It is crucial that chemical products are stored in compliance with CoSHH regulations as this article emphasizes. It looks at how workers health can be affected by inefficient procedures when using chemical products.
There are certain simple procedures which need to be adhered to in order to prevent an adverse reaction. For example, exposing your hands to water for long periods can lead to dermatitis. There are also certain cleaning products which can cause skin allergies and asthma. Some corrosive cleaning products can cause skin burns and eye damage.
It is crucial to follow good working policies so as to avoid ill health. Contact with chemicals should be kept to a mimimum and leaks and spillages should be reduced. A spill clean-up kit must be provided close by. It is imperative that all cleaning products are stored in a safe and organised manner.
Another important point is to ensure that the store area is kept well ventilated at all times. The storage area must also be kept clean and organised. Any spillages must be cleaned up immediately and any liquids must be absorbed in granules. Any spillages should then be moved to a marked secure container with a lid. Hazardous waste should then be disposed of by a specialist contractor.
Only workers who have been trained in the use of chemical products should have access to them and they must ensure that the storage container remains locked. A first aid plan must be in place for workers who have contact with products that can cause skin or eye damage. Good hand washing facilities should be available on site. It is vital that hands are kept clean to avoid cross contamination. Hands must be washed and dried thoroughly, and then cream applied.
Employees should have easy access to personal protective equipment (PPE), which may include items such as protective gloves, aprons and eye protection. Follow any instructions given on product labels and if necessary ask your safety Clothing Supplier to help you get the right PPE. Your respiratory protective equipment (RPE) supplier ought to be contacted should RPE be required as a result of a spillage. It is advised that single use nitrile protective gloves are used, and are thrown away every time they are taken off. If latex gloves are used, they must only be 'low protein, powder free' gloves.
It is imperative that certain chemicals are segregated to prevent a reaction. Always separate solid and liquid products, flammable and non flammable liquids, acids and alkalis and wastes. Chemical products need to be stored at a minimum and in a cool dark place which can contain any spills. All chemicals should be stored in containers with lids. All containers in storage should have labels which face frontwards, and the containers should be easy to pour from so as to prevent spills or liquid being trapped in the rim. Any heavy items and corrosive chemicals should be stored on lower shelves. Solid chemicals should preferably be bought in tablet form, or alternatively stored in a container with a wide neck which makes it easier to spoon out granules.
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Dale Allen delivers CoSHH compliance as one of the UK's leading compliance authorities. Find out more about how you can use his online COSHH365 CoSHH asssessment tool to produce compliant CoSHH assessments with the benefits of a managed safety Data Sheet library.
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