Safety at the Chemical Laboratory

Code:

Q4075

Acronym:

Q4075

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Advanced Methods and Accreditation in Chemical Analysis

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:MA3Q	3	Study plan from 2018/19	1	-	3	21	81

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

To revise and complement essential information about safety in chemistry laboratories.

To provide the students with a broad interdisciplinary knowledge concerning safety in chemistry laboratories.

To provide the students with ability of effective practical intervention in important prevention actions and in case of accident.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is intended to give the students a broad view of several aspects of safety in chemistry laboratories.

To develop skills of research and discussion of complementary information on chemical safety, in particular European legislation information search and its critical analysis.

The students are also encouraged to contribute with complementary information about the subject. For this effect, a forum on MoodleUP will be created.

To develop self-learning methodologies and skills of problem analysis, in different areas of chemical safety.

It is intended that the students develop projects based on practical examples of safety issues, through autonomous work.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Module 1

Information on chemicals.
Hazardous chemicals: concepts; types of hazards; risk and safety.
Safe use of chemicals: legislation; European system of hazard classification of chemicals (physical hazards, health hazards, environmental hazards); classification of hazardous chemicals and hazard communication; labelling of hazardous chemicals. The CLP Regulation.
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS): organization; hazard classification; communication of hazards.
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical Substances): framework, application, methodology.


Module 2

Hazards (general, chemical, physical, ergonomic, psychosocial, organizational) more common in chemical laboratories, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (OSHA Europe).

Risk and safety: risk assessment; risk management; safe use of chemicals.

Possible practical activities:
- Separation and conditioning of hazardous wastes.
- Fire extinguishing.
- Containment and absorption of chemical spills.
- Labelling of containers with substances and mixtures, according to the GHS.
- Verification of the correct function of fume hoods.
- Other possibilities.

Mandatory literature

T.S.S. Dikshith; Handbook of Chemicals and Safety, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2011

Complementary Bibliography

Byrd Daniel M.; Introduction to risk analysis. ISBN: 9780865876965
Furr A. Keith; CRC Handbook of laboratory safety. ISBN: 0-8493-2518-8

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical-practical classes. Students are encouraged to develop self-learning methodologies to develop problem analysis and project development skills, in different areas of chemical safety.
In general, the classes are conducted in order to promote the participation of the students, either through research and discussion of complementary information, or through the presentation and discussion of practical examples of the subjects under discussion.

Theoretical-practical classes, intended for oriented preparation, by the students, of the projects to be carried out.

Online classes (Moodle U.Porto).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Prova oral	30,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Trabalho laboratorial	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	60,00
Frequência das aulas	21,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

It is mandatory to comply with the attendance in classes.

The students must attend a minimum of 75% of the total number of classe.

Calculation formula of final grade

The assessment is based on the development of projects related to the theme of the curricular unit and respective oral presentation.

The final grade is the weighted average of the marks obtained in the projects.

The weight to be given to the classification of each project will be agreed with the students, at the beginning of the semester, in line with the estimated time needed and the degree of difficulty of each project.

Regardless of the value of the final classification, to obtain approval, it is necessary that the average of the classifications obtained in each of the Modules, 1 and 2, is equal to or greater than 8.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

All the omissive situations will be handled through a complimentary oral exam.

Classification improvement

Given the pratical character of the course, improvement of classification is possible only by a new inscription.