BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) aim to make the workplace safer by dealing with substances that could be hazardous to your health. It is important to remember that substances don’t just come is containers they can be produced by prosesses such as mixing, cutting, heating and maybe present in the ground you are working with.

HAZARDS

• Substances can enter the body by inhalation (breathing in) Ingestion (swallowing) or by direct skin contact through cuts and in some cases unbroken skin.
• Hazardous substances may include solvents, resins, cement, wood dust, welding fumes etc.
• Using some substances in a poorly ventilated area may increase the risk of adverse health effects.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY POINTS

• Do not use any substance without prior information or training about the control measures needed.
• If Personal Protective Equipment is issued wear it correctly and look after it.
• A COSHH assessment is not just the information contained on a data sheet or label, consider also how the substance is to be used and for how long.
• Use any control measures that may be provided ie. Ventilation, dust extraction etc.
• Don’t drink, eat or smoke whilst handling substances.
• Good hygiene standards should be practised when working with substances.
• Be aware of where the washing facilities and first aid points are.
• Know your COSHH symbols.
• When you are not using the hazardous sbustance make sure it is put back into a secure location.
• The majority of industrial poisoning cases are due to inhalation of gases, vapours, dusts and fibres.
• Get all cuts and grazes treated immediately don’t use substances without the right protection.

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QUSTION TIME

• What are the diffenrent ways a substance can enter the body?
• Where can you get information on COSHH for this project?
• What are the COSHH symbols for a toxic, flammable, irritant, corrosive substance?

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SAFETY REMINDER

It is a fact that accident statistics for substance related injuries are not a major issue in the short term, however the main health risks are usually over a long period and in some case can take decades to effect us.