Chemicals are a natural part of everyday operations in many organisations, but improper handling can have serious consequences for health, safety and the environment (HSE). Chemical risk assessment is therefore a key HSE measure for identifying hazards and implementing the necessary controls. In this article, we explain what risk assessment is, why it is important, and how chemical risk assessments can be carried out in practice.
What is chemical risk assessment?
Chemical risk assessment involves a systematic review of the hazards associated with chemical substances and mixtures, combined with an assessment of their use and how employees may actually be exposed during their day-to-day work.
The aim of the risk assessment is to determine whether the use of chemicals or a work activity involves an unacceptable risk of exposure, and what measures may be required to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.
Why is risk assessment important?
Chemicals can have serious consequences if they are not handled correctly. A systematic risk assessment gives the organisation an overview of the hazards associated with the use of chemicals and the measures needed to reduce risk and prevent injuries and incidents.
Health hazards
Many chemicals can cause harm to health if employees are exposed to them over time or through accidental contact. The health effects may be both acute and long-term, and can range from skin irritation, burns and eye injuries to allergies, respiratory problems, organ damage or cancer. The level of risk depends on both the properties of the chemical and the degree of exposure. A chemical risk assessment helps to identify relevant health hazards, assess how exposure may occur in day-to-day work, and ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to protect employees.
Fire and explosion hazards
Some chemicals are flammable, explosive or chemically reactive, and may pose a serious safety risk if they are stored, handled or used incorrectly. Vapours from flammable liquids can be ignited by sparks, hot surfaces or static electricity, leading to fire or explosion. A chemical risk assessment helps to identify such hazards and assess the risks associated with use, storage and handling, so that appropriate preventive measures can be put in place.
Environmental hazards
Chemical substances can harm the external environment if they are released into air, soil or water. Releases may occur as a result of spills, leaks, improper waste handling, or incidents during production and maintenance processes. A risk assessment evaluates the risk of environmental impact and provides the basis for measures to reduce the risk of pollution and environmental damage.
Regulations such as REACH and CLP set requirements for the handling of chemicals, labelling and documentation. Organisations are therefore legally required to carry out and document chemical risk assessments.
What are typical examples of situations where a risk assessment is required?
Chemical risk assessments must be carried out and updated in several situations, including:
When introducing new chemicals
When changes are made to work methods or processes
When new hazard information about a chemical becomes available
When new work tasks or equipment are introduced
Following incidents or near misses
As part of regular reviews of HSE work
If you are unsure whether a risk assessment is necessary, it is generally better to carry out one too many than one too few.
How to carry out a chemical risk assessment
There are several methods for carrying out a chemical risk assessment, but regardless of the method, the process should be systematic and documented. Below is a general approach that can be used as a starting point.
1. Ensure an up-to-date chemical inventory
The risk assessment process begins with establishing an overview of the chemicals used in the organisation. The chemical inventory must contain valid and up-to-date safety data sheets for all chemical substances and mixtures. This information must be accessible to employees, and chemicals that are no longer in use should be removed. An accurate chemical inventory forms the basis for further risk assessment.
2. Define the work involving the chemical
To ensure effective implementation and a realistic assessment of the risks associated with the use of chemicals, it is important to first clarify how the risk assessments should be structured and defined.
A practical approach is to carry out risk assessments for groups of chemicals, for example by:
Assessing chemicals used in the same work activity
Grouping chemicals within the same category or type of use
By identifying which chemicals can be assessed together, significant efficiency gains can be achieved. This reduces the need for individual assessments of each chemical, while providing a more practical and operational picture of risk.
3. Assess the hazardous properties of the chemical
The next step is to identify the hazards associated with the chemicals. This is done by reviewing the safety data sheets and assessing their classification. This includes identifying health hazards, environmental hazards, and physicochemical properties such as fire or explosion risks. The assessment provides an indication of how severe the consequences may be if exposure occurs.
4. Assess exposure and existing control measures
Risk largely depends on how chemicals are used in practice. It is therefore necessary to assess how employees may be exposed, including the work activities carried out, the quantities handled, how often and for how long the work takes place, and the relevant exposure routes, such as inhalation, skin contact or splashes. Existing control measures, such as ventilation and the use of personal protective equipment, must be included in the assessment. The purpose is to evaluate the risk-reducing effect of these measures and to document which controls must be used by end users when handling the chemicals.
5. Determine the level of risk
Once both hazard and exposure have been assessed, the level of risk can be determined. This involves evaluating the likelihood of an unwanted event occurring and the potential consequences if it does. The result provides the basis for deciding whether the risk is acceptable or if further measures are required.
6. Implement risk-reducing measures
If the risk assessment identifies the need for measures, these must be planned and implemented. Measures may include substitution of hazardous chemicals, technical solutions such as ventilation, changes to work procedures, employee training, or the use of personal protective equipment. The measures should be integrated into the organisation’s procedures, instructions and training programmes to ensure a lasting effect.
7. Document and review
All parts of the risk assessment must be documented so that the assessments can be reviewed and verified. The risk assessment must be kept up to date and revised when there are changes to chemicals, work processes, or following incidents. Regular review helps ensure that chemical risk assessment remains an active and integrated part of HSE work.
The employer has the primary responsibility for ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and followed up. Managers, safety representatives and employees should be involved, so that the assessment is based on practical knowledge of the work tasks.
Risk assessment in Workplace Safety
In Workplace Safety, chemical risk assessments are carried out directly within the system, linked to each individual chemical in the chemical inventory. The user is guided step by step through the assessment, from identifying hazardous properties and exposure conditions to evaluating work methods, storage and risk level. Chemicals can be assessed together in a simple and efficient way within the system, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with their use.
Workplace Safety facilitates structured documentation, risk assessment and follow-up of risk-reducing measures. Once the risk assessment is completed, it is stored together with the chemical and can easily be revised when there are changes in use, work processes or regulations.
Chemical risk assessment is a fundamental part of an organisation’s HSE work and an important tool for preventing injuries, incidents and adverse environmental impact. Tools such as Workplace Safety make it easier to carry out, document and follow up chemical risk assessments in practice, helping organisations gain better oversight, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain a safe working environment over time.
Companies that handle hazardous chemicals or other high-risk processes may be legally required to maintain an exposure register. The register must document which employees have been exposed to dangerous substances and may be of crucial importance if illness develops many years later.
Here, we examine the purpose of an exposure register, the relevant legal obligations, and how companies can ensure compliant registration and documentation practices.
What is an exposure register?
An exposure register should document employees’ potential and actual exposure, including accidents, spills and other incidents that may have led to contact with hazardous substances. This may be in connection with hazardous substances or processes related to:
Chemicals (carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic to reproduction)
Asbestos
Mining work
Biological material
Radiation
Keep in mind that only certain chemicals are relevant for inclusion in the exposure register.
The exposure register is an important tool for identifying and monitoring exposure to hazardous factors. Because illnesses resulting from such exposure often develop over a long period, sometimes many years after the exposure occurred, it is essential to record incidents continuously and as early as possible.
An exposure register can help to:
Monitor employees’ health over time
Provide a basis for health surveillance and support risk assessments
Ensure documentation if illness develops several years after exposure
Who may be exposed?
Several occupational groups that may be exposed to hazardous substances and processes.
Typical examples are:
Employees in industry (chemical industry, metal production, welding and woodworking)
Employees in construction (demolition, remediation, work with asbestos and concrete dust)
Healthcare and laboratory workers (radiation, chemicals and infectious agents)
Employees in renovation and waste management (biological material and hazardous waste)
Employees in mines and tunnels (dust, gases and explosives residues)
Employees within energy and research (radioactive material and ionising radiation)
What must an exposure register contain?
The content of an exposure register may vary. The information that must be recorded depends on the type of exposure involved – for example chemicals (CMR substances), asbestos, biological agents, mining work, or ionising radiation.
The purpose of the register is to ensure traceable and verifiable documentation over time. The regulations therefore set clear requirements regarding the information that must be included. It is also specified that the register must not contain health data beyond what is authorised by the legislation.
Although the details vary depending on the type of exposure, an exposure register will typically include:
The employee’s name and national identification number
The work carried out
The substance, material, or process to which the employee has been exposed
The period and duration of the exposure
Any measurement results or assessments of exposure levels
The date of registration
An exposure register must only contain the information required by the regulations. It must not function as a medical record.
Documentation and storage requirements
The register must be kept for a very long time, often between 40 and 60 years, depending on the type of exposure. The information must be available for as long as the employee is alive, and can be decisive in documenting occupational diseases and any compensation cases.
Individual employees have the right to access their own registrations. In addition, the register must be available to relevant personnel, for example the occupational health services, safety representatives, the working environment committee and any other persons working with HSE in the company.
Who is responsible for the register?
Both employer and employee have certain responsibilities, but it is the employer who has the main responsibility for creating and maintaining the exposure register.
Employee’s responsibility
Follow the company’s routines and guidelines in connection with registration
Report accidents, exposures or other situations that may have led to contact with hazardous substances
Participate in necessary training and help ensure that the information recorded is correct
The employer’s responsibility
Establish routines and guidelines for exposure registration
Provide training on how employees should report
Thoroughly document and retain records for a sufficient period of time
Ensure that the register is used
Ensure that employees have access to their own registrations
Common challenges
Inadequate reporting and follow-up
Many companies find that employees do not report exposures, either because the incident is perceived as minor, the routines are unclear, or because it is simply forgotten. This is often linked to a lack of training in chemical safety and understanding of the risk. In addition, many companies are unsure when they are actually required by law to keep an exposure register.
Difficulty storing registrations over a longer period of time
As some types of exposure require the register to be kept for up to 60 years, it requires good routines for both storage and for safeguarding privacy (GDPR). As long as the employee is alive, it should be possible to document any exposure, especially if there is a risk of cancer. As there are no specific requirements for how records are kept, many companies lack good enough routines to handle this.
A well-maintained exposure register is an important tool for both the employee and the employer. It contributes to prevention, follow-up and documentation, especially because health damage often only becomes apparent many years after exposure. Digital HSE and chemical systems can help companies identify chemicals that are subject to registration, carry out the actual registration and ensure safe storage of the information.
Are you unsure how to carry out good risk assessments of chemicals? Now is your chance to learn what you need!
Workplace Safety invites you to a practical and useful webinar where the Swedish Labor Inspection Authority’s occupational hygienist explains the requirements, shares good advice and answers relevant questions about the topic.
Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Time: 10:00-10:45
What you get:
✅ Insight into the requirements for risk assessment of chemicals ✅ Specific guidance on what a risk assessment must contain ✅ Tips and tricks to make the process easier and more efficient
Who is it suitable for?
This webinar is suitable for managers, HSE managers or anyone who works with chemicals in the workplace.
The webinar is open to everyone and is especially relevant for companies that have hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
Feel free to share the registration page with others who you think might benefit from the webinar!
This article was written for the Norwegian Automobile Industry Association and published in the member magazine Bilbransjen.
An important part of your HSE work
Risk assessment of chemicals is an important part of HSE work, especially in the automotive industry where employees handle a wide range of chemicals every day.
Chemicals can have hazardous properties, especially those used in workshops and paint shops. If handled incorrectly, they may cause acute or long-term health issues, environmental pollution, or even explosive incidents. Carrying out thorough risk assessments enables you to identify the necessary control measures to ensure safe use and management of chemicals.
Risk assessments must be documented in writing
In Norway, the requirements for chemical risk assessment are regulated by the Working Environment Act and regulations such as the Regulations on the Performance of Work. Employers are obligated to identify and assess all chemical substances used in the workplace, and every risk assessment must be documented in writing.
“The risk assessment should always cover the entire work operation in which the chemicals are used”
The way of use guides the risk assessment and measures
A risk assessment must always be based on the specific use of the chemical in question.
The assessment should evaluate the entire work operation in which the chemical is used. If the same chemical is applied in different work operations, this must either be reflected within a single risk assessment or addresses through separate assessments.
Different applications may require different protective equipment and additional training. For example, the use of diisocyanates with a high degree of exposure will trigger mandatory additional training.
Conducting a risk assessment
There are several ways to conduct a chemical risk assessment. This following steps provide a general overview of the process:
An updated chemical inventory: The chemical inventory provides an overview of all chemicals and their safety data sheets (SDS). Always use the latest version of the SDS and verify key information about hazardous properties.
Assessment of hazard: Assess the inherent hazards of the chemical using information from the SDS.
Exposure assessment: Analyse how the chemical is used, quantities handled, routes of exposure (e.g. inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion), frequency and duration of work, and existing workplace control measures.
Characterisation of risk: Combine hazard and exposure information to estimate the overall risk.
Implementation of control measures: Based on the risk assessment, implement measures to reduce risk, such as improved ventilation, appropriate PPE, or substitution with safer alternatives. Integrate these measures into work instructions, checklists, and training routines.
Documentation and auditing: Document the process and review it regularly to ensure assessments remain up to date.
Control measures
Control measures may include the following:
Necessary ventilation
Training of employees
Use of protective equipment
For example, a risk assessment of car painting may include multiple chemicals. This may require isolation of the work area, local exhaust ventilation, training in the use of diisocyanates during spray application, establishing a designated processing zone, and use of protective equipment.
Work smart with user-friendly tools
Digital chemical management systems provide structured processes that make it easier to conduct and document risk assessments in line with regulatory requirements.
Use the expertise of the occupational health service
The occupational health service is a key advisor in risk assessment and employee training on safe chemical handling.
With in-depth knowledge of safe working practices and chemical handling, they can help ensure a safe workplace.
Remember: if the risk conditions warrant it, it is a legal requirement to be affiliated with an approved occupational health service, so make full use of this resource.
Written by Hans Kristian Brekken, chemist and product developer at Workplace Safety.
