Safe use of substances at work

Many products and substances used or generated at work are hazardous.  Working practices must aim to minimise the risk of using such substances and minimise the consequences of any accidents.  Certain hazardous substances are covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002 which require an assessment of likely health risks to be carried out.  The Regulations cover:

• Substances labelled as very toxic, toxic, harmful, corrosive, or irritant.
• Substances with specified Workplace Exposure Limits. Certain substances have been assigned exposure limits that should not be exceeded to protect the health of people exposed
• Substantial quantities of dust.
• Harmful micro-organisms such as Legionella, Hepatitis etc.
• Any other substance that creates a comparable health hazard. These are substances that are not classified as hazardous but may have similar health effects to the substances above

This would include cleaning chemicals, paints, photocopier toner, adhesives, wood dust, vehicle exhaust gases and metal fume for example.  The COSHH Regulations apply to all workplaces but the effort involved in complying with them will depend upon the substances and process in use.  In their fullest form the Regulations require employers and the self-employed to:

1. Make a written assessment of the health risks of substances used at work.
2. Implement appropriate control measures for those risks.
3. Inform anyone who might be at risk from substances at work.
4. Carry out monitoring and health surveillance where necessary.

Further detailed guidance on how to comply with COSHH is available from your safety inspector and from the references listed below.

Legionnaires Disease

Legionnaires Disease is potentially fatal and is caused by a bacterium, Legionella pneumophila which is present in water, and can create infection when it is breathed in as a fine spray of airborne water droplets.  The disease begins with high fever, chills and headache with pneumonia developing.  Infection can be fatal.  Infection can result from poorly maintained hot and cold water systems particularly where aerosols are frequently formed, such as air conditioning plant, cooling towers, industrial sprays and showers.  Certain simple precautions can remove any risk and should be followed in all premises.  Precautions centre upon preventive maintenance, cleaning and disinfection, design of systems, alteration of operating conditions and replacement of fixtures. 

An Approved Code of Practice The prevention or control of legionellosis (including legionnaires disease) applies to premises involving a work activity where water is used or stored and where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of legionellosis.  Then it will be necessary to undertake a risk assessment to identify and assess the risks and any necessary precautionary measures for minimising the risk.

The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condenser Regulations 1992 require the person in control of any premises containing cooling tower condenser equipment to notify the Local Authority for registration purposes. Application forms are available from the Local Authority on request or can be downloaded from our web site.

Asthma

Asthma is a growing problem and can occur in two forms, Occupational and work-related.

Occupational asthma

This is caused when a substance used at work is breathed in that produces a hypersensitive reaction in the small tubes carrying air to and from the lungs. Not everyone goes on to develop the condition but once the lungs become hypersensitive to a substance a further exposure, even a small one, can cause an attack.

Work-related asthma

This is a different condition and the causes include substances that do not cause sensitisation but do irritate the airways of people who already have asthma. They can also cause irritation of the airways in people who have occupational asthma. Quite often the substances that cause this reaction can be chemical, but even normal household dust or cold air can cause an attack.

The EU Chemical Agents Directive has been put into force through the COSHH Regulations 2002 and so employers duties to control the causes of asthma at work has been tightened. Employers must look at the substances and other materials or conditions present in their workplace and follow the hierarchy of control in the regulations to eliminate or minimise the risk of asthma to their employees.

Dermatitis

Occupational Dermatitis or Occupational Contact Dermatitis as it is sometimes called is a non infectious condition caused by the skin coming into contact with certain substances at work. The symptoms are redness, itching, blistering and scaling of the skin. This can spread all over the body. If the condition gets worse it can lead to the skin cracking and bleeding. This can result in people loosing time at work and also exposes them to further infections.

Most cases are caused by exposure to chemicals. The reaction depends on; the chemical and how strong it is and how long and how often the skin is exposed to it. Depending on the person the time to a reaction can range from the first time they are exposed to weeks, months or years.

Dermatitis can affect anyone but people working in the following businesses are at greatest risk;

• Hairdressing/Beauty Trade
• Catering and Food processing
• Cleaning
• Health/Care sectors
• Construction
• Engineering
• Printing
• Agriculture/Horticulture

Employers have a duty under COSHH and the Management Regulations to prevent their emplyees coming into contact with substances that may cause dermatitis. If the exposure cannot be prevented then they must do all they can to minimise the risk from exposure. These measures can include;

• Use safer chemicals or use them in a dilute form
• Wearing the right sort of gloves  You may need to consider possible allergic reactions if latex gloves are used
• The use of moisturising creams before and after work
• The use of other protective clothing to guard against splashes to exposed skin
• Provision of washing facilities  for normal and emergency situations
• Training employees on the risk of exposure and the control measures in place

Other regulations covering the use of chemicals at work include the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986, the Poisonous Substances in Agriculture Regulations 1984 and the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002.  The use of asbestos is covered later under Dangerous Substances.

The risk from hazardous substances at work can be controlled by a number of methods; the list below shows some of them in order of preference.

1. Eliminate the substance wherever possible or;
2. Substitute it with a safer alternative.
3. Enclose the process or handling system.
4. Provide local exhaust ventilation.
5. Provide general ventilation.
6. Limit contamination by good housekeeping, proper storage and disposal.
7. Exclude non-essential personnel.
8. Minimise the duration of exposure.
9. Provide personal protective clothing or equipment, only where other (methods are not technically feasible, as a stop-gap, in emergencies or for rare routine maintenance.

References

• L5 Control of substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 - Approved code of Practice ISBN 0 71762534 6 £10.50
• HSG 97 A step by step guide to COSHH assessment ISBN 0 7176 2785 3 £8.95
• EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits ISBN 0 7176 2977 5 £11.50
• IND(G)136 COSHH: a brief guide to the Regulations ISBN 0 7176 2677 6
• OL2 COSHH: an open learning course (ISBN 0 7176 2737 3 £30.00) n
• L132 Control of lead at work: Approved Code of Practice ISBN 0 7176 2565 8 £10.50n
• AS 25 Training in the use of pesticides
• L9 The Safe use of pesticides for non agricultural purposes ACOP 0 7176 0542 6 £8.95
• LAC27(rev 2) Legionnaires Disease  A guide for Employees
• L8 Legionnaires disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems ACOP ISBN      07176 1772 6 £8.00
• IND (G) 376 Essential Information for providers of residential accommodation  Legionnaires Disease.
• INDG233 Preventing Dermatitis at Work  Advice for employers and employees
• HSG193 COSHH Essentials: Easy steps to control chemicals (second edition) ISBN 0 7176 2737 3 see also www.coshh-essentials.org.uk
• L55 Preventing Asthma at Work ISBN 0 7176 0661 9
• INDG 95 Respiratory Sensitisers and COSHH - Breathe Freely 
• INDG 172 Breathe Freely, a workers information card

http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/index.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/skin/index.htm

Safe Use of Substances at Work - A Checklist

1. What hazardous substances are in use?
2. Have the risks of those substances been properly assessed?
3. Have the risks been properly controlled?
4. Has adequate information and training been provided for staff?
5. Have monitoring and surveillance procedures been implemented where appropriate?

Think About...

1.        

• Has a preliminary list of hazardous substances been prepared?
• Does the list include wastes, by-products, dust and fumes produced at work?
• Does the list include substances purchased separately by staff?

2.        

• Have the hazards of these substances been identified?
• Have product safety data sheets been obtained from all suppliers of hazardous substances?
• Has the method of use of these substances been assessed?
• Has the monitoring and sampling been carried out where necessary?
• Have the hazards and the method of use been considered together to give risks?
• Has account been taken of what happens in emergencies and other unusual circumstances?
• Has the assessment been recorded and repeated as often as necessary?

3.                    

• Have hazardous substances been eliminated or substituted wherever possible?
• Are other control measures used in preference to personal protective equipment?
• Is control equipment properly maintained and, in the case of respiratory equipment and local exhaust ventilation in particular, examined and tested?
• Are control measures used and is their use properly supervised?

4.        

• Have staff been informed of the health risks of hazardous substances?
• Have staff been properly trained in the use of control measures?
• Is appropriate refresher and induction training provided?

5.        

• Has a scheme of monitoring and health surveillance been drawn up for all staff where necessary?
• Are appropriate records kept?