Chemical Risk Assessment

Understand, assess and manage chemical hazards confidently

Effective chemical risk assessment is a cornerstone of workplace safety, particularly where hazardous substances are handled, stored, or disposed of. This one-day course equips learners with the practical skills and legal grounding required to assess and manage chemical risks in accordance with national regulations.  Highly interactive and tailored to organisational contexts, the course enables learners to make informed, safety-focused decisions when working with chemical agents.  A key highlight is the hands-on practical risk assessment of hazardous materials, completed by learners and reviewed directly by the course tutor to reinforce real-world application. 

Delivery Mode

  • Customised
    In-Company
    Programmes

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Course Code
HS004

What's covered?

The course offers a hands-on and regulatory-grounded overview of risk assessment practices. It includes real-world scenarios and a group-based practical assessment.

  • The role of risk assessment in safety management 
  • Key elements of the chemical risk assessment process 
  • Understanding hazardous material data: 
    • Hazard properties and supplier information 
    • Exposure duration and working conditions 
    • Occupational limits and preventative actions 
    • Maintenance and accidental release controls 
  • Accessing and interpreting MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) and other resources 
  • Impact of chemicals on human health 
  • Legislation overview: 
    • Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act (2005) 
    • General Application Regulations (2007) 
    • Chemical Agents Regulations, 2001) 
    • Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Carcinogens, Mutagens & Reprotoxic Substances) Regulations (2024) 
    • REACH Regulation (1907/2006/EC) 
    • CLP Regulation (1272/2008/EC) 

The course can be tailored to suit in-company materials and procedures. A key highlight is the hands-on practical risk assessment of hazardous materials, completed by learners and reviewed directly by the course tutor to reinforce real-world application. 

Who should participate?

This course is ideal for staff responsible for the identification and risk assessment of hazardous chemicals, including those involved in handling, storage, or disposal of chemical substances. 

  • Health and Safety Officers 
  • Environmental or Compliance Managers 
  • Chemical handlers and laboratory technicians 
  • Facilities and Maintenance teams 

English Language Competency 
A good standard of written and spoken English is important to engage effectively with this programme. 

What will I learn?

On successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Gather and evaluate critical information about chemical substances
  • Identify chemical hazards and assess their impact on health
  • Analyse and quantify chemical-related workplace risks
  • Understand applicable health and safety legislation
  • Determine suitable control measures to reduce exposure
  • Interpret Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
  • Carry out and document a practical risk assessment

These outcomes ensure practical competency and confident application in the workplace. 

Who are the tutors?

Elizabeth Walker

Elizabeth has extensive industry experience planning, establishing, implementing and maintaining management systems. These systems include Quality, Food Safety, Energy, Environmental and Health and Safety. Elizabeth holds a BSc Degree in Industrial Biology, Diploma in Food Technology and is a competent Integrated Management System Auditor.

Elizabeth has considerable experience in the implementation of & transition to ISO 9001:2015. Auditing experience includes carrying out internal audits and supporting third party audits (Customer/Regulatory & Certification) of clients Quality Management System. Elizabeth also delivers training programmes in ISO 9001:2015 implementation and internal auditing and lead auditor training programmes.


Finbarr Stapleton

Finbarr Stapleton, Antaris, has a B.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry and a Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety and is a member of IOSH. He has over thirty years experience, initially as Laboratory Manager in an Analytical Laboratory, a number of years experience as an EHS Manager in the Food Industry and subsequently in technical consultancy.

He has successfully implemented OHSAS 18001/45001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 in a large number of industries. He has extensive experience of quality management and environmental and health and safety management systems, energy management, waste management as well as environmental and health and safety legislation. He is a qualified Auditor of ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001/ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 management systems. Finbarr has also extensive experience of energy management systems such as ISO 50001. He has carried out a number of projects on behalf of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
He regularly carries out audits and risk assessments for client companies. He has also qualified as a dangerous goods safety adviser.

Finbarr has assisted a number of companies in making successful applications to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for an IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control) licence and has also carried out Environmental Impact Assessments for a number of companies.

Finbarr also holds an NUI Certificate in Training and Continuing Education. He is the lead tutor for the Nebosh International Certificate and Diploma courses.


Gerry Higgins

With extensive experience of implementing quality, environmental, health and safety, asset, energy and information security management systems and advising companies on how to integrate them, Gerry adopts a very practical approach to designing, implementing and maintaining management systems and brings this expertise to any training course, which he delivers.

Gerry has carried out first-, second- and third-party audits in a number of jurisdictions and across a range of organisations involved in manufacturing and service industries in both the public and private sector. He has also assisted many companies to demonstrate compliance with their statutory and regulatory requirements.

He has consulted with companies on developing appropriate sustainability, decarbonisation and energy transition strategies and on enhancing their circular value chains.

He has a degree in engineering and an MBA from the University of Limerick and is a chartered engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland. He is also a Fellow and chartered environmentalist through IEMA and holds a Certificate in Circular Economy & Sustainable Strategies from the University of Cambridge

Gerry founded Antaris in 1994 and now works as a consultant to the company. Antaris is at the forefront of climate action in Ireland and is a signatory to the science-based target initiative (SBTi), which commits us to reducing our absolute scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year, and to measure and reduce our scope 3 emissions. Antaris is also a member of 1% for the Planet, committing us to donating 1% of our annual gross revenue (sales, not profit) to grassroots environmental organisations dedicated to protecting our planet.


Peter Fleming

Peter Fleming is an accomplished EHSQ professional with credible technical insight coupled with best-in-class interpersonal and communication skills. In the last 14 years, he has specialized in the areas of HAZOP, risk assessment, process safety, fire safety and industrial loss prevention. Peter Has worked with over 300 organizations in Europe, China, Middle East, America, Central America primarily focusing on HAZOP studies and Risk Assessment.

Currently, he has been coordinating a number of HAZOP and SIL studies in Jubail and Saudi Arabia. He has also worked as a safety expert responsible for assessing the safety of Ma’aden operations and processes and preparing a safety risk register for Ma’aden Phosphate Company. His work encompassed beneficiation, ammonia, 3 sulfuric acid, 3 phosphoric acid and 4 diammonium phosphate plants. He has also completed a number of HAZOP studies in Saudi Arabia and Qatar for a number of clients.


How do we train and support you?

Our training is interactive, practical and grounded in current legislation and workplace realities. 

  • Pre-training consultation to tailor delivery 
  • Comprehensive course notes, regularly updated to reflect the latest standards and best practices 
  • Customised In-Company delivery available virtually or on-site 
  • Real-time support from expert tutors 

Places are generally limited to 12-15 to support personalised learning and individual support. 

How can you progress?

Learners who complete this course may wish to consider: 

  • Health & Safety Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment 
  • REACH and CLP – the Basics 
  • Overview of Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 
  • ISO 45001:2018 Implementation (OH&SMS) 

Further options are available for career progression in health, safety and compliance. 

Peter Fleming

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Peter Fleming

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