CoSHH Assessment – Limiting Exposure using Control Methods
The use of control methods should be brought into effect if risks have not been removed or reduced on completion of a CoSHH risk assessment.
Control measures are always a combination of equipment and ways of working to minimise exposure. Such measures may include extra training, personal protective equipment, warning signage etc. You need control measures that work and continue to work each and every day in order that you comply with CoSHH procedures.
When deciding how to control the hazards and risks which have been identified, a hierarchy of control measures should be adhered to.
The first measure is to eliminate the hazard or prevent the risk and use a safer one.
If exposure cannot be prevented, then the risk must be minimised by measures considered in the following order of priority:
Use a safer form of the substance, e.g. paste rather than powder.
Alter and enclose the process to expel less of the substance.
Extract any emissions of the substance near the point of supply.
Have as few employees in harm’s way as possible.
Provide workers with personal protective equipment (PPE).
Control equipment comes in a variety of forms such as, glove boxes and fume cupboards and spray booths and refuges.
The equipment should be supplied with a ‘user manual’ and should include schedules for checks, maintenance and parts replacement.
Any defective equipment should be fixed as soon as possible and checks and actions should be recorded for at least five years.
Finally, once control measures are put in place and are implemented accordingly, you must ensure that they keep working effectively.
A member of the work force should be chosen to be responsible for checking and maintaining control measures. This has to be someone who is competent and who knows what they need to do and are able to do it.
Checks will include: ensuring that the process isn’t emitting uncontrolled contaminants, checking that the control equipment continues to work as it was designed and making sure that employees follow the correct way of working.
Two areas to consider where maintenance of control measures is critical are local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and personal protective equipment (PPE).
If your company uses local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to control exposure, then it must be checked and examined annually.
Personal protective equipment is frequently used as part of control measures. This control method will only be successful if the equipment is checked and maintained because should it fail, then the wearer is no longer protected and is then exposed to danger.
Whoever is responsible for the configuration, installation, maintenance and assessment of control measures must also possess the required skills, knowledge and CoSHH experience.
About the Author
Dale Allen develops systems and online software to help you succeed in CoSHH compliance. Find out more about how to effectively manage and produce a compliant HSE CoSHH assessment free with the UK’s leading CoSHH compliance authority, available at: => http://www.coshh365.com/coshh_assessment.asp
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