COSHH Update

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COSHH Update

• Supplier Support Scheme
• Health, Safety Environment Seminar
• 29 September 2004
• Andy Gillies
• MD, Gillies Associates Limited

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Summary ofPresentation

• Introduction to COSHH
• Update on recent amendments COSHH 2004
• COSHH Essentials
• Case studies
• Useful sources of information

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Control Of SubstancesHazardous to Health
Assess the RISK
Simple basic principles
Control the RISK
PREVENT ill health
MAINTAIN the controls
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Steps inhealth risk assessment

• task description
• list substances used and hazardous properties
• estimate route(s) and degree of exposure
• evaluate adequacy of control measures
• assess risk
• define Action Plan

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Rating theDegree of Exposure

• NEGLIGIBLE
• office/admin.
• LOW
• closed systems, low volatility
• MODERATE
• open handling, inadequate LEV, moderate
  volatility
• HIGH
• open handling, high temp./pressure, no LEV, very
  volatile, large amounts

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COSHH Regulations 2002

• Requirements of the Regulations
• health risk assessment
• prevention of exposure or adequate control
• use, maintenance and test of control measures
• exposure monitoring health surveillance
  (where appropriate)
• information training

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Proposed amendments (COSHH 2004)

• statutory duty to follow Principles of good
  control practice
• OES/MEL replaced by WELs
• carcinogens, mutagens asthmagens
  exposureALARP
• guidance on good practice
• Control Guidance Sheets (COSHH Essentials)
• CHANs
• Table of WELs

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Principles of Good Control Practice

• design and operate to control emissions at source
• control all relevant routes of exposure
• controls proportionate to the health risk
• hierarchy of effective and reliable controls
• suitable PPE, only when adequate control cannot
  be achieved by other means
• check and review continuing effectiveness of
  controls
• inform and train employees
• ensure no unintended increase in overall HS risks

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COSHH Essentialseasy steps to control chemicals

• aimed at SMEs
• simple risk assessment
• shows control approach needed
• Control Guidance Sheets
• Dermal CE
• internet tool
• FREE
• CE is a screening tool apply with common sense!!

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Nuts and Bolts ofCOSHH Essentials

• step 1 define HAZARD GROUPS
• (R phrases from MSDS)
• step 2 estimate DEGREE OF EXPOSURE
• (physical properties amounts used)
• step 3 identify CONTROL APPROACH
• step 4 refer to task-specific CONTROL GUIDANCE
  SHEET(S)

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Case study Sack filling

• filling 25kg paper sacks with low toxicity dusty
  material
• full shift (8-12 hours)
• visible puffs of dust as sack released and falls
• exposure monitoring
• 10 samples (40 - 315 mins)
• Range 1.2 - 6.6 mg/m3

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Case studySack filling 2

• Step 1 define Hazard Group
• Dust not classified under CHIP , no R phrases
  (COSHH hazardous substance includes any dust
  gt10mg/m3)
• Hazard group A
• Step 2 estimate Degree of Exposure
• Medium dustiness, medium quantities (kgs)
• Step 3 identify Control Approach needed
• CA 1 (general ventilation good working
  practice)
• Step 4 Control Guidance sheets
• CGS 100 (general ventilation)
• Is CGS 206 (sack filling) appropriate?

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Case study 2solvent decanting

• Pouring 5mls. 10 formalin into specimen vials,
  open bench
• 30 mins. job, once per 2 weeks
• Formaldehyde(lt25) - R20/21/22, R36/37/38,
  R40(Carc. cat.3), R43
• MEL 2ppm (TWA STEL)
• Hazard group D
• Small quantities (mls), highly volatile
• CA 3 (containment)
• CGS 300, 301 (glove box)
• Is CGS 201 (fume cupboard) adequate?

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Useful information sources

• What must I do?
• COSHH - a brief guide to the regulations
  (INDG136 rev2)
• COSHH 2002 Approved Code of Practice and
  Guidance (L5, 2002)
• COSHH Essentials easy steps to control
  chemicals (HSG193, 2nd. Edition, 2003)
• All the above can be obtained from HSE Books,
  tel. [phone]
• Useful websites
• www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm
• www.coshh-essentials.org.uk/
• www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/chindex.htm
• www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home
• www.bohs.org.uk/
• www.ohsc.org.uk/