Pollution Control - Hazardous Substances

Description

Every year exposure to hazardous substances at work effects the health of many thousands of people. Common examples include lung disease (e.g. dusty conditions), skin irritation, dermatitis or skin cancer (e.g. frequent contact with oils, contact with corrosive liquids), occupational asthma (e.g. sensitisation to isocyanates in paints or adhesives), toxic fumes, occupational cancer etc. The high costs of ill-health arise from loss of earnings, loss of productivity, prosecution and civil action amongst others.

Regulatory Services' Health and Safety Team and the Health and Safety Executive enforce legislation and provide advice relating to hazardous substances.

Eligibility

Employers, the self-employed, employees and members of the public

Procedure

COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations 2002

The Regulations cover:

• Substances labelled as 'very toxic', 'toxic', 'harmful', 'corrosive', or 'irritant'.
• Substances with maximum exposure limits or occupational exposure standards. Refer to Workplace Exposure Limits
• Substantial quantities of dust.
• Harmful micro-organisms including legionella.
• Any other substance that creates a comparable health hazard

This would include cleaning chemicals, paints, photocopier toner, adhesives, wood dust, vehicle exhaust gasses 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.

Helplines

Regulatory Services, Health and Safety Team: 01226 773860/1 e-mail: healthandsafety@barnsley.gov.uk

Health and Safety Executive: 0114 2912300

Opening Times/Locations

09.00 - 17.00 Hrs Monday - Thursday
09.00 - 16.30 Hrs Friday

3rd Floor,
Central Offices,
Kendray Street,
Barnsley,
S70 2TN.

On Foot - up the ramp from Eldon Street, Barnsley.

Bus & Train - Central Offices are in easy walking distance of Barnsley Transport Interchange

How the customer can help

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?

If you are carrying out work that involves excavation that may disturb ground contaminated by hazardous substances you should contact Regulatory Services Pollution Control Team for further advice (see helplines for contact details).

Leaflets

1. Booklet L5-General COSSH ACOP, Carcinogens ACOP and Biological Agents ACOP(HSE) ISBN 0 7176 1670 3
2. A step by step guide to COSHH assessment - HS(G) 97 (HSE) ISBN 0 7176 1446 8.
3. COSHH - a brief guide for employers IND(G) 136L (HSE) available from the HSE Publications website (see associated links).
4. 7 steps to successful substitution of hazardous substances HS(G) 110 (HSE) ISBN 0 7176 0695 3
5. Health surveillance under COSHH (HSE) ISBN 9 780118 854474
6. Booklet HS(G)54: Maintenance, examination and testing of local exhaust ventilation (HSE). ISBN 0-7176-1485-9
7. Booklet HSG187: Control of Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions in the Workplace. (HSE) ISBN 0-7176 1662 2
8. Breathe Freely - Information card on respiratory sensitisers INDG1721
9. Why do I need a Safety Data Sheet INDG353
10. Save your skin - Occupational contact dermatitis MS6
11. Preventing Dermatitis at Work Advice for emloyers and employees INDG233
12. Working Safely with Solvents INDG273
13. Blood-borne viruses in the workplace - guidance for employers and employees INDG342

Distribution Points

Leaflets are available from our offices (see Opening Times/Locations)

Or from HSE:

HSE Books,
PO Box 1999,
Sudbury,
Suffolk,
CO10 2WA.

01787 881165 or www.hse.gov.uk link to free leaflets and download

Stationery Office Book Shops

Legislation

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002

Response Times/Next Steps

Requests for advice will be responded to within 5 working days

Owner Officer Contact Details

Unit Manager, Food Hygiene/Health and Safety
3rd Floor,
Central Offices,
Kendray Street,
Barnsley,
S70 2TN.

Additional Notes

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002

These provide a framework to help protect people in the workplace against health risks from hazardous substances. The substances may be used directly in the work (e.g. cleaning chemicals, chemical reagents) or may arise from the work (e.g. dusts, fumes and waste products).

COSHH lays down a sensible step-by-step approach to the necessary precautions and is therefore a useful tool of good management. The potential for identifiable cost benefits (e.g. tighter control over the use and storage of materials), improved morale and industrial relations have been widely realised.

COSHH applies to virtually all substances hazardous to health. Exceptions include asbestos and lead (which have their own regulations) and substances which are hazardous only because they are radioactive, asphyxiants, at high pressure/temperature or have explosive/flammable properties.

Definitions

• Hazard - is the potential to cause harm
• Risk - is the likelihood that it will harm you in the actual circumstances of use

The risk will depend on a number of factors, such as the hazard presented by the substance, how it is used, how exposure is controlled, the degree and extent of exposure etc.

COSHH requires the following:-

• Assessment of the risks
• Deciding what precautions are needed
• Prevention or control of the risks
• Ensuring that control measures are used and maintained
• Monitoring exposure and health surveillance, where necessary
• Informing, instructing and training employees about the risks and precautions needed

Assessment is a step-by-step approach:-

• Identify what hazards there are
• Evaluate the risks to people
• For significant risks, decide on the action needed to remove or reduce them to insignificant levels

Assessment is the responsibility of the employer. Persons preparing the assessment will need to:-

• Have access to, and understand, COSHH, related legislation, codes of practice and published guidance
• Be competent to carry through the work of assessment
• Consult widely within the workforce and inform them of results accordingly
• Consider peripatetic workers (who work for you on other premises)

Hazards - Substances hazardous to health include:-

• Substances classified as dangerous to health under the Chemicals Hazard Information and Packing for Supply) (CHIP3) Regulations 2002. Many are listed in "The Approved Supply List" which is part of the "CHIP 3" regulations.
• Substances with occupational exposure limits (these are specified in Guidance Note EH40 which is revised annually)
• Biological agents
• Dusts of any kind in substantial concentrations

Identification of hazardous substances can be sought from:-

• Hazard data sheets, labels etc. from suppliers (required by law) from which you must draw conclusions relevant to the way the substance is used in the workplace
• Knowledge from within your business or industry; trade literature
• Published guidance/documents
• Part V of the Approved Supply List (HSE)

Risks - Risk assessment involves looking at:-

• Use, handling, generation, release etc. of hazardous substances
• Who might be affected and likely exposure level/extent
• Nature of exposure (breathing in, swallowing, skin absorption etc.)
• Current measures to prevent or control exposure - effectiveness and use?
• Accidental leakage, spillage or release
• Cleaning and maintenance operations

Further Action

1. No likelihood or insignificant risk - no further action until review of assessment.

2. Risks identified - ensure appropriate control measures, in the following order of priority:-

1. Prevention

• change process/activity so that the hazardous substance is not required or generated
• replace with safer alternative (see HS(G)110 in Ref/Further Details section) substitution
• use it in safer form

2. Control may include any of the following:-

• total enclosure of the process
• partial enclosure and extraction equipment
• general ventilation
• using systems of work and handling procedures which minimise chances of spills, leaks etc. or exposure to the substance(s)

3. Personal protective equipment (eg respirators, protective clothing) only as a last resort when you cannot adequately control exposure by any combination of the measures above.

Employees are required to make proper use of control measures and to report defects.

Employers are required to keep controls in efficient working order and good repair. Engineering controls and respiratory protective equipment have to be examined and, where appropriate, tested at suitable intervals. Suitable records of all such actions taken must be kept.

3. Monitoring exposure is required in certain circumstances, e.g. where there could be serious risks to health if control measures were to fail or deteriorate or where you cannot be sure that exposure limits are not being exceeded. Records of monitoring should be kept.

4. Health surveillance is required:

• where an employee is engaged in one of the processes listed in Schedule 5 of COSHH and is likely to receive significant exposure to the substance involved.
• where employees are exposed to a substance linked to a particular disease or adverse health effect and there is reasonable likelihood under the conditions of the work of that disease or adverse health effect occurring and it is possible to detect the disease or adverse health effect. Suitable records must be kept for 40 years.

Recording and Reviewing the Assessment

Unless the assessment is so simple that it can be easily recalled and its conclusions explained, it should be put in writing. Reviews should take place regularly, at not less than five-yearly intervals, and in any case where it is no longer valid or there have been significant changes in the work.

Informing, Instructing and Training Employees

Must be carried out by employers regarding the substances and their associated risks and precautions. Sufficient information and instruction should be given on control measures, personal protective equipment, results of any exposure monitoring or health surveillance and emergency procedures.

The Steps in Making an Assessment

Checklist - COSHH

1	Have you a complete inventory of substances used/generated in the workplace?	Yes/No
2	Have you identified any substances hazardous to health?	Yes/No
3	Have you gathered information about the substances, the work and working processes?	Yes/No
	- i.e. what are the hazards?	Yes/No
	- i.e. what are the risks from exposure or use?	Yes/No
4	Have you evaluated the risks to health (either on an individual or group basis)?	Yes/No
	- i.e. the chance of exposure occurring?	Yes/No
	- what level of exposure could happen?	Yes/No
	- the duration of the exposure	Yes/No
	- the frequency of the exposure?	Yes/No
5	Have you decided what needs to be done in terms of:
	- preventing or controlling exposure?	Yes/No
	- maintaining control measures?	Yes/No
	- using control measures?	Yes/No
	- any monitoring/surveillance?	Yes/No
	- information, instruction and training?	Yes/No
6	Have you decided to record the assessment?	Yes/No
7	If "yes" to (6), have you decided on the extent, presentation and format of record?	Yes/No
8	Have you decided when each assessment should be reviewed?	Yes/No
9	Have you established a system or procedure to manage and record the above elements?	Yes/No

Frequently Asked Questions

Q What is a hazardous substance?

A A hazardous substance as defined by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations2002 (COSHH) is:

• A substance listed in Part 1 of the approved supply list as dangerous to supply within the meaning of the Chemical (Hazard, Information & Packaging for Supply) Regulations (CHIP) and for which an indication of the danger is specified as Very Toxic, Toxic, Harmful, Corrosive or Irritant.
• It has an approved Workplace Exposure Limit, or Occupational Exposure Standard i.e. set limits to which a person may be exposed during a set work period.
• Dust in substantial quantities. Some dusts are hazardous by nature others are just nuisance dusts but can still cause health problems.
• A Biological Agent e.g. body fluids
• A substance not mentioned in the above paragraphs but that creates a comparable hazard to any of them
  

Q Do I have to carry out a risk assessment?

A Yes you do if you are using any substance covered by the above categories or is covered by the 'creates a comparable hazard' clause.

Q What must the risk assessment cover?

A To be 'suitable and sufficient' a COSHH assessment must contain:

• An assessment of the risk to health from the use or contact with the particular substance.
• Consideration as to whether it is practical to prevent the exposure to the hazardous substance
• The steps needed to control the exposure if it cannot be prevented
• Others actions needed to comply with the regulations relating to use of control, maintaining and examination of controls, monitoring exposure, health surveillance and information, instruction and training for persons exposed

Q How do I recognise hazardous substances?

A Some may have a warning label on the container such as those shown below:

[needs graphic inserting]

Others may have information on the container to inform you of potential risks and how to protect people from them.

Q How do I get information about a hazardous substance?

A The suppliers of materials classified as dangerous to supply Part 1 of the approved supply list as dangerous to supply within the meaning of the Chemical (Hazard, Information & Packaging for Supply) Regulations (CHIP) must provide Manufacturers Safety Data Sheets. You should be supplied with these as they contain most of the information you need.

Where these are not provided there should be information on the container about protective measures, and emergency procedures etc.

Q How do I find out if there is a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) or Occupational Exposure Standard (OES) for a substance?

A Exposure limits and standards for all substances that have one assigned can be found in EH40/06 published by HSE Books. You should check this booklet if you are concerned about substances your employees are exposed to. Remember substances such as wood dusts, biological hazards and diseases have no data sheets.

The manufacturer's safety data sheet should also have details if a MEL or OES applies.

Related Links:

• HSE Publications
• Health and Safety Executive
• HSE Books
• HSE COSHH index
• COSHH Essential website
• Safe use of substances at work pid 419(5)
• Environment Agency