skills/wsh-risk-assessment/references/Appendix A Specific Hazard Examples.txt

# Appendix A: NUS-Specific Hazard Examples Library

**Review Notes:**

* Activity statements should describe the task being performed.
* Hazard statements should describe the source of harm or exposure mechanism.
* Consequence statements should describe the injury, illness, damage, or adverse outcome resulting from the hazard.
* Most examples are well structured. Minor refinements have been made where hazards were expressed as consequences or where wording could be made more consistent.

## Chemical Laboratories

### Example 1

Activity: Dispensing concentrated sulphuric acid

Hazard: Exposure of the eyes to splashes of concentrated sulphuric acid during transfer

Potential Consequence:

* Severe chemical burns to the eyes
* Permanent vision impairment

### Example 2

Activity: Transferring volatile solvents

Hazard: Inhalation of acetone vapour during solvent transfer

Potential Consequence:

* Respiratory irritation
* Dizziness
* Headache

### Example 3

Activity: Conducting a scale-up chemical reaction

Hazard: Over-pressurisation resulting from a runaway exothermic reaction

Potential Consequence:

* Explosion
* Fire
* Serious injury

### Example 4

Activity: Performing solvent distillation

Hazard: Ignition of flammable solvent vapours due to overheating during distillation

Potential Consequence:

* Fire
* Burns
* Property damage

### Example 5

Activity: Replacing gas cylinders

Hazard: Uncontrolled release of compressed gas due to regulator failure

Potential Consequence:

* Impact injuries
* Asphyxiation
* Property damage

### Example 6

Activity: Handling liquid nitrogen

Hazard: Contact with cryogenic liquid

Potential Consequence:

* Frostbite
* Tissue damage

### Example 7

Activity: Disposing of chemical waste

Hazard: Reaction between incompatible chemical wastes

Potential Consequence:

* Release of toxic gases
* Fire
* Explosion

### Example 8

Activity: Storing chemicals

Hazard: Storage of oxidising agents together with flammable materials

Potential Consequence:

* Fire
* Explosion

### Example 9

Activity: Responding to a chemical spill

Hazard: Exposure to hazardous chemicals during spill cleanup

Potential Consequence:

* Chemical burns
* Toxic effects

### Example 10

Activity: Weighing toxic powders

Hazard: Inhalation of airborne toxic powder

Potential Consequence:

* Acute toxic effects
* Chronic occupational illness

---

## Biological Laboratories

### Example 11

Activity: Pipetting bacterial cultures

Hazard: Exposure to infectious aerosols generated during pipetting

Potential Consequence:

* Laboratory-acquired infection

### Example 12

Activity: Vortex mixing cultures

Hazard: Exposure to infectious aerosols released during vortex mixing

Potential Consequence:

* Respiratory infection

### Example 13

Activity: Operating a centrifuge containing biological samples

Hazard: Exposure to infectious aerosols following centrifuge tube rupture

Potential Consequence:

* Infection
* Biological contamination of the laboratory

### Example 14

Activity: Handling human blood samples

Hazard: Exposure to bloodborne pathogens

Potential Consequence:

* Infection

### Example 15

Activity: Using sharps with biological materials

Hazard: Needle-stick injury involving contaminated biological material

Potential Consequence:

* Infection
* Transmission of bloodborne diseases

### Example 16

Activity: Handling biological waste

Hazard: Contact with contaminated biological waste

Potential Consequence:

* Infection
* Environmental contamination

### Example 17

Activity: Dissecting animal tissues

Hazard: Exposure to zoonotic pathogens

Potential Consequence:

* Zoonotic infection

### Example 18

Activity: Storing biological materials in a freezer

Hazard: Loss of containment of biological materials following freezer failure

Potential Consequence:

* Sample degradation
* Release of biological materials

---

## Laser and Optical Laboratories

### Example 19

Activity: Aligning a laser system

Hazard: Exposure of the eyes to a direct Class 4 laser beam

Potential Consequence:

* Permanent retinal injury

### Example 20

Activity: Setting up optical equipment

Hazard: Exposure of the eyes to reflected laser radiation

Potential Consequence:

* Permanent vision loss

### Example 21

Activity: Maintaining laser equipment

Hazard: Exposure to laser radiation while safety interlocks are bypassed

Potential Consequence:

* Eye injury
* Skin burns

### Example 22

Activity: Operating a high-power laser

Hazard: Ignition of combustible materials by laser radiation

Potential Consequence:

* Fire

### Example 23

Activity: Operating UV curing equipment

Hazard: Exposure to ultraviolet radiation

Potential Consequence:

* Eye damage
* Skin burns

### Example 24

Activity: Operating an infrared laser

Hazard: Exposure to invisible infrared laser radiation

Potential Consequence:

* Retinal damage
* Delayed recognition of injury

---

## Ionising Radiation Activities

### Example 25

Activity: Handling phosphorus-32

Hazard: Skin contamination with radioactive material

Potential Consequence:

* Radiation exposure
* Tissue damage

### Example 26

Activity: Dispensing radioisotopes

Hazard: Internal exposure to radioactive material through ingestion

Potential Consequence:

* Radiation damage to internal organs

### Example 27

Activity: Operating X-ray equipment

Hazard: Exposure to the primary X-ray beam

Potential Consequence:

* Excessive radiation dose
* Radiation-induced health effects

### Example 28

Activity: Transporting radiation sources

Hazard: Release of radioactive material following damage to a source container

Potential Consequence:

* Radioactive contamination
* Radiation exposure

### Example 29

Activity: Handling radioactive waste

Hazard: Improper segregation of radioactive waste

Potential Consequence:

* Radioactive contamination
* Unintended radiation exposure

### Example 30

Activity: Storing radiation sources

Hazard: Unauthorised access to radioactive materials

Potential Consequence:

* Radiation exposure
* Security incident

---

## Engineering Workshops

### Example 31

Activity: Bench grinding

Hazard: Exposure of the eyes to flying particles generated during grinding

Potential Consequence:

* Eye injury

### Example 32

Activity: Operating a lathe

Hazard: Entanglement with rotating parts of the lathe

Potential Consequence:

* Amputation
* Fractures

### Example 33

Activity: Performing drilling operations

Hazard: Contact with a rotating drill bit

Potential Consequence:

* Lacerations
* Puncture injuries

### Example 34

Activity: Welding

Hazard: Inhalation of welding fumes

Potential Consequence:

* Respiratory illness

### Example 35

Activity: Welding

Hazard: Exposure of the eyes to intense ultraviolet radiation from welding arcs

Potential Consequence:

* Arc eye
* Eye injury

### Example 36

Activity: Performing cutting operations

Hazard: Contact with a sharp cutting blade

Potential Consequence:

* Lacerations

### Example 37

Activity: Handling heavy equipment

Hazard: Manual handling of heavy equipment

Potential Consequence:

* Back strain
* Musculoskeletal injury

### Example 38

Activity: Using compressed air

Hazard: Injection of compressed air into body tissues

Potential Consequence:

* Serious tissue damage

---

## Fieldwork

### Example 39

Activity: Conducting environmental sampling

Hazard: Exposure to high environmental temperatures

Potential Consequence:

* Heat exhaustion
* Heat stroke

### Example 40

Activity: Conducting coastal sampling

Hazard: Slipping on wet or uneven surfaces

Potential Consequence:

* Fractures
* Drowning

### Example 41

Activity: Conducting a roadside survey

Hazard: Being struck by moving vehicles

Potential Consequence:

* Serious injury
* Fatality

### Example 42

Activity: Conducting a forest survey

Hazard: Impact from falling branches

Potential Consequence:

* Head injury

### Example 43

Activity: Conducting remote fieldwork

Hazard: Delayed access to emergency medical assistance

Potential Consequence:

* Worsening of injuries or medical conditions

### Example 44

Activity: Conducting a wildlife survey

Hazard: Animal bites or stings

Potential Consequence:

* Infection
* Allergic reaction

---

## Animal Facilities

### Example 45

Activity: Handling animals

Hazard: Animal bites or scratches

Potential Consequence:

* Infection
* Physical injury

### Example 46

Activity: Cleaning animal cages

Hazard: Exposure to animal allergens

Potential Consequence:

* Allergic sensitisation
* Respiratory symptoms

### Example 47

Activity: Restraining animals

Hazard: Manual handling and restraint of animals

Potential Consequence:

* Back injury
* Shoulder injury

### Example 48

Activity: Performing necropsy

Hazard: Exposure to zoonotic agents

Potential Consequence:

* Infection

---

## Facilities and Maintenance

### Example 49

Activity: Working at height using a ladder

Hazard: Falling from a ladder

Potential Consequence:

* Major injury
* Fatality

### Example 50

Activity: Conducting roof inspection

Hazard: Falling through a fragile roof surface

Potential Consequence:

* Serious injury
* Fatality

### Example 51

Activity: Performing electrical maintenance

Hazard: Contact with live electrical conductors

Potential Consequence:

* Electric shock
* Electrocution

### Example 52

Activity: Entering a confined space

Hazard: Oxygen-deficient atmosphere

Potential Consequence:

* Asphyxiation

### Example 53

Activity: Performing hot work

Hazard: Ignition of combustible materials by heat, sparks, or flames

Potential Consequence:

* Fire

### Example 54

Activity: Maintaining chillers

Hazard: Exposure to leaking refrigerant

Potential Consequence:

* Asphyxiation
* Cold burns

---

## Office and Administrative Activities

### Example 55

Activity: Performing prolonged computer work

Hazard: Poor workstation ergonomics

Potential Consequence:

* Neck strain
* Back pain

### Example 56

Activity: Using a keyboard repetitively

Hazard: Repetitive hand and wrist movements

Potential Consequence:

* Tendonitis
* Carpal tunnel syndrome

### Example 57

Activity: Retrieving archived materials from shelving

Hazard: Falling objects from shelving

Potential Consequence:

* Head injury

### Example 58

Activity: Working extended hours

Hazard: Fatigue due to prolonged working hours

Potential Consequence:

* Reduced concentration
* Increased likelihood of errors

---

## Student and Event Activities

### Example 59

Activity: Setting up an event

Hazard: Collapse of temporary structures

Potential Consequence:

* Multiple injuries

### Example 60

Activity: Managing or participating in a crowd event

Hazard: Crowd surge or crowd crush

Potential Consequence:

* Crush injuries

### Example 61

Activity: Setting up tentage

Hazard: Manual handling of heavy tentage components

Potential Consequence:

* Musculoskeletal injury

### Example 62

Activity: Conducting an outdoor event

Hazard: Exposure to lightning during adverse weather

Potential Consequence:

* Serious injury
* Fatality

### Example 63

Activity: Setting up temporary electrical systems

Hazard: Contact with damaged electrical cables or equipment

Potential Consequence:

* Electric shock

### Example 64

Activity: Participating in a pottery workshop

Hazard: Repetitive hand and finger movements during wheel throwing

Potential Consequence:

* Trigger finger
* Wrist strain

### Example 65

Activity: Participating in a pottery workshop

Hazard: Slipping on wet clay-contaminated surfaces

Potential Consequence:

* Fall-related injury

### Example 66

Activity: Participating in a sports event

Hazard: Collision between participants

Potential Consequence:

* Sprains
* Fractures

---

## Contractor Activities

### Example 67

Activity: Performing demolition work

Hazard: Impact from falling debris

Potential Consequence:

* Head injury

### Example 68

Activity: Performing renovation work

Hazard: Inhalation of respirable silica dust

Potential Consequence:

* Silicosis

### Example 69

Activity: Performing ceiling works

Hazard: Falling from a mobile scaffold

Potential Consequence:

* Major injury
* Fatality

### Example 70

Activity: Conducting lifting operations

Hazard: Failure of lifting equipment or lifting accessories

Potential Consequence:

* Crush injury

### Example 71

Activity: Performing excavation work

Hazard: Collapse of excavation walls

Potential Consequence:

* Burial
* Fatality

### Example 72

Activity: Performing hot works

Hazard: Ignition of combustible materials by sparks or hot surfaces

Potential Consequence:

* Fire
* Burns

### Example 73

Activity: Conducting chemical transfer operations

Hazard: Exposure to hazardous chemicals during transfer operations

Potential Consequence:

* Toxic effects
* Chemical burns

### Example 74

Activity: Performing electrical contractor work

Hazard: Exposure to arc flash energy

Potential Consequence:

* Severe burns

### Example 75

Activity: Conducting maintenance shutdown activities

Hazard: Unexpected energisation or start-up of equipment

Potential Consequence:

* Crushing injuries
* Electrocution