COSHH A personal experience presentation.pdf · The British Occupational Hygiene Society • BOHS...

COSHHA personal experience

Ian Kellie

Chief Examiner, BOHS

Before I saw the light ………Before I saw the light ………Before I saw the light ………Before I saw the light ………

My career in Occupational Hygiene : part 1My career in Occupational Hygiene : part 1My career in Occupational Hygiene : part 1My career in Occupational Hygiene : part 1

Pre- COSHH

• 1972: British Steel Corporation Research Centre, Teesside

• 1978: British Steel Corporation Scottish Division

My career in Occupational Hygiene: Part 2My career in Occupational Hygiene: Part 2My career in Occupational Hygiene: Part 2My career in Occupational Hygiene: Part 2

• 1980: Health and Safety Executive: Chemical Inspector

• 1984: University of Dundee


Post-COSHH

• 1989: Offshore Medical Support, Aberdeen

• 1995: OHS Scotland Ltd


• 2014: British Occupational Hygiene Society: Chief Examiner

The preThe preThe preThe pre----COSHH days (1)COSHH days (1)COSHH days (1)COSHH days (1)

Factories Act 1961 s.63

“ In any factory in which, in connection with any process carried on, there is given off any dust or fume or other impurity of such a character and to such extent as to be likely to be injurious or offensive to the persons employed, or any substantial quantity of dust of any kind ………


Factories Act s.63

“…… all practicable measures shall be taken to protect the persons employed against inhalation of the dust or fume or other impurity and to prevent its accumulating in any workroom and in particular, where the nature of the process makes it practicable, exhaust appliances shall be provided and maintained, as near as possible to the point of origin of the dust or fume or other impurity, so as to prevent its entering the air of any workroom.”


The Grinding of Metals Regulations 1925

“All ventilating plant used for the purpose of extracting or suppressing dust shall at least once in every six months be examined and tested by a competent person, and any defect disclosed by such examination and test shall be rectified as soon as practicable.”


The Chromium Plating Regulations 1931

“At every vessel at which an electrolytic chromium process is carried on, a test of the efficiency of the (ventilation control) measures ….. shall be carried out by an approved method at least once in every 14 days or at such other intervals as may be approved.”


The Carcinogenic Substances Regulations 1967

“No person shall be employed in any factory in connection with the manufacture in connection with any prohibited substance* or in connection with any process in the course of which any prohibited substance is formed.”

* Beta-naphthylamine, benzidine, 4-aminodiphenyl, 4-nitrodiphenyl and their salts.


Features of Regulations on Hazardous Substances

• They were very specific

• They only applied to certain processes

• They only applied to certain workplaces

• They described exactly what was required to comply

Then…. Then…. Then…. Then…. aaaalong came the COSHH Regulationslong came the COSHH Regulationslong came the COSHH Regulationslong came the COSHH Regulations

Key features

• They apply to (nearly) all workplaces

• They apply to (nearly) all substances hazardous to health

• They are in most instances non-specific

• They require employers to make judgements on key duties

• They require employers to ensure that the individuals to whom they delegate COSHH duties are competent

COSHH assessment: what the law requiresCOSHH assessment: what the law requiresCOSHH assessment: what the law requiresCOSHH assessment: what the law requires

• The assessment must be suitable and sufficient

• It must identify any risks to health associated with a process

• It must identify steps required to control risks to health

• It must identify steps required to comply with other COSHH duties

• It must be reviewed regularly and amended if necessary

• In most cases, it must be recorded

COSHH assessment: the official guidanceCOSHH assessment: the official guidanceCOSHH assessment: the official guidanceCOSHH assessment: the official guidance

A step by step guide to COSHH assessment : HSG97, 2004

1. Gather information about substances, work and working practices

2. Evaluate the risks to health

3. Decide on the necessary measures to comply

4. Record the assessment

5. Decide when the assessment needs to be reviewed

6. Obtain competent assistance for the assessment process, if necessary.

COSHH assessment: the questionsCOSHH assessment: the questionsCOSHH assessment: the questionsCOSHH assessment: the questions

1. Do I need to measure exposures to evaluate the risk?

2. What level of exposure actually constitutes a risk to health?

3. What risk reduction measures will actually work?

4. When do I need to consider routine exposure monitoring?

5. When do I need to consider health surveillance?

6. How do I ensure that the people I use are competent?

COSHH assessment dos and don’tsCOSHH assessment dos and don’tsCOSHH assessment dos and don’tsCOSHH assessment dos and don’ts

DO:

• Consider all routes of exposure

• Observe how people actually use hazardous substances

• Assess risk by process rather than individual substance

• Remember to include maintenance as well as production processes

• Remember by-products as well as process substances

• Take account of shift length and patterns

• Use specialist help if you think you need it

COSHH assessment dos and don’tsCOSHH assessment dos and don’tsCOSHH assessment dos and don’tsCOSHH assessment dos and don’ts

DON’T:

• Confuse hazard and risk

• Use safety data sheets as COSHH assessments

• Assume that exposure monitoring will give you all the answers

• Create assessment records that nobody can understand

• Be satisfied with PPE when engineering control is reasonably practicable

When might you need specialist help?When might you need specialist help?When might you need specialist help?When might you need specialist help?

• To assess complex risks

• To monitor exposures and interpret the results

• To advise on risk reduction measures

• To help specify engineering controls

• To carry out thorough examination and testing of ventilation systems

• To help draw up emergency arrangements

• To carry out health surveillance programmes

Occupational hygiene and COSHHOccupational hygiene and COSHHOccupational hygiene and COSHHOccupational hygiene and COSHH

Competence

“The possession of qualifications in occupational hygiene or membership of relevant professional bodies is an important indicator (but not guarantee) of competence; especially where situations require higher levels of skill.

Practical experience of likely circumstances is also important, as is training in principles of occupational hygiene that does not lead to formal qualifications.”

A step by step guide to COSHH assessment : HSG97, 2004

Occupational hygieneOccupational hygieneOccupational hygieneOccupational hygiene

Definition:

Occupational hygiene is concerned with the recognition, assessment and control of health risks from workplace exposures to hazards such as chemicals, dust, fumes, noise, vibration and extreme temperatures.

The occupational hygienist’s expertiseThe occupational hygienist’s expertiseThe occupational hygienist’s expertiseThe occupational hygienist’s expertise

• Scientific background – usually chemistry-related

• Knowledge of the health hazards associated with substances in the workplace

• Competence in monitoring exposures to hazardous substances and in interpreting results

• Familiarity with the principles of engineering control – e.g. local exhaust ventilation

• Advice on the selection of appropriate PPE

• Advice on other COSHH-related actions

The British Occupational Hygiene SocietyThe British Occupational Hygiene SocietyThe British Occupational Hygiene SocietyThe British Occupational Hygiene Society

• BOHS is the Chartered Society for worker health protection

• A learned society with around 1500 members worldwide

• Incorporates a professional faculty with around 600 members

• Sets syllabuses for professional training courses

• Approves training providers

• Administers written and oral examinations

• Awards professional qualifications in occupational hygiene

BOHS Training CoursesBOHS Training CoursesBOHS Training CoursesBOHS Training Courses

• Endorsed courses

• Proficiency modules

• Basic principles of occupational hygiene

• Occupational hygiene modules

BOHS develops syllabuses and administers the examination process

Training is delivered by external providers

BOHS QualificationsBOHS QualificationsBOHS QualificationsBOHS Qualifications

• Certificate of competence in an individual subject

• Certificate of operational competence in occupational hygiene

• Diploma of professional competence in occupational hygiene

• For more information visit www.bohs.org

ProficiencyProficiencyProficiencyProficiency modulesmodulesmodulesmodules

P 400 Series: Asbestos

P600 Series: Control

• P601 : Thorough examination and testing of LEV systems

• P602: Basic design principles of LEV systems

• P603: Control of hazardous substances – PPE

• P604: Performance evaluation and management of LEV systems

P900 Series: Legionella

W201 Basic Principles of Occupational HygieneW201 Basic Principles of Occupational HygieneW201 Basic Principles of Occupational HygieneW201 Basic Principles of Occupational Hygiene

• Internationally recognised introductory course

• Training materials freely available via www.ohlearning.com

• 5-day course with closing examination

• Excellent foundation training for those wishing to enter the occupational hygiene profession

W500 series occupational hygiene modulesW500 series occupational hygiene modulesW500 series occupational hygiene modulesW500 series occupational hygiene modules

• W501: Measurement of hazardous substances

• W505: Control of hazardous substances

• W507: Health effects of hazardous substances

• W503: Assessment and control of noise

• W502: Assessment and control of the thermal environment

• W504: Assessment and control of asbestos

• W506: Ergonomics essentials

Certificate of operational competence in Certificate of operational competence in Certificate of operational competence in Certificate of operational competence in occupational hygieneoccupational hygieneoccupational hygieneoccupational hygiene

You need:

• Passes in six occupational hygiene modules

• Submission of an acceptable Personal Learning Portfolio

• Pass in an oral examination

To become Licentiate of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene

and use CertOH post-nominal letters

To sum up…….To sum up…….To sum up…….To sum up…….

• Many COSHH assessments can be carried out successfully in-house

• For more complex risk assessments, you’ll probably need specialist help

• Use someone with a good level of occupational hygiene knowledge

• If in doubt, use a professional occupational hygienist

Thank you

Any questions?

COSHH A personal experience presentation.pdf · The British Occupational Hygiene Society • BOHS...

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