RISK ASSESSMENT Parramatta High School Students

Demonstration of convection currents

Written by: Krithik sai Jayaprakash Commenced on: 6 Jun 2024 Expires: 6 Sep 2025

Classes for which experiment is required

Teacher: Ms.Wells Year Group: 11 Physics Room Period Date
36 2 Wed 12/6/24
Items to be prepared by laboratory technician
1 x retort stand
2 x thermometer
1 x clamp
1 x beaker
1x potassium permanganate

Procedure or reference, including variations

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BYgdcQPqJ45ykb1OTRahIZO5WAPadRx75ljSafjPDYo/edit

Equipment to be used
glass beaker, 250 mL to 1 L
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Breakage of beaker. Cuts from chipped rims. Inspect and discard any chipped or cracked beakers, no
matter how small the damage. Sweep up broken glass
with brush and dustpan; do not use fingers.

boss head (clamp holder)

electric hotplate
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
IGNITION SOURCE, unless specially designed and Inspect regularly for signs of damage to cord, cord loose
certified. Do not heat flammable liquids on a hotplate in plug, cord loose at entry to hotplate, or any signs of
that is not certified as sparkproof. Possibility of burns corrosion or other damage. Test and tag at regular
during heating and even after hotplate is turned off intervals. Recommend that hotplate has a heatproof
because the hotplate retains heat. Electric cord may be cord.
damaged by heat and cause electric shock.

retort stand
Potential hazards
Centre of mass of supported object is often high and the
stand may topple over.

mercury thermometer
Potential hazards Standard handling procedures
Possibility of breakage and severe cuts when inserting or Inspect and discard if damaged. Never force a
removing from fittings e.g. corks, rubber bungs. If the thermometer into a cork or rubber bung. Sweep up
bulb or mercury column breaks, toxic mercury will be broken glass with brush and dustpan; do not use fingers.
released. If mercury thermometer breaks, mix broken pieces with
sulfur, to react with any mercury escaping, and pack the
pieces and sulfur in a container with more sulfur before
disposal to garbage. Sprinkle sulfur liberally where
mercury droplets may have lodged, or spray with sodium
thiosulfate solution. Better to use alcohol thermometer,
where possible for low temperature ranges.

Chemicals to be used
potassium permanganate, solid KMnO4
UN: 1490 CAS: 7722-64-7
Class: 5.1 PG: II Users: 7-12 Training: 1-6
 GHS data:

May intensify fire; oxidiser

DANGER Harmful if swallowed
Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Potential hazards Standard handling procedures

TOXIC; FORMS EXPLOSIVE MIXTURES WITH COMBUSTIBLE Do not use sulfuric acid for drying oxygen gas from
MATERIALS SUCH AS ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, SULFUR, decomposition of potassium permanganate, since the
PHOSPHORUS, AMMONIUM SALTS OR METAL POWDERS. acid could accidentally mix with the salt, and cause an
Spontaneously flammable on contact with glycerine, explosion. It is safer to use hydrogen peroxide, with
ethylene glycol and other compounds. Forms violently manganese dioxide catalyst, for preparing oxygen gas. If
explosive manganese heptoxide on mixing with potassium permanganate is used for preparation of
concentrated sulfuric acid. Oxygen gas is formed on chlorine gas by reaction with hydrochloric acid, ensure
heating, but toxic fine particles of manganese oxides are that the solid is covered with a layer of water and that
produced simultaneously; if reaction is carried out in a hydrochloric acid, NOT sulfuric acid is used.
test tube, place a plug of glass wool in the end of the
tube to trap particles. Disposal
Retain for collection by a waste service. Do not place in
the garbage. <10 g/day may be dissolved in 50 times the
mass of water and poured down the drain. Residues
should be placed in a Manganese waste container.

Knowledge
I/we have read and understood the potential hazards and standard handling procedures of all the equipment, chemicals
and biological items, including living organisms.
I/we have read and understood the Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous chemicals used in the experiment.
I/we have copies of the Safety Data Sheets of all the hazardous chemicals available in or near the laboratory.
Agreement by student(s)
I/we, Krithik sai Jayaprakash, agree to conduct this experiment safely in accordance with school rules and teacher
instructions.

Risk assessment
I/we have considered the risks of:
fire or explosion injuries from equipment biohazards waste disposal
chemicals in eyes rotating equipment injuries from animals improper labelling/storage
inhalation of gas/dust electrical shock environmental impact inappropriate behaviour
chemicals on skin vibration or noise intense light/lasers communication issues
ingestion of chemicals sharp objects UV, IR, nuclear radiation allergies
runaway reaction falling or flying objects pressure inside equipment special needs
heat or cold contamination of area heavy lifting ethical issues
breakage of equipment exposure to pathogens slipping, tripping, falling other risks

For outdoor activities , consider wind, temperature, rain/hail/snow, UV, air quality, fire danger, pollen, bites/stings etc

Assessment by Student(s)
I/we have assessed the risks associated with performing this experiment in the classroom on the basis of likelihood and
consequences using the School's risk matrix , according to International Organization for Standardization Standard ISO
31000:2018.

I/we consider the inherent level of risk (risk level without control measures) to be:
Low risk Medium risk High risk Extreme risk

Risks will therefore be managed by routine procedures in the classroom.

Certification by Teacher
I have assessed the risks associated with performing this experiment in the classroom on the basis of likelihood and
consequences using the School's risk matrix , according to International Organization for Standardization Standard ISO
31000:2018. I confirm that the risk level and control measures entered by student(s) above are correct and appropriate.
Name: Signature: Date:

Certification by Laboratory Technician

I have assessed the risks associated with preparing the equipment, chemicals and and biological items, including living
organisms, for this experiment and subsequently cleaning up after the experiment and disposing of wastes, on the basis
of likelihood and consequences using the School's risk matrix , according to International Organization for Standardization
Standard ISO 31000:2018.

I consider the inherent level of risk (risk level without control measures) to be:
Low risk Medium risk High risk Extreme risk

Where the risk level is "medium risk", "high risk" or "extreme risk", the following control measures will be employed:

Control measures (attach further pages as required):

safety glasses gloves lab coat apron fume cupboard

With the specified control measures in place, I have found that all the risks are "low risk". Risks will therefore be managed
by routine procedures in the laboratory, in combination with the specified control measures.
Name: Signature: Date:

Monitoring and review

This risk assessment will be monitored using electronic review notes or hand-written notes on a printout. It will be
reviewed within 15 months as part of the regular review process.