Annex H
To Loughborough University Estates Services Health and Safety Policy
Hazardous Substances Procurement, Handling and Storage
Employers Obligations
1. The COSHH Regulations1 state that "An employer who undertakes work
which may expose any of his employees to substances hazardous to health,
shall provide that employee with such information, instruction and training
as is suitable and sufficient for the employee to know the risks to health
created by such exposure and the precautions which should be taken".
Employees Obligations
2. To make full and proper use of any control measure or personal protective
equipment provided by the employer in pursuit of COSHH.
3. To report any defects or faults in personal protective equipment provided.
4. To store personal protective equipment in the proper and correct manner.
5. To present oneself, during working hours, for medical surveillance if
requested to do so by the employer.
6. To supply information about ones health during medical surveillance as the
medical advisor or appointed doctor may reasonably require.
7. To remove contaminated personal protective equipment and store in an
appropriate place before eating or drinking.
8. To ensure that they familiarise themselves with the substance prior to use,
and have referred to the relevant COSHH assessment for the necessary
information to safely perform an activity.
COSHH Assessments
9. A suitable and Sufficient COSHH Risk Assessment (COSHH Assessment)
should form the basis of the safe use and storage of all substances that may
be hazardous to health, including chemicals used for water treatment,
pesticides and dusts and/or fumes produced during work processes.
1
The Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2000, HMSO, London
10. A flowchart indicating the general requirements of the COSHH Regulations2
is given at Appendix 3 to this Annex.
11. A second flowchart, giving guidance in the completion of a COSHH Risk
Assessment is given in Appendix 3 to this Annex.
12. COSHH Risk Assessments should be carried out using the form shown in
Appendix 1. Guidance will be issued to aid the completion of this form from
the Central Health and Safety Office. Copies of this guidance are available
via the website or in printed format via the Departmental H&S Officer or
Estates Helpdesk.
13. DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Exposure Atmospheres) Regulations
2002 applies whenever the following conditions have been satisfied:
a) There is work being carried out by an employer or self-employed
person;
b) A dangerous substance is present, or is liable to be present at the
workplace;
c) The dangerous substance presents a risk of explosion or fire that
would.
In circumstances that these regulations apply work should not continue
where risk is associated until a DSEAR Assessment has been carried out.
These will be carried out with the knowledge of the Departmental Health &
Safety Officer and in collaboration with the central Health and Safety
Office.
Spillage.
14. The actions to be taken in the event of a spillage of chemicals, either in
solid, powder or liquid form is given at Appendix 2 to this Annex.
Procurement and Storage of Chemicals
15. All pesticides must be stored in accordance with Health and Safety
Executive Guidance Note G.S.19, ‘Storage of Approved Pesticides’.
16. Anyone requesting chemicals from the Estates Stores will be asked
to provide a written COSHH Assessment (or a Risk Assessment that
includes a COSHH Assessment element) prior to release/issue.
17. This requirement should not present too many problems for anyone carrying
out the statutory assessments and actively managing whatever work or
process they are involved in.
2
The Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, HMSO, London
18. The Stores staff have been informed that the requirement to view the
appropriate Risk or COSHH Assessment is a strict requirement and is Nonnegotiable.
19. The quality of the risk assessment or COSHH assessment will remain the
responsibility of those who carry it out.
20. The stores personnel will merely confirm the existence of a relevant
assessment, covering the required chemical and its use. The Estates
Services approved standard format for RA will assist staff in recognition.
This is detailed in Appendix 1.
21. Any discussion, comment or dissent on this matter should be referred to
your line manager, your section Supervisor/Manager or indeed the
Departmental Health and Safety Officers rather than the stores Staff,
themselves.
Dusts & Fumes
22. A suitable Risk Assessment will identify any hazards associated with dusts
and fumes. Specific guidance on Dusts and Fumes is available Appendix 7.
Fumigations
23. The University Health and Safety office shall be given adequate notice of
any plans to carry out the fumigation of buildings. The University H&S Office
will give assistance and advice with the development of COSHH and Risk
Assessments if requested to do so.
24. Regardless of their involvement above, a detailed Risk assessment and
accompanying COSHH assessment shall be approved by the H&S Office
before any fumigation work is undertaken.
25. The procedure for dealing with Fumigation as a treatment for Insect/Fly
Infestation can be seen at Appendix 4 to this Annex.
Pesticides
26. All pesticides that are stored or used must have suitable and sufficient
COSHH assessment carried out. The results of the COSHH assessment
will be recorded and no product shall be used without such an assessment.
27. Consideration must be given to any alternative methods of pest control
before considering the use of a pesticide as part of the Risk Assessment.
28. Before any pesticides are used the pest problem should be accurately
identified and discussed with the Supervisor or Manager.
29. Further guidance on Pesticides is available in Appendix 5, this should be
read in detail before any action is taken involving the use of pesticides.
Cooling Towers, Boiler & Heating System Treatments
30. The chemicals that are generally employed in water treatment for cooling
towers, boilers, heating systems and the like can be hazardous, especially
in their concentrated for, if not handled and used correctly. A specific risk
assessment is necessary before work begins, and guidance should be
sought from Appendix 6
Appendixes
Appendixes 1 to 7 follow:
Appendix 1 – Estates Standard COSHH Assessment
Appendix 2 – Emergency Procedures To Be Adopted In The Event Of
Spillage Of Materials
Appendix 3 - COSHH Regulation Requirements Flowchart
Appendix 4 - Procedure for Dealing with Fumigation as a treatment for
Insect/Fly Infestation
Appendix 5 - Management of Pesticides
Appendix 6 - Cooling Towers, Boiler & Heating System Treatments
Appendix 7– Dusts and Fumes