Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation (COSHH)
INTRODUCTION
The CFSN is involved with the C.O.S.H.H. Regulations in the following areas:-
Part 1:
i) In house, i.e. office, training rooms, fire stations
Part 2:
ii) External i.e. The After Fire Service, Community Work, Chip Pan Demonstrations, Training Courses, Sensory Loss Fitments
SCOPE:
PART 1
· The control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) came into force on 11th November 2002. The Regulations lay down the essential requirements and a sensible step-by-step approach for the control of hazardous substances and for protecting people exposed to them.
· The regulations cover virtually all substances hazardous to health and may be natural or artificial, solid, liquid, gas or vapour. Only asbestos, lead, materials producing ionising radiation and substances below ground in mines, which have their own legislation, are excluded.
· What is a Substance Hazardous to Health? Substances that are hazardous to health include those labelled as dangerous (i.e. very toxic, toxic, harmful, irritant or corrosive) as classified under the Classification Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 2002. Substances that have a maximum exposure limit (MEL) or occupational exposure standard (OES), micro-organism, dust of any kind present in a substantial concentration in air, or any substance which creates a hazard to health comparable to those already mentioned above.
· Substances come in a variety of forms, including pastes, powders, liquids, oils, gases, aerosols, sprays, fumes, dusts, dangerous viruses. They could arise as solvents, glue, oils, resins, paints, pesticides, acids, degreasers, thinners, toxic metals, welding fumes, cleaning materials, man-made mineral fibre, inks and many more.
· How are they hazardous?
Substances can be hazardous by any route i.e.
· Inhaled
· Ingested - either directly or from settling on food etc. or from eating with contaminated fingers
· Absorbed - either through the skin or via the eyes directly or from contact with contaminated surfaces or clothing
· Contact - with the surface of the skin or eyes
· Injected - into the body by high pressure equipment or contaminated sharp objects
· How can hazardous substances be recognised?
· By knowledge of the process and previous experience
· By reading very carefully all the information on labels
· By product data sheets supplied by manufacturers and suppliers etc
· Checking substances listed on the internet
· Checking substances listed in Appendix 1 to the Carcinogens Approved Code of Practice
· By checking part IA1 of the Approved List for the Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 2003
· By reading H.S.E. Guidance Notes.
· By reading relevant trades association and technical literature.
· By asking the advice of trades associations, other employers etc. or by asking a competent toxicologist, occupational hygienist or health adviser.
· Measures for Preventing or Controlling Exposure
Measures could be any combination of the following:-
(a) For preventing exposure:
(i) Elimination of the use of the substance
(ii) Substitution by a less hazardous substance or by the same substance in a less hazardous form
(b) For controlling exposure:
(i) Totally enclosed process and handling systems
(ii) Plant or process of systems of work which prevent generation or, or suppress or contain the hazardous dust fume, micro-organisms etc. and which limit the area of contamination in the event of spills and leaks
(iii) Partial enclosure, with local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
(iv) Local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
(v) Sufficient general ventilation
(vi) Reduction of numbers of employees exposed and exclusion of non-essential access
(vii) Reduction in the period of exposure for employees
(viii) Regular cleaning of contamination from, or disinfection of walls, surfaces etc
(ix) Provision of means for safe storage and disposal of substances
(x) Suitable personal protective clothing
(xi) Prohibition of eating, drinking, smoking etc. in contaminated areas
(xii) Provision of adequate facilities for washing, changing and storage of clothing, including arrangements for laundering contaminated clothing
· The regulations apply irrespective of the scale of the undertaking from the chemical manufacturer’s plant to the self-employed hairdresser’s salon. They apply at all stages of the supply chain from production through distribution to user and final disposal.
STATEMENT OF SAFETY POLICY - See Health Safety Procedure Notes, Appendix 1 “Statement of Safety Policy”
GENERAL SAFETY POLICY WITH REGARDS TO - C.O.S.H.H. - CFSN recognises and accepts its responsibilities as an employer with regards to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and will ensure the collection of up-to-date information on the toxicity and potential hazards of all substances used by them. This information will be available to those with a legitimate need for that information.
(a) CFSN will limit exposure to and, where necessary, monitor the use of substances hazardous to health as an ongoing priority. Particular care will be taken with the introduction of new substances and risks will be assessed as required. Although it is the employer that has the main responsibility for implementing C.O.S.H.H., employees, visiting workers, sub-contractors and other persons who may be affected by substances hazardous to health in the workplace are also assigned obligations under the regulations.
GENERAL SAFETY POLICY WITH REGARDS TO - C.O.S.H.H. - It is particularly important to ensure that contractors are requested to produce assessment sheets on any hazardous substances they may bring onto Brigade premises prior to any work commencing.
Failure to comply with C.O.S.H.H., in addition to exposing employees to risk, will constitute an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).
RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES/VOUNTEERS
Employers:- The employer must prevent or adequately control exposure of employees to substances which are hazardous to health, through a process of assessment and control.
The employer must be able to demonstrate the hazards have been identified and the risks formally assessed, that specific control measures have been put in place and that these measures are effective.
Employers are required at least to control the exposure of their employees to substances hazardous to health, with the aim of preventing exposure, or reducing it to an acceptable minimum. These will be achieved primarily by methods such as modifying a process to that the hazardous substance is contained or using exhaust ventilation. Protective clothing is regarded as a last resort.
Compliance will be demonstrated by keeping records of risk assessments for the substances hazardous to health which are being used or generated, and of the means by which the risk is eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level.
Employees / Volunteers: - Employees are required by Regulation 8(2) to make full and proper use of any control measures etc; and to report any defects.
Employees must follow the safety precautions and instructions issued by the employer.
Inform, Instruct and Train: - Employers have a duty to inform, instruct and train employees/volunteers in such a way that they understand the risks to health presented by exposure to substances hazardous to health in the workplace. The employer must also ensure that employees understand the precautions which they must take to protect against that exposure.
In any event, the employer must inform employees of the hazards to which they may be exposed, what control measures will be taken to eliminate or reduce that exposure below accepted limits, and what the employees have to do to use those control measures effectively.
Employers have a duty to provide information on hazards and control measures which affect anyone who carries out work (contractors for example).
The employer must ensure that the contractor is sufficiently knowledgeable, skilled and experienced to be able to carry out the work effectively and safely.
The employer must instruct and train employees in the use of personal protective clothing equipment, must ensure that the equipment is adequately maintained and must check that employees are using the equipment adequately, taking remedial action where necessary.
Whatever means of control are employed, they must be carefully chosen, maintained and properly used; both employers and employees have a duty to ensure that this happens.
Responsibilities of the Chief Executive and Trustees’
The CEO will be responsible for the following basic principles of occupational hygiene which underlie the C.O.S.H.H. Regulations.
They must:-
1. Assess the risk to health arising from the work done and decide what precautions are needed.
2. Introduce appropriate measures to prevent or control the risk.
3. Ensure that control measures are used and that equipment is properly maintained and procedures observed.
4. Where necessary, monitor the exposure of the workers and carry out an appropriate form of surveillance of their health.
5. Inform, instruct and train employees about the risks and the precautions to be taken.
The CEO will be responsible for ensuring that all personnel are made aware of all risks and precautions to be taken. Information, instruction and training must be given to personnel on an annual basis. The names of all personnel will then be entered in the C.O.S.H.H. Annual Training Sheet and signed by the responsible person.
All new employees are to be given instruction as part of their induction training.
Products No Longer Used
C.O.S.H.H. Assessment Sheets for chemicals which are no longer used should be disposed of in a correct manner.
Assessment
The assessment is a systematic review of all tasks and their associated products used in the workplace, i.e.
Ø What task is involved?
Ø What substances are present? (In what form)
Ø What harmful effects are possible?
Ø Where and how are substances actually used or handled?
Ø What harmful substances are given off etc?
Ø Who could be affected, to what extent and for how long?
Ø Under what circumstances?
Ø How likely is it that exposure will happen?
PART 2
Awareness of Hazards - The CFSN may become aware of hazards in a number of ways, these will include:-
o As a result of fire safety work
o By notification from occupiers of premises
o During investigation work after an incident
o By advice through medical channels, e.g. that a casualty is an Hepatitis B carrier
o As a result of familiarisation visits to premises
N.B: ‘The term employees’ will also be classified as ‘volunteers’ for the benefit of this policy’.
Registered Charity No. 1124607 Company Ltd by Guarantee No. 6274336