RISK ASSESSMENT FOR AN ACTIVITY INVOLVING THE USE OF COMPRESSED GASES

This form aids in assessing the hazards associated with the use of compressed gases and the application of suitable controls. To assist with completion of the form guidance can be found on the Safety Department website. If you require further help with completing this form, please contact Safety Department. If toxic / flammable / corrosive gases are in use, this form needs to be submitted to and approved by the Safety Department. This form is not designed for risk assessing cryogenic liquids – a separate risk assessment template exists for this purpose.

PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS WORK (THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR)
Name:	Position:
Department / Section:	Division:	Faculty:

PERSON CONDUCTING THIS ASSESSMENT
Name:	Position:
Department/ Section:	Date risk assessment undertaken:
Assessment reference No:

LOCATION OF THE ACTIVITY
Campus:	Building:	Floor:	Room(s):
Access control status of the room:
If location of the gases is identical to the location of the activity, please tick this box and continue to Description of Activity. Otherwise, please provide the location of gases below.
LOCATION OF THE GASES
Campus:	Building:	Floor:	Room(s):
Other, please provide any relevant details:
What is the access control status of the room(s) where the cylinder(s) are stored?
Undesignated:	Yellow:	Amber:	Red:	N/A (Outside):

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY
Describe the activity involving gases, include a Pressure and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) and reference any other relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) / Risk Assessments (RAs), e.g. COSHH, Lone working, Manual handling etc / Local Codes of Practice (CoPs):

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE GASES AND HAZARDS

Gas(es) name(s) and concentration(s)	Hazardous properties	*WEL	Relative Density	†LFL (%)	†UFL (%)	Cylinder Size	Number of Cylinders
Hazard 1	#Hazard 2
Choose an item.	Choose an item.
Choose an item.	Choose an item.
Choose an item.	Choose an item.
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Choose an item.	Choose an item.

#Hazard 2 (if applicable)

*Workplace Exposure Limit (if assigned)

†Lower and Upper Flammability Limits (if relevant)

GAS RELEASE CALCULATIONS
Please complete the gas release calculation spreadsheet(s) integrated in this assessment by following the steps below: Open the Excel spreadsheet by double clicking on the Excel icon below Complete ALL Orange cells – Note that in the Gas cell, Argon appears as default, but this cell is a dropdown list from where you can select the relevant gas Once all Orange cells are completed you will be able to see relevant guidance on lines 10-17. Please use this information when considering appropriate control measures for your application in the Risk Assessment (RA). Click ‘Save’ on the Excel spreadsheet and then close it – in this way the calculation result remains attached to your RA and can be easily verified when the form is submitted to Local Safety Personnel and/or Safety Department. If multiple (up to three) gases are present, please use an Excel spreadsheet for each gas by repeating the steps above. Continue completing the RA and save it once finalised. If more than three gases are present and additional calculations are necessary, please contact Safety Department.

2. IDENTIFICATION OF THOSE AT RISK OF EXPOSURE

Are there any personnel other than laboratory workers who may be at risk from exposure resulting from a gas release? (e.g. maintenance workers, cleaners etc.)

Yes	No	If ‘Yes’ give details:

3. PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Briefly justify why it is necessary to use these gases and why elimination or substitution with a safer alternative is not possible:
Has the number of cylinders and their size been minimised?	Yes No N/A	Briefly justify the answer provided:

4. CONTROL MEASURES

4.1 VENTILATION

a) What type of ventilation is present?

Natural	Mechanical	If ‘Mechanical’, what is the estimated number of *air changes per hour (ACH)? *Building Manager may be able to provide this information.
Is there any means of increasing the ventilation above normal level in the event of an uncontrolled gas release?	Yes No	If ‘Yes’ give details:

b) Is there any system in place (e.g., airflow monitor or magnehelic gauge) to warn occupants if there is a failure of a mechanical ventilation system?

Yes	No	N/A	If ’Yes’, describe the type and position of the monitor / gauge:

c) Is the ventilation system interlocked with the gas supply system?

Yes	No	If ‘Yes’ give details:

d) Are all occupants of the area familiar with the ventilation alarm and what action to take if it activates?

Yes	No	If ‘Yes’ give details:

e) Are ventilated gas cabinets in use to store the gases?

Yes	No	If ’Yes’, give details about the type of cabinets and how many ACH do they achieve:

4.2 GAS MONITORING AND DETECTION

a) Are there any gas monitors and alarms present?

Yes	If ’Yes’, which type of monitors and alarms are present?	Fixed	Portable
Describe the type and positioning of any existent sensors and visual/audible alarms (including portable alarms):
If fixed gas monitors are present, give last test date:	N/A
Are portable monitors within calibration date?	Yes	No	N/A
No	If ‘No’, justify why they aren’t required:

b) If fixed gas detection is present, is this interlocked with any safety devices that will stop gas flow?

Yes	No	N/A	If ‘Yes’ give details:

c) Are all occupants of the area familiar with gas monitoring alarms and what action to take if they activate?

Yes	No	If ‘Yes’ give details:

4.3 GAS SUPPLY TYPE

a) Select what type of gas supply is being used:

Manifold system	Please continue and answer question b) only in this section.
Portable supply system	Please continue and answer questions c) and d) only in this section.

b) Is the manifold correctly specified for the gases in use?

Yes	No	Give details:
What are the manifold inlet and outlet pressures?	Inlet:	Outlet:

c) Are regulators compatible with the gases used and suitable for the inlet pressure generated?

Yes	No	Give details, including inlet pressure:

d) Are regulators within their 5-year working life (2-year for those used with corrosive gases) and subject to basic user checks as per College Code of Practice (CoP)?

Yes	No	If ‘No’ give details:

4.4 MATERIALS COMPATIBILITY FOR PIPES / COMPRESSION FITTINGS

a) Has the material compatibility for all pipes / tubing and compression fittings / seals been verified for all gases in use?

Yes	No	If ‘Yes’ give additional details about the materials used:

NOTE: If unsure about materials compatibility, please contact Safety Department for further advice and guidance.

4.5 SAFETY DEVICES

Which safety devices are present in the system? (Select all that apply)

Automatic shut-off devices	For all the devices selected, give details about their location in the system:
Flashback arrestors
Pressure relief valves / Bursting discs
Excess flow valves
Other

NOTE: Additional information on typical safety devices can be found here.

4.6 STORAGE AND TRANSPORT

a) Are cylinders stored upright, properly secured (e.g. by chains or straps) and away from excessive heat sources and emergency escape routes?

Yes	No	If ‘No’ give additional details:

b) Are cylinders delivered to the point of use by BOC staff as part of the College service contract?

Yes	No	If ‘No’ explain why and give alternative delivery details:	SOP/CoP/Manual handling assessment Reference:

c) Is a lift used to transport gas cylinders between floors?

Yes	No	If ‘Yes’ specify the type of lift (i.e. goods or passenger) and its location:

NOTE: Gas cylinders or vessels must not be transported off site. Contact your local Safety Adviser / BOC / Safety Department, if need arises for transport outside College premises, as transport must be compliant with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations.

4.7 LONE WORKING

*Lone working permission:

Is lone working permitted for this activity?	Yes No	If ‘No’, please continue to Section 4.8
Is specific consent required for lone working?	Yes No	If ‘Yes’, describe all specific activities and instances when consent for lone working is required:
Are there any restrictions as to when lone working can take place?	Yes No	If ‘Yes’, describe the restrictions and why these are in place:
Describe additional precautions to be implemented to overt risk to the lone worker (e.g. safe access to facility, safe use of equipment, adequate emergency procedures):	SOP/CoP/Protocol Reference:

* Lone working is not permitted for any activity which involves the use of a substance that presents the risk of rapidly incapacitating a lone worker (e.g. toxic, flammable gases).

4.8 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Describe the *emergency procedures for dealing with an uncontrolled release of the compressed gases present:

* If emergency procedures involve automated safety controls, please include the ‘Cause and Effect’ table with this assessment.

Describe the first aid procedures for dealing with exposure to an uncontrolled release of the compressed gases:

4.9 INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

a) Does appropriate signage warning of the presence of compressed gases exist in the areas where gas cylinders are being stored and used?

Yes	No	If ‘Yes’, describe the signage that is in place:

b) Have users received adequate information (e.g. RA, SOP, emergency procedures), instruction and on-the-job training (i.e. including use of emergency equipment) within the department?

Yes	No	If ‘Yes’, describe how this has been achieved:	Give name of instructor and date(s) when on-the-job training took place:

c) Have users attended formal compressed gases training courses?

Compressed Gases and Connecting Gas Regulators – E-Learning	Name(s) of user(s) and date(s) of completion:
Compressed Gases and Connecting Gas Regulators	Name(s) of user(s) and date(s) of completion:
Other course(s)	Give name(s) of course(s) and location(s) where attended:
Name(s) of user(s) and date(s) of completion:

NOTE: Training records should be maintained locally within the department.

4.10 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Select and describe what PPE is available:

Gloves: Type:	Eye / face protection: Type:
Respiratory protection: Type:	Clothing or footwear (in addition to lab coats): Type:
Respirator filter type:
State which parts of the process PPE is required for (e.g. routine use or emergencies only):
If respiratory protection has been identified as required, has the user been face-fit tested?	Yes No	If ‘Yes’, provide date of face-fit test:
If respiratory protection is available for emergencies, describe its location, the names of trained users and the procedures for maintenance:

4.11 ANY OTHER EXISTENT CONTROLS

Select all that apply from the list below:

Routine leak testing of the system or any part of it	Give details including frequency:
Regular inspection and maintenance of the system or any part of it	Give details including frequency:
*Written Scheme of Examination (WSE) (i.e. for piped systems and certain protective devices)	Give details:
Other	Give details:

* If the system requires a WSE, users need to hold a local copy and it also needs to be recorded in the College insurance register, please see here for more information. If unsure whether a WSE is required, please contact Safety Department.