CoSHH - A Risk Assessment Checklist for those using Chemical Substances
Posted: Sunday, May 09, 2010
by Dale
Ethos Solution Ltd
In order to protect the health and safety of employees it is important to carry out a CoSHH risk assessment. This will reduce the possibility of workers health being adversely affected when using hazardous substances. CoSHH is the law.
The following is a checklist to identify if a hazard exists in your place of work:
- Are hazardous chemical substances used in the work place? Such hazardous substances could include those classified as toxic, corrosive, irritant etc
- Are all chemical substances sufficiently labelled?
- Are all hazardous substances handled correctly?
- Are all members of staff who use hazardous chemicals informed on a regular basis as to the dangers of these chemicals?
- Are there any young employees or pregnant women who have contact with carcinogenic or mutagenic substances?
- Are concentration measurements of substances used in line with Maximum Admissible Concentrations?
- Where chemicals are used, are general and local ventilation systems set up?
- Are these ventilation systems checked on a regular basis?
- Do employees who use chemical substances, have access to personal protective equipment such as goggles, gloves?
- Are workers who are exposed to hazardous substances undergoing regular medical examinations?
- Are employees being given adequate training in the use of chemicals?
Preventative Measures which can be put into place to reduce risk to employees' health include the following:
- Replacing very toxic substances with less toxic ones
- If possible, stop using substances which are carcinogenic or mutagenic
- An automated system should be used for applying chemical substances
- Ensure that Safety Data Sheets are at hand and are the most up to date copies
- Ensure that chemicals are being handled correctly
- Ensure that hazardous substances are stored correctly
- Keep account of the chemical concentration level
- Install suitable collective protection equipment
- Make sure that employees have access to PPE
- Ensure local exhaust ventilation equipment is always used when chemical concentration exceeds the Maximum Admissible Concentration
- Technical checks should be made on all equipment used with chemicals.They should be inspected frequently and cleaned thoroughly
- Give employees who are exposed to hazardous substances frequent medical examinations
- Keep employees up to speed with training on the risks of using chemical substances
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Dale Allen delivers CoSHH compliance as one of the UK's leading compliance authorities. Find out more about how you can use his online COSHH365 CoSHH assessment tool to produce compliant CoSHH assessments with the benefits of a managed Safety Data Sheet library.
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