School of Chemistry HIRAC Form

HAZARD IDENTIFICTION, RISK ASSESSMENT & CONTROL

NAME: Jack Ault DATE: 21/08/2017

OVERALL OVERALL
REACTION RISK
CLASS RATING

WORKBOOK AND PAGE REFERENCE: Project A1: Construction of Solar Cell

CHEMICAL HAZARDS
2 M
REACTION SCHEME AND EQUATION / DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS
Construction and characterisation of dye-stained solar cells
Two indium-doped tin oxide glass tiles will be coated with TiO2 as an electrode substitute. Another two indium-doped tin oxide glass tiles will
be coated with carbon as counter electrodes. One TiO2 electrode will be stained using chlorophyll and the other TiO2 electrode using cyanin.
Once stained, the two solar cells are met with their carbon-coated counter electrode and held together with clips. Iodide/iodine electrolyte is
introduced to each constructed solar cell and activated using high-power lamp, making sure the transparent TiO2 electrodes face the lamp and
allow light to enter via the transparent TiO2-coated electrode. Each solar cell is characterised using a multimeter.

REAGENTS /INTERMEDIATES/ Quantity Quantity RISK

(mL or g) (moles)
GHS HAZARD CLASSES AND CATEGORIES (refer to SDS) RATING
PRODUCTS/ WASTE
TiO2 0.8 g 0.01 Eye irritation – cat: 2A; Carcinogen – cat: 3 M
Carbon black - - Carcinogen – cat: 2 M
Acetic acid 3 mL 0.05 Skin irritant/corrosive – cat: 2; eye irritant – cat: 2 M
Acetone <30 mL 0.4 Flammable liquid – cat: 2; eye irritant – cat: 2A; Carcinogen – cat: 3 M
Ethanol <30 mL 0.5 Flammable liquid – cat: 2; eye irritant – cat: 2A L
KI 0.83 g 0.5 Not regulated as hazard M
Skin irritant – cat: 1; eye irritant – cat: 1; flammable liquid– cat: 3; strong
I2 0.13 g 0.05 H
poison – cat: 1; toxic to aquatic organisms – cat: 1.
Ethylene glycol 10 mL - Toxic – cat 4 M
N2 10 L - Gas under pressure – cat: N/A. M

HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACTIVITIES (*L = LIKELIHOOD; C = CONSEQUENCE. REFER TO RISK MATRIX ON PAGE 3)

PROCESSES/TECHNIQUES HAZARDS POTENTIAL HARM (What could go wrong?) L* C*

Mixing TiO2 & acetic acid using
TiO2 particles; ultrasound emission Inhalation of small TiO2 particles; hearing damage 2 3
sonication
TiO2 paste projectile/contact with skin; damage to
Use of spin coater Spinning blades 2 2
digits whilst handling
Extracting chlorophyll with
Acetone Acetone contact with skin 2 3
acetone solvent
Assembly of solar cell Iodide/iodine electrolyte Iodide/iodine electrolyte contact with skin 2 2
Annealing High temperature Burns 2 3
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
Indium-doped tin oxide glass tiles; small bulldog clips; multimeter; alligator clips; variable resistor; paint brush; filter paper; mortar & pestle;
spin coater; sonicator; furnace; high power lamb; glassware; tape;
Max/Min Temp: 450 °C Max/Min Pressure: Standard laboratory pressure - 1 bar

RISK CONTROLS

ELIMINATION Yes No SUBSTITUTION Yes No

Can this procedure or any of the associated processes be ☐ ☒ Can safer alternate processes or less hazardous ☐ ☒
eliminated? chemical(s) be used?

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School of Chemistry HIRAC Form

ISOLATION / ENGINEERING RISK CONTROLS Yes No ADMINISTRATIVE RISK CONTROLS Yes No

Use of a specialist facility (specify): ☐ ☒ Are minimum volumes being used? ☒ ☐
Fume cupboard ☒ ☐ Roof closure necessary? ☐ ☒
Other local Exhaust ventilation
☐ ☒
Special waste disposal pathway (specify below): ☒ ☐
Halogenated waste disposal
Other (specify): ☐ Special sample storage requirements (specify below): ☐ ☒
Other (specify): ☐
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Trained
Yes No RELEVANT SAFE WORK PROCEDURES
(in addition to Lab coat, safety glasses, footwear) Yes No
Eye / Face protection (specify) ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐
Gloves (latex, when handling corrosive/toxic ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐
compounds; thermal, when handling high temperature
apparatus)
Other (specify): ☐ ☐ ☐
Other (specify): ☐ ☐ ☐
INCIDENT REPSONSE

EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN SPILL FIRE/EXPLOSION CHEMICAL EXPOSURE

Turn off any power sockets in Alert everyone nearby. Use spill Alert everyone nearby. If Call for help. If on skin, put under
use. Close any running tap. Place kit to mop up. possible, contain with running water for 15 minutes. If
chemicals in fume hood. emergency kit inhaled, move to fresh air Notify
(extinguisher/blanket/sand). If safety officer.
not, evacuate. Notify Safety
officer. Call 000.
General response for accidental exposure
 Skin/eye contact – wash the affected area with cold running water for 15 minutes (unless otherwise stated in the SDS). Contact School First Aid Officer
 Inhalation – remove to fresh air and consult a School First Aid Officer

ASSESSMENT OF PROCEDURE CLASS & RESIDUAL RISK

CLASS 1 CLASS 2 CLASS 3 CLASS 4

☐ ☒ ☐ ☐

LOW RISK MEDIUM RISK HIGH RISK VERY HIGH RISK

☐ ☒ ☐ ☐
Supervisor approval and Delay proposed work
Supervisor approval Supervisor approval
Floor Safety Officer approval Refer to Safety Committee

APPROVAL TO WORK
User declaration
I understand the hazards associated with this activity and agree to implement the proposed risk controls. The proposed work [does / does not]
involve the use of a prohibited or restricted carcinogen or other internally restricted chemical (See Section 4.4-5 of School Safety Handbook); if
I am using such a chemical, I have completed an additional more detailed University Risk Assessment for handling a scheduled carcinogen.

Name: Jack Ault Signature: Date: 21/08/2017

Supervisor or Delegate Approval

I approved this activity. The proposed risk controls are adequate to manage the associated risk. The user is competent to undertake the
reaction and the associated tasks and processes.

Name: Signature: Date:

Floor Safety Officer Approval (for high risk activities)

I have independently reviewed this risk assessment and approve the work as a delegate of the Head of School.

Name: Signature: Date:

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 School of Chemistry HIRAC Form

Risk Matrix

Consequence

Injuries not First Aid Medical Hospital Death or

requiring required treatment admission permanent
People
First Aid required required disability to one or
more persons

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5

Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Severe

L5
Is expected to
occur in most Medium High High Very High Very High
Almost Certain
circumstances

L4
Will probably
happen in most Medium Medium High High Very High
hLikelihood

Likely
circumstances

L3
Could occur at
some time Low Medium High High Very High
Possible

L2
Not likely to occur
in normal Low Low Medium Medium High
Unlikely
circumstances

L1
May occur only in
exceptional Low Low Medium Medium Medium
Rare
circumstances

Last updated August 2016 3