Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals

Health and safety policies and procedures were set out to explain what is needed to maintain a safe working environment and adhere to rules and regulation of health and safety regulation. Every working environment must have a safe entrance and exit. In order to minimised risk to health and safety, every equipment must be tested and ensure it is safe to use.

Cleaning products, chemicals, first aid supplies must be clearly and correctly labeled. Any substances that are deemed harmful such as irritants and toxic or corrosive substances must not be used unless a risk assessment has been carried out and a procedure in place for its use.

Legislations/codes of practice relating to general health and safety in a health or social care work setting are: The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974; Riddor 1995, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health); Manual Handling operations regulations 1992; Health And Safety (First aid regulations 1981); Fire protection (Workplace) Regulations 1997; Food Safety Act 1990; Personal Protective Equipment and Management of Health and safety at work regulations 1999.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations2002 is the regulation that helps to control the risk of hazardous substances that may cause harm to individuals at the work place. The regulation states that when working with medication in a care home the managers is responsible for carrying out a risk assessment, this will assure that the medication is being handled with care. The manger also has to ensure hazardous substances are used safely and also stored correctly in the care home.

Health and Safety at Work Act: Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 ( as amended 2002 ); Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (

In this care team you will need to follow the health and safety legislation guidelines, while carrying out your creative and therapeutic activities. In this care team we have strict policies and guidelines you need to abide by. In this leaflet it will be explaining the potential risks and responsibilities you will have. It is of high importance that you should follow these rules and regulations at all times as they are here to keep you and other people in the environment safe, if you do not abide by our rules and regulations then consequences will follow. The handout will include legislation acts such as; health and safety at work act (1974), the food standard act (1999), general food

Discuss these matters with more experienced work colleagues who could give you extra information on health and safety

Aiii) – Health and Safety Act & Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002

According to Plog and Quinlan (2012) explains the four tenets of industrial hygiene. Furthermore, states that anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control are the useful tenants of workplace hygiene that allow an industrial hygienist to minimize the exposures of hazards by implementing appropriate controls. The controls may include proper disposal of chemical and biodegradable materials. To be effective in recognizing and evaluating on the job hazards and recommending controls, industrial hygienists must be familiar with the hazards' characteristics. Major job risks can include air contaminants, and chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic hazards.

The air samples used in monitoring are compared to health and safety standards and regulations for compliance. An industrial hygienist may have to perform monitoring activities. If designated substances are in the workplace the employer is required to perform an assessment and implement a control program. The MOL issues a regulation for each designated substance. Controlling exposure to chemical and biological agents must be considered as well.

The Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations of 1988 since amended and consolidated in 1999 are the main piece of legislation covering control of the risks to employees and other people arising from exposure to harmful substances in connection with any work activity under the employer's control. The main objective of the Regulations is to reduce occupational ill health by setting out framework for

I believe the following steps should be taken as soon as possible; A current inventory list for all chemicals used within our facilities should be developed and updated with current GHS-compliant labels. These labels should include signal words, pictograms, precautionary and hazardous statements. A current GHS-compliant 16-section Safety Data Sheet (SDS) should be located and included in the chemical inventory list. A plan should be developed and put into place to ensure GHS-compliant labeling and SDS’s are used throughout the workplace. Any chemicals that are no longer used or needed should be removed from the inventory and be properly disposed of according to all federal, state or local regulations. If a chemical does not have a GHS-compliant label and SDS included in the new chemical inventory list, we need to contact the supplier and ensure that a GHS-compliant label and SDS will be received within an acceptable timeframe. We need to revise our written Hazard Communication Program to reflect the changes to the chemical inventory, corporations new GHS-compliant labeling system and the new 16-section GHS-compliant SDS’s. The written Hazard Communication Program should also reflect any changes or updates to previously or newly identified hazards. A system to ensure and verify the current labels on all chemicals housed, used or stored within our facilities should be developed and implemented. A review of the process used to order and purchase all chemicals used by Dosit should be performed and measures should be taken to insure the prevention of “rogue” purchases, this will help

It is important it have a written work Health and Safety Policy for the organizations and businesses which have management systems. The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 addresses Major Hazard Facilities in Regulation 558 and Schedule 17(1.2) and requires that the Safety Management System includes a Safety Policy, including the operator’s broad aims in relation to the safe operation of the major hazard facility, and that the safety policy must include and express commitment to ongoing improvement of all aspects of the safety management system. A Work Health and Safety Policy is an explicit statement of business commitment to work health and safety. It will include a statement outlining the importance which is placed on work health and safety and how it is to be implemented.

Hazardous chemicals include flammable liquids, acids, gases and solvents. This should all be included in the Production Risk Assessment for each performance and should state each substance that is to be used. The substances should be used in accordance with requirements set out in the Safety Data Sheet included in the risk assessments.

The employer also has to comply with all standards, rules, and regulations that are set forth by OSHA and the OSH Act. Employers are required to inspect the workplace to insure they are up to OSHA standards. Insure that employees are only using safe tools and equipment that are in their proper condition. It should be easy for the employees to be aware of potential hazards by the employer posting signs, using color codes, labels, or signs to convey warning. Employees must be trained in a language that they understand. Operating procedures must be in place and properly communicated to the employees to assure the employees follow safety and health standards. Employers that house or use hazardous chemicals will be required to have hazardous communication program and for that all the employees to be trained on exposure and precautions. Employers are to fund medical exams if required by OSHA standards. The OSHA poster must placed in a prominent location at the workplace. Records need to be kept of work-related injuries and illnesses. The log of these injuries and illnesses need to made available on February 1st for three months. Assure employees have access to medical and exposure records. Provide a workplace free of discrimination. OSHA citations must be posted at or near the work area where the infraction occurred. The citation must be in place for three working days or until the