COSHH Update

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COSHH Update

• FISHnet Workshop
• 17 February 2005
• Implementing COSHH in the Food Industry We do
  it different
• Andy Gillies
• MD, Gillies Associates Limited

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Summary ofPresentation

• Introduction to COSHH
• Update on recent changes COSHH (Amendment)
  Regulations 2004
• Working with respiratory sensitizers
• COSHH Essentials
• Understanding MSDSs
• Useful sources of information

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COSHH Regulations 2002
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
  (MSDS)
• estimate route(s) and degree of exposure
• evaluate adequacy of existing control measures
• assess risk to health
• define Action Plan

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CONTROL of Substances Hazardous to Health

• Prevent exposure (if reasonably practicable)
• hierarchy of control
• eliminate
• substitute
• contain
• other engineering controls
• procedural controls
• PPE

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COSHH (Amendment)Regulations 2004

• statutory duty to apply Principles of good
  control practice
• OES/MEL replaced by WELs (must not be exceeded)
• carcinogens, mutagens asthmagens
  exposureALARP
• Review systems of work and supervision
• linked guidance on good practice
• Control Guidance Sheets (COSHH Essentials)
• CHANs
• Comes into force on 6 April 2005 (new ACoP and
  EH40/2005)

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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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Are the Principles of Good Control Practice in
place?
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Working with respiratory sensitizers

• Respiratory Sensitizers (R42)
• Identify all R42 substances
• Who is exposed? Who is more at risk/vulnerable?
• Special measures for employees with occupational
  asthma
• Focus on short term peak exposures
• Prevent exposures (elimination or substitution)
• Control at source
• Health surveillance
• Information and training
• Use of RPE

• Examples of substances that can cause
  occupational asthma
• Alpha amylases
• Castor bean dust
• Coffee bean dust
• Crustacean proteins
• Egg proteins
• Fish proteins
• Flour dust
• Latex
• Penicillins
• Rosin-based solder flux fume
• Soybean dust

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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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Reading an MSDS

• CHIP 3 requires a MSDS for all dangerous
  substances supplied for use at work using a
  standard 16-headings format
• Check date it was written
• Main ingredients (part 2)
• Hazard identification (part 3)
• Regulatory information (part 15)
• Physical chemical properties (part 9)
• Exposure controls and personal protection (part
  8)
• Toxicological information (part 11)
• WORKSHOP EXERCISE

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Useful information sources

• Written guidance
• COSHH - a brief guide to the regulations
  (INDG136 rev2)
• COSHH 2002 Approved Code of Practice and
  Guidance (L5, 2002)
• Revised ACoP and list of WELs to be published on
  6 April 2005
• COSHH Essentials easy steps to control
  chemicals (HSG193, 2nd. Edition, 2003)
• Compilation of Safety Data Sheets (L130,
  3rd.edition)
• All the above can be obtained from HSE Books,
• Tel. [phone]

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Useful information sources

• Handy websites
• HSE COSHH webpage www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm
• e-COSHH Essentials www.coshh-essentials.org.uk/
• HSE asthma webpage www.hse.gov.uk/asthma
• SBS/Business Link www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/ac
  tion/home
• British Occupational Hygiene Society www.bohs.org.
  uk/
• NHS Plus www.nhsplus.nhs.uk/
• Institute of Occupational Medicine www.iom-world.o
  rg
• East of England Occupational Health Safety
  Consortium www.ohsc.org.uk/