Chemical hazard advice

Chemical hazards inspection guidance

How to handle chemical hazards?

Chemical hazards in industries can cause serious harm to workers and the environment. To prevent these hazards, it is essential to have visual warnings and inspection recording in place. Visual warnings, such as labels, signs, and placards, can alert workers to the presence of hazardous chemicals and inform them of the proper precautions to take. Inspection recording allows for regular monitoring of the workplace and can help identify any potential hazards before they become a problem. Additionally, inspection recording can provide a record of the steps taken to mitigate hazards, which can help employers to demonstrate compliance with regulations and ensure the safety of their employees. Overall, visual warnings and inspection recording are key tools in preventing chemical hazards in industries and protecting the health and safety of workers.

Hazardous substances:

Substances used directly in work activities such as adhesives, paints and cleaning agents
Substances generated during work activities such as fumes from soldering and welding
Naturally occurring substances such as grain dust
Biological agents such as bacteria and other micro-organisms

The control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulations 2002 specifically requires employers to:

Assess the risks to health from hazardous substances used in or created by your workplace activities. Decide what precautions are needed. If you have five or more employees you must make and keep a record of the main findings of the assessment, either in writing or on computer
Prevent or adequately control exposure
Ensure that control systems used are maintained properly and that safety procedures are followed
Monitor the exposure of employees to hazardous substances
Carry out appropriate health surveillance where your assessment has shown this is necessary or where COSHH sets specific requirements
Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances
Ensure employees have suitable and sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision

How to employ an effective hazard management plan?

Training programmes
Information on manufacturer’s product labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). This must be made readily available to those coming into contact with the chemical.
Visual warning systems
Record keeping and data dissemination

Relevant legislation

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980
Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981(and approved code of practice 1997)
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985
Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985
Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended)
Chemical (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006