Do you know what to do if you spill a chemical, that you work with, on your skin?
Do you know what to do if you ingest it?
Do you know what to do if you inhale it’s fumes?
Do you know how to store those chemicals properly?
If the answer is no to any of the above questions, then you need to get the answers now. We all use chemicals of some sort or another, but not many of us know the adverse effects that some of them can have on us. To this end all chemicals produce have to identify various degrees of hazard for differing circumstances and be recorded on what has become known as a COSHH sheet.
COSHH is the acronym for the legislation that covers this very subject ie “Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health (Amend) Regulations 2002″ (updated in 2005) As the name suggests, these sheets give you emergency information for accidental spillage, contact, ingestion, inhalation and more, they are therefore essential documents to have located where these chemicals are to be used. These sheets are available form the manufacturers of the chemicals, but your suppliers should also have access to them.
If you are using chemicals, then you must obtain these COSHH sheets, however try considering using other chemicals that might be less hazardous and make sure that the contents of the sheets are communicated to those using the chemicals and that if specialised equipment for use, first aid or storage is required, then it is provided.
If you need more information the contact us at info@anchorhands.co.uk
I have spent over 30 years of my working life in the fire protection industry, where I qualified as a Health & Safety practitioner, and was integral in the company achieving one of the first accreditations to the international health and safety quality standard OHSAS 18001. During this period I also qualified as an Electrical Appliance Tester.
In 2007 I decided to go it alone, in order to provide my skills, knowledge and experience to smaller businesses who cannot afford to employ their own Health & Safety personnel. Accordingly I now provide health & safety services to many types of organisations, specialising in carrying out Fire Risk Assessments, Portable Appliance Testing, installation of Health & Safety Management Systems and providing general Health & Safety Advice. For more information about what services we provide please see our website at www.anchorhands.co.uk
Thank you for looking at my profile and please remember our heartfelt tag line:
Your Safety in Secure Hands