Element 8 Chemical and Biological Health

Element 8 cover the hazards and the control of associated with using chemicals or being exposed to biological substances.

The main regulations that cover these activities are COSHH Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (as amended 2004), there are others such as CHIP (The Chemicals (Hazards and Packaging for supply) Regulations 2002), Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and under the HSWA'74 manufactures have a duty to provide Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS),

MSDS must be provided by the manufacturer of chemical substances, these must contain details of the chemical makeup generally has to be categorised in to either

• Very toxic;
  
• Toxic;
  
• Harmful;
  
• Corrosive;
  
• Irritant;
  
• Sensitising;
  
• Carcinogenic;
  
• Mutagenic;
  
• Toxic for reproduction.
  

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) should be available for all hazardous chemicals being used or produced. As well as the classification, the sheets should include chemical and physical properties, precautions for use, first aid and fire fighting.

Use of chemicals in the workplace, the employer has a duty to assess the effects of using chemical in a work process both from a health and a environmental viewpoint.

Control measures such as PPE must only be used as a last resort, elimination of the hazard must get top priority, where this is not possible the exposure limits must be measured There are indicated level contained in the COSHH for the Maximum Exposure Limits and the Occupational Exposure Standards which place the obligation on an employer that the levels of any chemicals should not exceed the Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL). In the UK WEL's are set for a number of substances which are hazardous to health. They are the maximum concentrations of an airborne substance, averaged over a reference period (15 minutes for short term and 8 hours for long term exposure), to which employees may be exposed by inhalation.

A common belief that inert dusts are not an issue but theses so called non-toxic dusts can cause health affects if inhaled, and so have a WEL of 10 mg/m3

HSE Guidance Note EH 40 lists all substances that have been given a WEL along with methods of assessment of control measures.

In the risk assessment consideration should be given to the possible routes into the body and the type of effect and what the

Target organs

• Respiratory system
  
• Blood
  
• Urinary System
  
• Cardiovascular System
  

Possible routes into the body

Inhalation- through breathing of toxic or harmful fumes can affect, lungs, heart, liver

• Inhalation - Breathing in probably the most common path
  
• Ingested by eating or drinking - if present in food or drink, or is on some one's hands when they are eating or put their hand in their mouth; can affect liver, kidneys
  
• In contact with the skin or eyes;
  
• Absorbed through the skin - can affect all internal organs;
  
• Injected into the body - includes accidental puncture wounds with a contaminated item.
  

The effects can be

• Local - only affect the part of the body exposed (skin, eyes, mouth, stomach, lungs);
  
• Systemic - spread through the body (blood, bones, liver, nervous system);
  
• Cumulative - may not have an effect on first exposure, but repeated exposure causes problems.
  

COSHH Assessments

Step 1 Assess the risks

Assess the risks to health from hazardous substances used in or created by the workplace activities.


Step 2 Decide what precautions are needed

They must not carry out work which could expose anyone to hazardous substances without first considering the risks and the necessary precautions, and what else they need to do to comply with COSHH.

Step 3
Prevent or adequately control exposure


They must prevent employees being exposed to hazardous substances. Where preventing exposure is not reasonably practicable, then they must adequately control it.

Step 4
Ensure that control measures are used and maintained

sure that control measures are used and maintained properly and that safety procedures are followed.


Step 5
Monitor the exposure

Monitor the exposure of employees to hazardous substances, if necessary.


Step 6 Carry out appropriate health surveillance

Carry out appropriate health surveillance where your assessment has shown this is necessary or where COSHH sets specific requirements.

Step 7
Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies

Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances, where necessary.


Step 8
Ensure employees are properly informed, trained and supervised

They should provide their employees with suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training.

Although the eight steps only mention employees the regulations also cover anyone who works in the premises, in the case of the Department this includes, for example, students and contractors.

PPE

The employer must provide where necessary any personnel protective equipment, he is not allowed to charge for this, it must be fit for purpose and provide adequate protection against any remaining hazards that have been identified in either or both the risk and cosh assessments.

Respiratory equipment

To protect against Gases, dusts, vapours, fumes smoke aerosols.

Types

Respirators - face masks, powered respirators' dust masks etc

Breathing Apparatus - air fed hoods, self contained units

Dust respirators

Gloves

Overalls, which may include full body protection and enclosed suits

Work place Hygiene

Hygiene in the work place should be encouraged at all levels not just when handling using chemicals, but an employer must pay particular attention to the types of facilities provided when handling or using chemicals in a process. They must provide where required suitable areas for removal of contaminated clothing and PPE, adequate messing and washing facilities away from any possible contamination