Strategies to Control Exposure to Harmful Substances

Strategies to tick Exposure to noisome SubstancesControl of scene to substances harmful to health by the UK government was first implemented during the late nineteenth century (Piney 2001). Today, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) sound judgements ar role to address the risk associated with chemicals and how they may be utilise unassailablely. This report considers trine clean harvest-tides which are consumptiond on a daily creation in the exponent environment in which I work Freshline Bl each(prenominal), life buoy 3 Way gage washed and Mr Muscle schoolmaster Kitchen Cleaner. COSHH assessments for these products are included in Appendix I.1. Chemicals used in mooring cleanup spot products and the processes involving these productsThe three cleanup products assessed in this report contain a number of different chemicals. The components of each of these products are amounted in Table 1, together with their toxicity, targets variety meat/organ s ystems and the recommended occupational movie limits for these chemicals. The main targets organs for the chemicals in these products are the mettles and skin unless the respiratory and digestive systems may also be affected if these products are inhaled or ingested.Freshline Bleach is used for general cleaning and disinfecting purposes. In the office, it is used cut back for cleaning floors (e.g. corridors and tin layabout floors). A work solution is typic all toldy prepared in a imbibe bucket using tap water for dilution and the floors mopped. At the end of the procedure, the dilute solution is emptied down the flow and both mop bucket and mop rinsed in clean tap water. This bleach is also used fit for cleaning toilets and drains into which it is poured straight from the 5 litre container. Lifeguard 3 Way Toilet Cleaner is a fresh, disinfectant and deodorizer that is used in the office to remove limescale and uric acid deposits on toilet bowls and urinals. The product i s typically poured neat into the toilet bowl/urinal from the 1 litre container. Mr Muscle Professional Kitchen Cleaner is a cleaning spray used to clean all kitchen work surfaces, utensils and different equipment. This is sprayed neat onto surfaces and then wiped off using a fluid cloth.2. Potential hazards for workers during handling of chemicalsThe COSHH assessment included in Appendix I identifies the risk associated with the chemicals in each of the three cleaning products. There is the potential for all workers (both cleaning stave and office workers) to be ex make up to these chemicals in the workplace. Cleaning staff are at the greatest risk of motion picture at they testament be handling the change state products. There is a risk of splashback from the bleach and toilet cleaner when pouring this into the toilet. There is also the potential for individuals to come into adjoin with undiluted chemicals during disposal of empty containers. Workers using bleach may inhale v apour if this is used in a poorly-ventilated region.If cleaning cloths are used for multipurposes with a variety of different cleaning products without being decently rinsed between uses, there is also the potential for reactions to bugger off place between chemicals in the different products which could be hazardous for workers. For example, if bleach comes into contact with acid, toxic gas may be liberated which could then be inhaled. There is also the potential for chemical reactions to take place if different cleaning products are used together, e.g. when cleaning toilets.3. Monitoring workplace exposure and minimising the risk of exposureThe COSHH assessment identified Freshline Bleach and Lifeguard 3 Way Toilet Cleaner as medium hazards and Mr Muscle Professional Kitchen Cleaner as low hazard. For both the bleach and toilet cleaner in particular, it is essential that correct safety precautions are taken during the handling, use and disposal of these products.Monitoring wor kplace exposure to the chemicals in these products is difficult and levels of exposure cannot be measured qualitatively. Regular follow-ups of the office kitchen and toilets will detect spillages that have not been cleaned up thoroughly which could tight-fitting workers are exposed to higher than normal levels of concentrated products. Keeping a record of the quantities of each product used (e.g. by asking staff to complete a log when they take a new-made container) would provide an indicator of the amounts being used within the office as a whole on a monthly/annual nates which may provide some indicator of occupational exposure levels. There is a designated health and safety police officer within the office but regular inspections are not conducted and no formal training sessions are held to ensure that new staff joining the go with are familiarised with correct office safety procedures.A number of measures can be taken to minimise the risk of exposure. The COSHH assessments for all chemicals should be kept in a place where they can be found easily and all workers should familiarise themselves with these assessments and be aware of first aid measures and correct procedures for cleaning up spillages and disposal of comforting waste. Training sessions for staff should be arranged if necessary. All workers using cleaning products must wear suitable personal protective equipment as detailed in the COSHH assessment (e.g. eye protection when working with concentrated toilet cleaner and eye protection, PVC/rubber gloves and protective overalls when working with concentrated bleach). Regular inspections would monitor whether correct working procedures are being followed and written reports from each inspection would provide a record over time.In case of spillage of concentrated bleach or toilet cleaner on clothing, bags should be available to contain the soiled article(s) of clothing to send for cleaning and these should be clearly labelled with the hazard. P VC or rubber gloves should be replaced regularly and should be rinsed thoroughly with water if they have come into contact with concentrated solutions of bleach or toilet cleaner ensuring that no door handles or other surfaces are touched and contaminated with concentrated product. All spillages should be cleaned up thoroughly to minimise the risk of workers exposure to concentrated product and both spilt product and any solid waste associated with the spillage addicted of safely.The risk of splashing is reduced by using spray containers (as in the case of Mr Muscle Professional Kitchen Cleaner), rather than the larger bottles or containers which hold the bleach and toilet cleaner, and less(prenominal) of the product is likely to be used with these types of containers. If concentrated bleach or toilet cleaner is spilt on toilet seats, it is important that this is cleaned up thoroughly to minimise the risk of skin contact. In all cases where concentrated bleach has been used in sink s, this should be rinsed thoroughly with copious amounts of water to reduce the risk of workers exposure and also to ensure safe disposal of the product. Previously, cleaning staff used to clean the office in the early evening when umpteen staff were still working. This meant that neat bleach or toilet cleaner would be poured into toilet bowls or urinals and workers may then wish to use them, which significantly change magnitude the likelihood of exposure to concentrated products. We have this instant requested that cleaning staff work by and by in the evening two nights per week when staff have already left and it is only on these occasions that the toilets are cleaned.Cloths used for cleaning the kitchen should be rinsed thoroughly at the end of each use and not left where workers or even food could come into contact with concentrated products. Empty containers should be rinsed out well with water before disposal and the top of the container should be replaced to minimise the risk of individuals (i.e. office workers or waste disposal workers) coming into contact with undiluted chemicals. Products should be used in a well-ventilated area, particularly in the case of bleach. The office kitchen is poorly ventilated and has no windows that can be exposed but the windows in the toilets can be opened before using products in these areas.Correct shop of products will minimise the risk of workers exposure to chemicals. These products should ideally be stored in a locked storage area for which only suitable trained staff have access, and all products stored in original, closed containers, kept upright, in a cool place away from direct sunlight.4. Plan of action for improvementAn audit showed that many staff were not aware of the risks from chemicals in cleaning products used in this office and that correct procedures for their safe use, disposal and storage were not being followed. Following this, a number of new measures have been, or will be, implemented. Tra ining sessions have been arranged for all existing office staff to ensure they are familiar with COSHH assessments and safety procedures and these will be repeated when new staff join the company. Ensuring cleaning staff are correctly trained poses a greater challenge as these staff are recruited from an outside agency who are responsible for their own training and quality control however, the health and safety officer has worked with this agency to ensure that staff are familiar with safety procedures. No sand or other inert absorbable material was available in the office in case of large spillages. This has directly been obtained and all staff are familiar with where this is stored.A small, lockable press was previously used for storing cleaning products but this was sometimes left unlocked. Furthermore, containers of kitchen cleaner were left in the cupboard under the sink in the kitchen close to where clean crockery is stored, and toilet cleaner was also frequently left in to ilet cubicles. The COSHH assessment identified that Lifeguard 3 Way Toilet Cleaner should be kept away from chlorine-releasing agents and atomic number 11 hypochlorite therefore bleach and toilet cleaner should not be stored together in the same cupboard as there is a risk that they may come into contact (e.g. in case of spillage). A second, lockable cupboard suitable for the storage of these chemicals will be purchased with one month and the two products stored withdrawly. Staff will be trained to ensure that no products are left lying around in the kitchen or toilet areas and are returned to the storage area after each use, which should always be kept locked.The disposable cloths used for cleaning the kitchen were previously being rinsed with water after use, left to dry and re-used. In localise to minimise the risk of exposure of office staff to the cleaning product, these cloths will now be disposed of after a single use. Protective overalls worn by cleaning staff will be was hed on a weekly basis and PVC/rubber gloves changed regularly.Regular inspections are now carried out by the office health and safety officer on a monthly basis to ensure correct procedures are being followed.ConclusionsEveryday cleaning products used in the office can pose a potential hazard to workers. It is therefore important that COSHH assessments are performed to assess the risk posed by the chemicals contained within these products. All workers should be aware of the correct procedures for the safe handling, use and disposal of these chemicals and should take the necessary precautions to minimise their risk of exposure (e.g. through use of personal protective equipment where appropriate).Reference listHealth and Safety Executive 2007. List of approved workplace exposure limits. Retrieved 26th September 2008 fromhttp//www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/table1.pdfPiney, M. 2001, OELs and the stiff control of exposure to substances hazardous to health in the UK (version 3). Retrieved 26th Se ptember 2008 fromhttp//www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/oel.pdfThe Physical and speculative alchemy Laboratory 2008, Chemical and other safety information. Oxford University. Retrieved 26th September 2008 fromhttp//msds.chem.ox.ac.ukBibliographyHealth and Safety Executive 2008. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health COSHH. Retrieved 26th September 2008 fromhttp//www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/Health and Safety Executive 2008. COSHH A brief look at to the regulations. Retrieved 26th September 2008 fromhttp//www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdfTable 1. Chemicals used in office cleaning products toxicity, target organs and recommended exposure limits (Health and Safety Executive 2007).Assessment ReferenceDate26th July 2008Review Date 25th July 20091) assessor Details Client please complete Section 12) Process Description Client Ive included all three products in one assessment you may prefer to put each on a separate COSHH assessment pro formaClient the codes for both risk phrases and safety phrases ar e standard for COSHH assessments and were taken from The Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University website, accessed from http//msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/3) Specific Considerations4) Hazard CategoryI have familiarised myself with the risks created and safe working practices during the use and handling of chemicals. I shall adhere to COSHH regulations and safe laboratory practices as explained to me during the COSHH assessment.Signature Date