COSHH http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/2174731/2/stock-illustration-2174731-poison-bottles.jpg

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health COSHH Control of Substances Hazardous to Health http://officetest.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/COSHH-332x230-332x229.jpg

COSHH Comprehensive regulations for the control of all substances hazardous to health at work. First legislated 1988 Updated 1999 Updated 2002 COSHH 2002 more prescriptive http://db-training.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/occ-hygiene-coshh-1.jpg

WHO DOES COSHH APPLY TO? All people who are exposed to risks to health immediate or delayed. Except where specific regulations apply: Specific regulations cover, for example: asbestos, lead, ionising radiation, coal mining and others See also new DSEAR Regulations: explosives, flammables, pressurised systems Course of medical treatment Direct social contact http://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/coshh-quiz/

WHAT IS A SUBSTANCE HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH? A substance is hazardous to health if: It has a OEL or MEL – never exceed GUIDANCE NOTE EH40/2005 for OELs (HSE) It carries a hazard warning under CHIP regulations e.g. toxic, harmful, irritant, mutagenic etc.

OEL OEL – occupational exposure limit EH40/2005 Occupational exposure limits – documentation on HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/eh40.pdf Exposure to a substance is uptake into the body. The exposure routes are: By breathing fumes, dust, gas or mist. By skin contact. By injection into the skin. By swallowing.

WHAT IS A SUBSTANCE HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH? A substance is hazardous to health if: It has a OEL or MEL – never exceed GUIDANCE NOTE EH40/2005 for OELs It carries a hazard warning under CHIP regulations e.g. toxic, harmful, irritant etc.

HAZARD WARNING SYMBOLS

INTERNATIONAL HAZARD SYMBOLS International symbols are replacing the CHIP/European symbol (orange & black) Many of them very similar to the European symbols minus the word describing the hazard UK – CHIP (2009) regs are currently being replaced by new regulations called Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP Regulations) This change is a result of the UN countries and EU agreeing on a new classification system The outcome is the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, known as GHS Designed to promoted trade and reduce multiple standards

New hazard warning pictograms

CHIP/CLP - COMPARISON More of this later Dangerous to the environment; Toxic; Gas under pressure; Corrosive; Explosive; Flammable; Caution - used for less serious health hazards like skin irritation; Oxidising; and Longer term health hazards such as carcinogenicity and respiratory sensitisation. More of this later

MSDS/INFORMATION Labels www.hse.gov.uk Find this information in MSDS Manufacturer must make MSDS available Sent with the material Catalogues Website e.g. hazard.com Labels www.hse.gov.uk COSHH Essentials now available online. Look at MSDS and see for yourself how much information there is on them.

INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM R & S PHRASES RISK R38 irritating to skin R46 May cause heritable genetic damage SAFETY S25 avoid contact with eyes S30 Never add water to this product See course notes for complete list

SPECIAL CONCERNS HIGHLIGHTED IN COSHH 2002 Substances causing skin disorders Substances causing asthma Asphyxiants Carcinogens Biological agents Ability to cause infection Severity of disease Risk to community Availability of vaccines and effective treatment

OTHER HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES Dust 10mg/m3 total inhalable air Any other substance which creates comparable risk

ASSESSMENT Suitable and sufficient Carry out risk assessment before commencing task Evaluate risk to health RISK = HAZARD x EXPOSURE Hazard = potential to cause harm Risk = likelihood of harm occurring

ASSESSMENT Review if no longer valid or significant changes in the work Done by someone with a thorough understanding of the work, the practices and the people Not me?

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS COSHH now much more prescriptive What substances are present? What are the harmful effects? Where and how used, handled etc.? Who could be affected? Quantity involved and exposure time? How likely is exposure?

CONTROL OF RISK HIERARCY OF STEPS Work through Elimination Substitution Total enclosure Partial enclosure – LEV e.g. fume hood General ventilation

CONTROL HIERARCY OF STEPS CONT’D Limit number of people exposed Limit time of exposure to substance Protective clothing – PPE N.B. PPE REGULATIONS IN “SIX PACK” *ELIMINATION RATHER THAN CONTROL

WHAT IS ADEQUATE CONTROL? If there is an MEL do not exceed - get as far below as reasonably possible If there is an OEL, meet that standard. If exceeded identify reasons and remedy the situation ASAP Regulation 8 All control measures to be used or applied Regulation 9 Properly maintained Tested (LEV 14 months) PPE Maintenance records must be kept

MONITORING OF CONTROLS REGULATION 10 Monitoring of controls Where serious health risk To ensure MEL or OEL not exceeded REGULATION 11 Health Surveillance Employee’s health including medical surveillance Biological monitoring Records – kept at least 40 years

REGULATION 12 COMMUNICATE/CONSULT Information Instruction Training Risks Precautions Results of monitoring Results of health surveillance

UNLUCKY FOR SOME REGULATION 13 Arrangements for accidents, incidents and emergencies

SUMMARY Reg 6 Assessment Reg 7 Prevention of exposure - control Reg 8 Ensure control measures are used Reg 9 Maintain, examine, test control measures Reg 10 Monitor exposure Reg 11 Health surveillance Reg 12 Inform, instruct, train Reg 13 Emergency procedures

STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Never mix different chemical together https://headsupab.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/cleaners.jpg

Never decant chemical to unlabelled or wrongly labelled containers http://www.stewardshipcommunity.com/uploads/pics/7.1_01.jpg

Toxic chemicals – store in locked cupboard http://en.hesperian.org/hhg/A_Community_Guide_to_Environmental_Health:Chemicals_Used_in_Mining

Flammable materials should not be stored with oxidising chemicals http://www.store-safe.com/product_Images/Pratt%20new%20cabinets/Oxidising%20Agents/5535AOA_1.jpg http://www.appliedsafety.net.au/productimages/NRSC100.jpg

Gas cylinders secured in storage area outside building http://images.kruizinga.nl/products/large/foto-800/2700-001dak-2.jpg

Abide by regulations when disposing of waste material http://waste.pages.tcnj.edu/files/2009/12/Chemical-Waste-1.gif http://www.citydisposalblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/BlackhawkProductsPipeJointMastic-C5x4D-300x240.jpg http://www.gpcontent.com/global-includes/images/article-promo/hazardous-waste-300-250-asd.png

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BE SAFE