COSHH and Manufacturing

she ltd. Article:

Using chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can put people’s health at risk, causing diseases including asthma, dermatitis or cancer. The COSHH regulations require employers to control substances that can harm workers' health. Substances hazardous to health in manufacturing include:

• dusts from mechanical cutting, shaping and abrasive blasting;
• gases and fumes from welding, soldering, and cutting;
• mists and germs in metalworking fluids;
• lubricants, adhesives, paints, degreasing and stripping fluids;
• plating and pickling fluids, and molten salt baths;
• fluid treatment products.

Control measures include:

• dust, fume or vapour extraction;
• respirators;
• fluid maintenance;
• skin checks.

You may need to use health surveillance (Check employees health for any adverse effects related to work. May involve checking skin for dermatitis or asking questions about breathing and may need to done by a doctor or nurse.)

Your employer should provide equipment to protect your health, such as:

• extraction of dust, fumes or mist;
• control of bacteria and fines in cutting fluids;
• personal protective equipment.

You have a duty to use these properly and co-operate with any monitoring and health surveillance.

A selection of example situations can be found on the HSE website. Click the link here to read more:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/engineering.htm

For advice on issues of Safety, Health, and Environment please visit us at:

she.ltd.uk