Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Executive New Guidance What HSE expects John Healy HSE

Intend to cover Guidance The harm that nickel can cause Legal implications Inhalation exposure Dermal exposure

The harm that nickel can cause Cancer Allergic contact dermatitis Asthma

Legal implications Adequately control exposure Totally enclose process unless this is not reasonably practicable Ensure exposure is less than the workplace exposure limit (WEL) of 0.1 mg/m 3 (as nickel as an eight hour time weighted average) Reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable

Legal implications Prohibit eating, drinking and smoking in areas that may be contaminated Clean floors, walls and other surfaces at regular intervals and whenever necessary

Legal implications Risk assessment that covers everything in preceding slides plus what is to be done about: Monitoring exposure Maintaining control measures such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV) Health surveillance Information, instruction and training

Inhalation exposure

LEV issues include: Ensure that the minimum freeboard is at least 150mm on existing tanks although 300mm or more is preferred Check LEV plant visually at least once a week Supplement the weekly tests with monthly visual observation of smoke patterns from a smoke generator

Inhalation exposure £24.99 £550 (or ~£60 pw to hire)

Inhalation exposure LEV issues Ensure that a competent person thoroughly examines and tests LEV plant at least once every 14 months Keep a record of examinations and tests for at least five years

Inhalation exposure Monitoring A programme of air sampling and analysis will generally always be necessary where nickel plating is carried out Occupational hygiene consultants can do this - directory from the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS)

Inhalation exposure Monitoring Take personal air samples to compare with the WEL Allow employees to see their own monitoring results Retain results for at least 40 years Carry out any recommendations made by your consultant

Inhalation exposure Health surveillance Appoint a responsible person to complete respiratory questionnaires An occupational doctor or nurse should train the responsible person Questionnaires should be completed pre- employment, after six weeks, after six months and then annually

Inhalation exposure Information, instruction and training Information, instruction and training are a key part of your health risk management and without them the measures implemented as a result of your risk assessment will not be fully effective Best delivered as toolbox talks or “classroom style”

Dermal exposure

Control measures Pump rather than pouring liquid tank additions Restrict access to the plating line Provide impermeable, easy-to-clean work surfaces Pump rather than pouring liquid tank additions

Dermal exposure Control measures Deal with spills immediately - preferably using a suction device Use top sprays to rinse the work on the flight bar to reduce the build up of nickel salts

Dermal exposure

Gloves

Dermal exposure Health surveillance Appoint a responsible person to carry out skin checks An occupational doctor or nurse should train the responsible person Inspect hands, forearms, face and neck at least every month and administer an annual questionnaire

Dermal exposure Information, instruction and training Very important Consider summarising and documenting the key points, laminating the resulting page or pages and displaying them at appropriate points in the plating shop

To summarise Successful management of the health risks associated with nickel exposure in electroplating requires an holistic or multifactorial approach Read the guidance

Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Executive Main cause of allergic contact dermatitis is nickel Much of this results from body piercing using cheap jewellery

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