(CONTROL
OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH REGULATIONS)
The
COSHH programme is designed to assist in carrying out the requirements of the
Regulations in terms of risk assessments, where substances and substance- based
processes are concerned.
The
programme is further designed to enable the user to carry out those duties in
an extremely non-technical way by being very user friendly.
The
user is required to input into the programme, the substance identified and a
small amount of information drawn from the hazard data sheet accompanying the
substance / product. From here, a number of questions are asked by the programme
requiring input from the user in a very simple form. At the end of this very
simple procedure, a one-page, A4 sheet is produced by the programme containing
all the information required by operatives using or coming into contact with
the substance. This has been designed to be displayed at the workplace as the
only information required by the operative regarding that particular substance.
A similar one-page A4 sheet can be produced, containing again, only that information
required at the workplace on that process.
Having
built up a complete database of all substances and processes in the business,
the Regulations require that the substances and processes are assessed for risk
and then categorised with risk values, e.g. high,
medium or low risk.
Sample - Part 2 of a 3 Part Substance Form
It is
required that, wherever possible, those substances in the high risk category
should be eliminated, substituted for a lower risk substance or controlled,
with measures put into place to control the risks posed by the use of the high
risk substance. Control measures could take the form of engineering controls
e.g. isolation of personnel from the substance (or process), whole or local
ventilation of the workplace, or, as a last resort, PPE specifically designed
for the purpose to protect the workforce from the hazard(s). It may be that
health surveillance is required to determine the risk, the programme has the
facility to assist in the recording of all the information required by the Regulations,
including health surveillance.
Where
Local Exhaust Ventilation has been installed as a control measure, forms are
produced within the programme to point towards the type of tests and information
required by the Regulations, including frequencies of examinations and tests.
Full
up-to-date EH 40 details are written into the programme with a complete list
of WELs with all Risk and Safety Phrases from the CHIP Regulations. All this
information can automatically be inserted into the correct field for the substance
as and when required when carrying out the assessment.
Latest COSHH-CONTROL
UPGRADE includes Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) handling:
EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits
Introduction
The new workplace exposure limits (WELs) replace the previous system of MELs
(maximum exposure limits) and OESs (occupational exposure standards).
Many people are exposed to a variety of substances at work (eg chemicals,
fumes, dusts, fibres) which can, under some circumstances, have a harmful effect
on their health. These are called 'hazardous substances'. If exposure to a hazardous
substance is not properly controlled it may cause ill health in a number of
ways. The substance may cause harm by too much being taken into the body through
breathing, by being absorbed through the skin, by being swallowed, or by acting
directly on the body at the point of contact,
e.g.: the skin. Some illnesses caused by exposure to hazardous substances in
the workplace (occupational diseases) may not appear until a long time after
the first exposure. Therefore, it is important to know in advance how to protect
the health of people working with hazardous substances and also of other people
who may be affected by the work being carried out. WELs for hazardous substances
at work are set by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) on the recommendations
of its Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS) and published in EH40.
A more detailed explanation is on pages 37-38.
What are WELs?
WELs are occupational exposure limits (OELs) set under COSHH, in order to
help protect the health of workers. WELs are concentrations of hazardous substances
in the air, averaged over a specified period of time referred to as a time-weighted
average (TWA). Two time periods are used: long term (8 hours) and short term
(15 minutes). Short-term exposure limits (STELs) are set to help prevent effects,
such as eye irritation, which may occur following exposure for a few minutes.
HSE Book EH40/2005 (2005 is the current year, and is updated on a yearly basis.)
HSE BOOKS : Mail Order. HSE priced and free publications are available
from:
HSE Books
PO Box 1999
Sudbury
Suffolk CO10 6FS
Tel: 01787 881165
Fax: 01787 313995
Web site: http://www.hsebooks.co.uk
Health
and Safety Risk - Assessments - Insurance Linked - Analyses Accidents - COSHH -
Health and Safety Audit - Permit to Work
