COSHH CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HARMFUL TO HEALTH.
WORKING WITH SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH
So, What Is COSHH?
The term COSHH stands for ‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health’. Basically, it is the law that requires employers to control these substances. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH, 2002) employers are required to either prevent, reduce or at the very least, control exposure to hazardous substances in order to prevent ill health to their workers.
Hazardous substances can come in many different forms such as:
Many other products or substances used at work can be harmful, such as glue, ink, paint, lubricant, beauty products and detergent. Benzene in crude oil can even cause leukaemia. It is essential to remember however, that whilst most substances can harm health, when used properly, they almost never do. Some substances may have other issues of concern, such as be flammable, for example solvent-based products can give off flammable vapour. Clouds of dust from everyday materials, such as flour or wood dust, can explode if ignited. It is very important to look at each substance individually and evaluate in what ways they can be harmful?
ASSESS THE RISK
Then think about the task. If the substance is harmful, how might you or contractors be exposed? By breathing in any gases, mist, dust or fumes? Will it come into contact with the skin? Is there a chance it could be swallowed? Can it in any way come into contact with a person’s eyes?
Exposure By Inhalation
If inhaled, some substances can attack the nose, throat or lungs while others get into the body through the lungs and harm other parts of the body like the liver.
Exposure By Skin Contact
Some substances can damage a person’s skin, while others pass through it and damage other parts of the body. Skin can get contaminated by either direct contact with the substance, splashing, airborne dust or by contact with contaminated surfaces (including contact with contamination inside protective gloves).
Other Exposure Routes
People can also transfer chemicals from their hands to their mouths if hands are not washed after substances have been handled. This can be done via eating or smoking. Vapour, gas and dust can also has the potential to irritate the eye. Caustic fluid splashes have been known to damage a person’s eyesight permanently.
COSHH REGULATIONS
To comply with regulations the employer must assess the risks to health arising from hazardous substances created by the work activity, and then decide what precautions are needed in order to prevent or adequately control exposure.
The regulations have a hierarchy of control measures which must be followed. If it is at all possible, the activity or process must be changed so that hazardous substances aren’t used or generated, or a safer alternative should be put into place.
If prevention is not reasonably practicable, exposure should then be controlled by methods such as ventilation or enclosure.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be the last control measure to be used and this is the last line of defence.
You must then make sure that all control measures are properly used and maintained.
BEFORE STARTING THE TASK
STEP 1, Asses the Risk.
Which substances are involved? In what way are they harmful?
STEP 2, Decide what precautions are required.
checking information that came with the product, eg a safety data sheet;
STEP 3, Prevent or adequatly control exposure.
STEP 4, Ensure control measures are used & maintained.
THINK ABOUT THE TASK
Some vapour’s, gases and dusts are irritating to eyes. Caustic fluid splashes can damage eyesight permanently.
Skin puncture?
Some substances damage skin, while others pass through it and damage other parts of the body. Skin gets contaminated:
Exposure by breathing in
Once breathed in, some substances can attack the nose, throat or lungs while others get into the body through the lungs and harm other parts of the body, eg the liver.
Exposure by skin contact
Risks from skin puncture such as butchery or needlestick injuries are rare, but can involve infections or very harmful substances, eg drugs.
By direct contact with the substance, eg if you touch it or dip your hands in it;
By splashing;
By substances landing on the skin, eg airborne dust;
By contact with contaminated surfaces
Contamination inside protective gloves.
Exposure by swallowing
People transfer chemicals from their hands to their mouths by eating, smoking etc without washing first.
Exposure to the eyes
Exposure by skin puncture
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SAFETY DATE SHEETS
Products you use may be ‘dangerous for supply’. If so, they will have a label that has one or more hazard symbols.
These products include common substances in everyday use such as paint, bleach, solvent or fillers. When a product is ‘dangerous for supply’, by law, the supplier must provide you with a safety data sheet.
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Most businesses use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances. Some processes create substances. These could cause harm to employees, contractors and other people.
Sometimes substances are easily recognised as harmful. Common substances such as paint, bleach or dust from natural materials may also be harmful.
Safety data sheets can be hard to understand, with little information on measures for control. However, to find out about health risks and emergency situations, concentrate on:
Sections 2 and 16 of the sheet, which tell you what the dangers are;
Sections 4-8, which tell you about emergencies, storage and handling.
STORAGE
Ensure that only trained workers have access to stored chemical products. Keep the storage container locked & provide good washing facility's
Keep the store area well ventilated & keep a spill clean up kit nearby
CAUTION: Never decant concentrate into an unlabelled container. Never re-use a concentrate container, Dispose of it safely or return it to the supplier. Do not store more than 50 litres of flammable liquid indoors
Personal Protective Equipment
Follow the instructions on product labels. Ask your safety-clothing supplier to help you get the right PPE. You may need respiratory protective equipment in case of a spill. Provide protective gloves, nitrile gloves are acceptable, if you must use latex gloves use only 'low protein powder free gloves. Throw away single use gloves every time they are taken off
KEEP APART
Solid and liquid products.Flammable and non flammable liquids. Acids and alkalis. Wastes
Store products containing chemicals securely in a cool, dry , dark place capable of keeping in spills. Don't store more than you need. Store containers so their labels face forward. Store heavier items and corrosive chemicals on lower shelves
Ensure that containers are easy to pour from, don't dribble and don't trap liquid in a rim. Try to buy solid chemicals in tablet form, or in a wide necked container such that it is easy to scoop out granules.
SPECIAL CARE
Contact with many chemicals can lead to skin soreness and itching, rashes, blistering (dermatitis). Some can also damage the eyes.
CLEANING AND HOUSEKEEPING
Keep the storage area clean and well organised. Clear up spills immediately, absorb liquids in granules, scoop solids or absorbed liquids into a marked secure container. Dispose of hazardous waste through a specialist contractor.
TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
Tell workers about the risks of using the product, see product labels or Section 15 of the safety data sheet. If products can cause skin or eye damage, plan how to give first aid. Working in the right way and using the controls correctly is important for exposure control. Train and supervise workers
SYMBOLS
'Since 2009, new international symbols have been gradually replacing the European symbols. Some of them are similar to the European symbols, but there is no single word describing the hazard. Read the hazard statement on the packaging and the safety data sheet from the supplier.
EUROPEAN SYMBOLS
INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS
AND IN CONCLUSION
HSE COSHH website: www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm
Preventing contact dermatitis at work Leaflet INDG233(rev1) HSE
