Health And Safety Compliance And Accreditation By: Jamie Lyons | - Health and safety is a very serious business which deals with the provision and maintenance of safe premises, services and environments. In addition to the obvious necessity of adherence with health and safety protocols in order to ensure that hazards and dangers are minimised, health and safety also plays an essential business role for a great number of organisations. The most prevalent of these roles relate to either compliance or accreditation:
Pharmaceutical Company Prosecuted Over Cohsh Breach By: Dale Allen | - Catalent Pharma Solutions, a drug manufacturing company from Swindon, has been fined after at least 10 employees developed allergic contact dermatitis after working with Olanzapine. Olanzapine is the active ingredient used most commonly in prescribed antipsychotic drugs.
Mcdonalds Fined Over Acid Eye Burn By: Dale Allen | - Fast food chain McDonalds were fined more than £20,000 by Wandsworth Council following an incident which left one of its employees partially blinded by an acid-based cleaner.
The company was fined by the council under safety at work laws and according to Wandsworth Council, this was the first successful prosecution against McDonalds in the UK resulting from an accident in the workplace.
Do I Need To Follow Coshh Legislation? By: Dale Allen | - In 2002 the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health guide was produced for employers to follow in order to protect the health of their employees from hazardous substances. Chemicals and hazardous substances can place the health of workers at risk and employers have a duty of care to protect their employees regardless of the size of business they own.
CoSHH applies to virtually all UK workplaces from charities to construction sites and includes offshore and gas installations.
Cytotoxic Drugs And Coshh Law By: Dale Allen | - This article examines the use of cytotoxic drugs and the hazards associated when using them. It focuses on the precautions needing to be followed under CoSHH and will be of interest to those currently working in hospitals, oncology units and hospices etc.
The Emergency Services And Coshh By: Dale Allen | - Workers' health is compromised if they are exposed to chemicals and other substances at their place of work. They are susceptible to asthma, dermatitis and cancer.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) law states that employers must have controls in place to limit exposure to substances which may harm health.
Do I Need A Consultant To Complete My Coshh Risk Assessment? By: Dale Allen | - CoSHH law requires that employers control substances that are hazardous to health. One of the guidelines set by the HSE is the identification of hazards and assessing the risks.
A CoSHH risk assessment concentrates on the hazards and risks created from substances in your workplace. It is an important step to be taken to protect your workers and your business. It will also keep your business within CoSHH legislation.
Your 5 Step Guide To A Compliant Coshh Risk Assessment By: Dale Allen | - As an employer, it is a legal obligation to ensure that the health of your workers is protected and a CoSHH risk assessment will do this as far as 'reasonably practicable'.
What You Should Know About Coshh And Bbvs By: Dale Allen | - If you are an employer or employee or safety representative and you are involved in work where exposure to blood or other body fluids may occur, this article is of particular relevance to you.
BBVs are carried in a person's blood and can cause severe disease in some but not in others. The virus can spread to another person regardless as to whether the carrier is ill or not.
Coshh Within The Field Of Education By: Dale Allen | - Schools and colleges contain a number of hazardous substances which present risks to staff and pupils. As such, control measures should be put in place. CoSHH regulations stipulate that employers control substances that can harm workers' and students health.
In order to be CoSHH compliant you must have a complete inventory of the substances used in your business. This includes everything from paints and detergents to hand lotions and air fresheners. You must also have an up to date Safety Data Sheet for each substance you use. You should also have a library of CoSHH risk assessments for each process in which the substance is used ... Tags:Coshh software, coshh assessment, coshh risk assessment, coshh, coshh management, coshh regulations, safety data sheets, HSE CoSHH, risk assessment, coshh data
Protecting Your Dental Employees From Dermatitis By: Dale Allen | - The most common form of skin disease in the dental industry is work-related dermatitis. Dentists and especially dental nurses have been identified as being at greater risk of developing dermatitis compared with the all industry average.
In the UK, there are an estimated 8,400 new cases of work related dermatitis diagnosed each year and the dental industry accounts for a higher than average number of these.
Nhs Trust Convicted Under Coshh Law Following Patient Fatality By: Dale Allen | - Following a breach of CoSHH Legislation, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted The Royal United Hospital, Bath, NHS Trust. A fine of £80,000 was implemented after the Trust failed to maintain a hot and cold water system which concluded in the death of a patient from legionnaire's disease.
Coshh - An Explanation By: Dale Allen | - Every year, thousands of employees become ill as a result of exposure to hazardous substances. They can develop a variety of diseases from cancer to asthma and dermatitis.
As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure effective measures are in place to control exposure and protect the health of your workers. This responsibility is a legal requisite held in place by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) Regulations 2002.
Coshh - Construction And Silica By: Dale Allen | - A lot of commonly used products in the construction industry contain silica. Examples include stone, brick, tiles and concrete.
Silica itself is not hazardous but silica dust, otherwise known as Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), can cause a number of health problems for workers who are exposed to it. The term 'respirable' means that dust particles are so small that they can easily be ingested into the lungs.
Coshh And Solvents By: Dale Allen | - Solvents are used in a number of industry areas, including construction, painting and decorating and woodworking.
Solvents are chemical substances. They come in the form of varnishes, paints, adhesives and stains. The most common form of solvent use in the construction industry for example, is white spirit (in paints and cleaning products) and xylene (in adhesives and pesticides).
In a nutshell, this means that the chosen assessor must have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to do the job properly. The assessor should be able to analyse any risks in relation to work activities that involve hazardous substances.
Coshh Law And The Catering Sector By: Dale Allen | - There are a large number of businesses which make up the food industry and these include food producers, caterers, manufacturers, processors and distributors. It is one of the biggest business areas in the UK. This article will focus on the catering sector, which includes restaurants, pubs, hotels and take aways. The sector employs more than 1.2 million people.
Coshh - Baking Industry By: Dale Allen | - Bakers have one of the highest rates of occupational asthma. There are approximately 90 new cases per 100,000 workers each year.
Substances used in baking which are hazardous to health include flour dust, improver dusts containing enzymes and flavour enhancers. Common ingredients used in flour and enzymes containing certain additives are the second most common cause of occupational asthma. When an employee has become sensitised to exposure from flour dust they become more likely to ... Tags:Coshh software, coshh assessment, coshh risk assessment, coshh, coshh management, coshh regulations, safety data sheets, HSE CoSHH, risk assessment, coshh data
Coshh - Beauty Salon By: Dale Allen | - Over the last decade, there has a been a large increase in the number of beauty salons and nail bars on the high street, thanks in part to the acrylic nail phenomenon.
It is vital that safe working procedures are enforced so that risks to employees and customers health are reduced. CoSHH legislation should be enforced and risk assessments should be undertaken on all chemicals.
A Guide To Coshh And Local Exhaust Ventilation (lev) By: Dale Allen | - A large number of people in Great Britain die every year from lung disease or get asthma due to inhaling airborne contaminants at work. If your place of work produces dust, fumes, mist, gas or vapours then your health could be at risk. Maybe you work in a bakery, use spray paints or are a welder which exposes you to certain health hazards.
Information, Instruction And Training For Employees - Coshh By: Dale Allen | - A crucial part of the CoSHH management process is the supply of information, instruction and training to staff. This includes cleaning and maintenance staff. If employees are not kept fully informed then any requirements stemming from an assessment are not going to be fully effective.
A sufficiently informed and well trained staff will be more capable of carrying out a CoSHH action on its own initiative. This relieves some of the work load from management and supervisors.
Coshh - A Risk Assessment Checklist For Those Using Chemical Substances By: Dale Allen | - The main aim of a CoSHH risk assessment is to protect the health and safety of workers. A risk assessment helps to reduce the possibility of employees being affected while doing work related tasks. It is a legal requirement that employers follow CoSHH legislation.
The following is a checklist to identify if a hazard exists in your place of work:
Coshh, Hairdressing And Dermatitis - What You As An Employer Need To Know By: Dale Allen | - It has frequently been the case that some products used in hairdressing salons can lead to employees being at risk of occupational dermatitis. This may be a result of an immediate reaction to a substance or possibly a person becoming sensitised over a long period of time.
Carrying out a COSHH assessment can help an employer reduce the risks to the health of their staff and customers who may come into contact with such products.
Woodworking - A Coshh Risk Assessment By: Dale Allen | - Employers have a legal responsibility to carry out task based CoSHH risk assessments for each work task an employee does which involves exposure to hazardous substances that can place their health at risk.
A Task Based Coshh Risk Assessment - Cleaning Company By: Dale Allen | - CoSHH law stipulates that employers must control exposure to chemicals and other hazardous substances in the workplace. Not to do so, would put their workers health at risk.
An employer should identify the various tasks within the workplace and then conduct a risk assessment for each task.
Coshh- Carrying Out Your Risk Assessment By: Dale Allen | - It is a legal responsibility for employers to undertake CoSHH risk assessments. There is a structured pattern to the assessment which analyses what can go wrong in the workplace. A set of controls are needed to minimise danger to workers health as hazardous substances can cause various problems.
In Case Of A Coshh Emergency - Have A Plan In Place By: Dale Allen | - There are a large number of chemicals and substances which can damage the health of people in the workplace. These hazardous substances are defined by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (CoSHH) 2002, and this covers the majority of materials capable of causing ill health in a work situation.
According to the HSE Regulations PPE is defined as 'all equipment which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to health or safety' for example,gloves,safety helmets,eye protection,high visibility clothing and safety footwear.
Coshh Risk Assessment - If And When It Needs To Be Reviewed By: Dale Allen | - When running a business, at times it may be easy to forget just how important it is to review your CoSHH risk assessment, that is until it's too late. It is crucial that your CoSHH risk assessment is reviewed regularly. This then makes sure that any small changes that occur over time do not go unnoticed leaving the assessment as invalid and no longer suitable.
Using Cleaning Products Safely - Coshh Guidelines By: Dale Allen | - When working with cleaning products on a daily basis, we have have a tendency to forget just how hazardous these products can be. It is important to remember that when using chemicals at home or at work, that they are used in a safe manner, because if not accidents can easily happen.
CoSHH regulations stipulate that employers control substances that can cause potential harm to employees health. One of the stages in the CoSHH risk assessment framework is to identify what hazardous substances might be present in the workplace.
Who Will Carry Out A Coshh Risk Assessment? By: Dale Allen | - When it has been determined that hazardous substances are present in your workplace, the first step to take in carrying out a CoSHH risk assessment is to decide who is going to carry out the assessment. Employers have a legal responsibility to comply with CoSHH Regulations and to control hazardous substances at work so as not to detriment the health of their employees.
PPE is defined in HSE Regulations as 'all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety', eg safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses.
The Essential Structure Of The Coshh Assessment By: Dale Allen | - Are there hazardous substances in your workplace? If the answer is yes, then it is your legal responsibility as an employer to protect the welfare of your workers and undertake a CoSHH assessment.
There is an essential structure to a CoSHH assessment and each stage of the assessment should be completed before moving onto the next.
This article will examine the framework, step by step.
The Control Of Substances Hazardous To Health (coshh) By: Dale Allen | - The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) Regulations 2002 addresses a large number of substances and preparations which can cause potential harm if they are breathed in, ingested or absorbed through the skin.
These encompass individual substances or preparations such as paints, metals, cleaning materials, pesticides and insecticides.
Coshh And Respiratory Sensitisers By: Dale Allen | - Breathing in substances called respiratory sensitisers at work can cause occupational asthma.
A respiratory sensitiser is a substance which when inhaled can bring on an irreversible allergic reaction in the respiratory system. Once a sensitisation reaction occurs, continued exposure to the substance will produce symptoms.
Sensitisation does not usually take place right away but can happen after several months or even years of breathing in the sensitiser.
Occupational asthma is a condition characterised by variable air flow limitation which has been caused by the conditions stemming from the workplace. Occupational asthma may be caused by manufactured substances or naturally occurring materials.
Control measures are always a combination of equipment and ways of working to minimise exposure. Such measures may include extra training, personal protective equipment, warning signage etc. In order to comply with CoSHH regulations, it is vital that control measures work and continue to do so.
Hse Coshh Guidance For Small Businesses And The Self Employed By: Dale Allen | - Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) Regulations, the HSE have provided a new guide for the small business entitled 'Working with Substances Hazardous to Health'.
However, it is not necessarily the case that products which are essentially safe for the environment are safe and non hazardous for human beings.
It is still very much a necessity to complete a CoSHH risk assessment for all eco/environmentally friendly products. Natural, after all, does not equate to non-toxic.
Coshh Risk Assessment - Safely Storing Chemicals By: Dale Allen | - It is crucial that chemical products are stored in compliance with CoSHH regulations as this article emphasizes. It looks at how workers health can be affected by inefficient procedures when using chemical products.
Producing Coshh Assessment - The Winners Guide By: Dale Allen | - CoSHH assessment is a step-by-step process by which you should identify and reduce the impact that a hazardous substance can have on the operator or other people who may be affected.
Coshh - A Briefer History To Coshh Assessment By: Dale Allen | - I have written this article so that employers can understand their general duties under the CoSHH regulations (2002). It will also be useful to safety people, health and safety professionals and other that are interested in health and safety compliance pertaining to the safe use of hazardous substances.
Coshh Assessment For Work Place Health And Safety - Skin And Inhalation Exposure To Chemicals By: Dale Allen | - It was presumed in the early days of health , safety and hygiene that Inhalation exposure was the easiest route for toxic substances to gain access to the body's internal organs and systems and that the lungs gas exchange region was said to have an extremely large surface area even larger then the surface area of the skin. The skin was also said to be relatively impenetrable barrier thus preventing toxins from entering the body. The idea that one might breathe in a toxic substance raises much hi ... Tags:coshh, coshh assessment, risk assessment, coshh software, hse coshh, coshh regulations
Coshh Assessment Diary - Week 3 Of 4 - Producing Coshh Assessments Using Coshh Software By: Dale Allen | - In my previous CoSHH diary entry I discussed the ideas which my business put in place to reduce the amount of health and safety work that would be needed. This week I can now report on the method by which we conducted compliant CoSHH risk assessment, again using a common sense approach.
