Performing a Risk Assessment and User Attributes
Before carrying out a risk assessment, read about the risk assessment permission attributes for users.
Permission | Description | User Interface Attribute | Risk Assess |
Read | User can view folder register of materials but cannot edit risk assessments unless granted permission | Directories/folder content can be accessed by user but cannot add or copy or move or remove (delete) folders or risk assess chemicals |
View only |
Read-write
| User can risk assess chemicals, copy, move, remove (delete) chemicals and generate reports | Directories/folder content can be accessed by user with read-write permission, edit or perform risk assessments on chemicals and generate full report and create and approve jobs |
View and Edit |
If a user does not have the applicable risk assessment permissions/privileges, contact your Chemwatch System Administrator for more information.
Steps
- Select the Risk Assessment module button (if it’s not already the default module)
- Expand
the Manifest directory nodes to view the folder location, e.g. level 3 Storage node; where the chemicals are located - Press the Folder name. Take note that the risk assessment grid will show the list of chemical names and the default risk assessment parameters
- Click the Expand button
alongside the chemical name, e.g., acetone, to open hidden components in the expanded row - Click the Locked padlock button
to unlock 
the risk assessment for the chemical - Click the Task button
to open the task menu - Press the Task category red switch
, e.g., Mixing - Select a Task Name green switch
e.g., Mixing - Click the Close button
from the task window - Drag the temperature gauge to a specific value marker or click on the temperature text field and type the value
. Note that by default the temperature is set to 20oC. The default risk assessment parameters are shown below prior to setting new values.
These settings are based on the risk assessment laboratory settings 
(shown in bold below).
Parameter | Default Value/Measure |
Operating temperature | 20oC |
Volatility (Liquid/Gas)/Dustiness (Solid) | Low/Medium/High |
Scale of Use | Microlitres/millilitres/litres |
Frequency of Use | Daily/weekly/monthly |
Frequency of Use | >4hrs/1-4hrs/30-60min |
11. Roll the scale of use barrel to set the appropriate unit measure; microlitres/millilitres/litres, e.g., measure set to litres affects the risk band, which changes from 1 to 2
Parameter | Risk Band |
The scale of use set to millilitres by default | Default risk band=0 |
The scale of use when set to litres | Changes to a higher band =3 for this chemical |
12. Use the dropdown arrow to assign the scale of use and frequency of use to set the period of exposure; daily/weekly/monthly
Parameter | Risk Band |
Frequency of use set to weekly by default | Subsequent risk band=0 |
Frequency of use when set to daily | Changes to a higher band =3 for this chemical |
13. Use the dropdown arrow to select the frequency of use timeframe of exposure; >4hrs/1-4hrs/30-60min.
Parameter | Risk Band |
Frequency of use set to 1-4hrs by default | Subsequent risk band=3 |
Frequency of use when set to >30-60min | Changes to a lower band =2 for this chemical |
14. Click the Controls button
to open the applied controls window.
15. Select the recommended Applied Control to reduce the risk to a minimum, e.g., General Ventilation
Parameter | Applied Control |
Risk rating (band) = 2 | General ventilation |
Applied control switch turned on, rating=2 | Changes to a lower band =0 for this chemical |
16. Select the Review PPE to open the recommended PPEs
Parameter | Recommended PPE |
Small green square
| The PPE with a small square on the right-hand side depicts a Chemwatch-recommended PPE. Some recommended PPE may be switched on |
Default button
| The default buttons will show all the Chemwatch recommended PPEs switched on. Use this button if intending to apply all the recommended PPEs. |
.
17. Press the PPE OFF Switch button 
to turn on 
the respective PPE, e.g., half-respirator 
18. Click the Submit button from the PPE window
A confirmation message for data saved is displayed at the top middle area of the user interface. Note that the Review PPE button is switched
.
18. Click the Close button 
from the PPE window
19. Press the Training Required switch on 
if applicable and once this button is on, the training required will be shown in the final risk assessment report
20. Click the Close button 
from the Applied Controls window
21. Click
the Unlocked button 
to save and lock 
the risk assessment for the chemical
22. Press the YES button 
from the saving dialog to confirm action.
Note selecting the “NO” button 
will retain the active risk assessment, however, selecting the “Reset” button 
will retain the risk assessment to its default parameters.
23. Press the YES button 
from the saving dialog to confirm saving the risk assessment parameters for the chemical to be copied into the dangerous goods UN mode in case a storage/transport risk assessment will be car
Note selecting the “NO” button 
will retain the active risk assessment, however, selecting the “Reset” button 
will retain the risk assessment to its default parameters.
24. Press the YES button 
from the saving dialog to confirm saving the risk assessment parameters for the chemical to be copied into the dangerous goods UN mode in case a storage/transport risk assessment will be carried out.
A confirmation message for risk assessment saved successfully will be displayed in the top middle area of the user interface.
Take note that the risk assessment status changes from Assessment Required 
to Assessment Complete 
.
25. Press the Report button 
from the DOCS column on the far right to render the risk assessment report.
Health Risk Assessment Report
The Risk Assessment Report is generally a one-page document with the header of the document showing the risk assessment risk band colour coding, in this case, grey, Risk Band=0. This summary report contains the following information for the risk-assessed chemical.
