Tool Box Talk

Issue:

1.0

Author: SHEQ Co-ordinator Approver: SHEQ Manager Approval Date: 09/07/12

C o S H H

CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH (CoSHH) – July 2012

Introduction

Every year, thousands of workers are made ill by hazardous substances, contracting lung disease such as asthma, cancer and skin disease such as dermatitis. These diseases cost many millions of pounds each year to:

• Industry, to replace the trained worker; • Society, in disability allowances and medicines; and • Individuals, who may loose their jobs.

As an employer, Vennsys is responsible for taking effective measures to control the exposure of its work force to these substances and protect their health.

This tool box talk has been developed to explain these measures and clarify the process and procedures that are in place.

VHSP02 – CoSHH Within the Vennsys Health & Safety Procedures there is a specific process, VHSP02 – CoSHH, which defines in detail the responsibilities of both the Company to ensure that control measures are identified and applied, and then of the employees to follow them. The process also identifies how members of staff can be exposed to hazardous substances, how that exposure can be controlled in the various areas that we work, emergency containment processes, general control measures for substances, specific processes where the use of hazardous substances may compound an emergency situation, the issue of hazardous substances, health surveillance for those who regularly come into contact with hazardous substances, although with the current chemicals in use health surveillance is not required, and records. The process also identifies what actions are to be taken should a new chemical be identified for use or if an existing substance is changed. The CoSHH Register All of the chemicals and substances with the potential to cause harm that are in use on the Contract have been identified and listed on a register, which is held in the Vennsys Information Management System (IMS) on the ‘S’ Drive within Vennsys\1.0 SHEQ\1.0 Procedures & Forms\SHEQ Records\CoSHH. This briefly describes the amounts stored and issued, a brief description of what hazards are present when using them, what effect they may have on the environment should they be released, together with links to the full CoSHH

Tool Box Talk

Issue:

1.0

Author: SHEQ Co-ordinator Approver: SHEQ Manager Approval Date: 09/07/12

C o S H H

Assessments and the material safety data sheets, which provide further information on each individual substance. If you do not have access your Supervisor/Team Leader does if you still cannot obtain the information contact the SHEQ Team. CoSHH Assessments

Each individual substance in use receives an assessment which describes in greater detail the associated hazards, details the controls to be implemented such as; the time members of staff can be exposed to the substance, storage and usage amounts, how to put them out if they are on fire, first aid actions, and any specialist controls that must be followed to prevent harm coming to the user and/or others that may be effected by the works.

They are in a table format, with pictures for the rapid identification of the hazards presented by the substance and the relevant control measures for quick reference.

Copies of the CoSHH Assessments relevant to the tasks you do are held within your Work Folders or place of work, and are linked to the generic Risk Assessments and Method Statements. These separate documents combine to provide a suite of information which defines all of the control measures required to enable the works to be carried out safely.

An example CoSHH Assessment is attached to this Tool Box Talk.

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EXAMPLE OF A TYPICAL CoSHH ASSESSMENT

Substance Serial No.

Safety Instructions

Use

Quantity & Frequency

of Use

Hazard Description

Hazard Symbols Ingredients Exposure

Limits

Main Hazards

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Sign Off Sheet

Routes in to the Body

First Aid Action

PPE Requirement

Fire & Spillage Actions Handling, Storage

& Disposal Instructions