recommended service as well as pH, chlorides, chemical contaminants, temperature, pressure, stress, cycling, and test duration?

__ __ __ 4) Are experiments placed in chemically resistant trays that will keep reagents from spreading in case of breakage?

__ __ __ 5) Have you eliminated all ignition sources near flammable chemicals (e.g., stirring motors, hot plates, powerstats, open flames, temp. baths, etc.)?

__ __ __ 6) Have you checked for hazardous reactions among chemicals in this test, chemicals potentially present in a common exhaust or drain system, or chemicals stored nearby?

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

(List the PPE provisions for the following)

FOR OPERATOR:

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

FOR VISITORS:

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL STANDBY:

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Emergency Use (spill, release, etc)

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

REAGENT HAZARDS CHECKLIST

Fill in Where Applicable

EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM SAFETY REVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE

1. What are the experimental equipment limitations?  (Temperature, pressure, electrical, rpm, other.)

2. What human or unusual material or equipment failures could lead to an accident? (Review test set-up carefully for hidden hazards.)

3. What unusual hazards will be involved in dismantling this experiment?

4. List the inventory of supplies (chemicals, reagents, solvents) you will maintain for this experiment. Where will you store these materials?

5. Explain your procedure to dispose of hazardous materials and used equipment.

6. What routine maintenance and routine safety inspections will you apply to your equipment to insure hazard-free service? Describe the records you will maintain of this maintenance.

7. Attach the start-up procedure which you will leave with the equipment for use by the next user.

8. Attach a detailed sketch or drawing of your apparatus.

9. Attach Failure Mode and Effect Sheets to predict how individual component failure will effect the system.

INSTRUCTIONS

FAILURE MODE AND EFFECT SHEET

This sheet will help determine the failure effect of one component on the entire system. Failure Mode Sheets should accompany each Hazard Review Checklist. Use as many Failure Mode and Effect Sheets as necessary to itemize each component of the system.

ITEM - Assign a number to each system component.

COMPONENT - Name of component.

FAILURE OR ERROR MODE - Types of failure (list all possible for each component), e.g., "valve jams open," "overheats," "power failure," "coolant loss," etc.

EFFECTS ON OTHER COMPONENTS/WHOLE SYSTEM - List what happens for each type of failure, e.g., "laboratory floods with water," "insulation catches fire," "short circuits heater relay," etc.

HAZARD CLASS FREQUENCY OF FAILURE

High 2-3 years

Moderate 3-5 years

Low 5-7 years

PROBABILITY OF FAILURE - Failures per hour.

DETECTION METHODS - Alarm device, smell smoke, fuse blows, etc.

REMARKS - "Alarm provided," "monthly inspection logged in," "safety interlock device," etc.

FAILURE MODE AND EFFECT TABULATION SHEET

Lab Room:      ________________   Name: ________________________ Date:__________________

Experiment: __________________________________________________________________________