Chemical Health Risk Assessment in Fire and Explosion Incidents in Laboratories (2020-2024): A Literature Review

Abstract

Working in chemical laboratories poses significant fire and explosion risks, often due to inadequate safety management, such as improper chemical handling and lack of hazard awareness. Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) is an important method for identifying, evaluating, and managing these risks. This literature review examines the application of CHRA in the context of fire and explosion incidents in laboratories from 2020 to 2024. The objective is to identify key risk factors, evaluate risk assessment methods, and propose recommendations for hazard mitigation. A systematic review of articles from electronic databases was conducted, focusing on risk assessment methods like HAZOP, HFACS-BN, and CHRA in the context of fire and explosion incidents in academic and industrial laboratories. The review found highlight key risk factors include human error, poor chemical management, inadequate storage, and insufficient safety infrastructure. Key mitigation strategies included the implementation of ventilation systems, fire extinguishers, and safety training, were shown to reduce incidents by up to 70%. CHRA was found to be particularly effective in assessing hazardous chemical risks through probability and impact-based approaches. Additionally, combining top-down and bottom-up strategies proved essential for optimizing laboratory safety management. The study concludes that CHRA is a critical tool for identifying and managing fire and explosion risks in laboratories. Strengthening safety infrastructure, enhancing occupational health and safety (OHS) training, and adopting risk-based protocols can significantly improve laboratory safety and reduce potential hazards.