Security at workplace: Hazardous Substances

Three recent guidance documents from the Health and Safety Executive are likely to have significant impact on many workplaces. These are COSHH Essentials (HSG 193), Respiratory Protective Equipment At Work (HSG 53: 2005), and Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide For Sampling, Analysis And Clearance Procedures (HSG 248). www.hse.gov.uk


COSHH Essentials
The COSHH Essentials CE, approach to risk assessment and control is intended for non technical readers, particularly in small and medium sized enterprises and is available in paper form and from HSE’s e-COSHH Essentials website; the latter is more up to date. CE is based on a matrix of Hazard Group, Quantity and Dustiness/Volatility, which defines the necessary control approach. Hazard Group is based on the most serious Risk Phrase RP assigned to each substance and using this RP to assign the substance into one of 6 Hazard Groups where: Group A includes irritating substances and those not elsewhere defined; Groups B, C and D include harmful, toxic and very toxic substances respectively; Group E includes respiratory sensitizers, mutagens and carcinogens; and Group S includes all substances which can cause harm by contact with the eyes or skin.

‘Quantity’ is based on the amount of substance used per batch where: grams/ml are small, kilograms/litres are medium; and tonnes/m3 are large.

‘Dustiness’ is based on the state of a solid where: pellet-like solids have low dustiness, crystalline or granular solids have medium dustiness and fine, light powders have high dustiness.

‘Volatility’ is based on boiling point BP and temperature of operation. For operations at room temperature substances, with BP>150 C are defined as having low volatility, substances with BP between 50 - 150 C have medium volatility and substances with BP<50 C have high volatility.

Four control approaches are defined: general ventilation; engineering control; containment and special. Expert advice should be sought for the special approach. Specific control guidance sheets are available for some substances/work activities.

CE is based on the concept that a large quantity of an irritant of low dustiness/volatility will be adequately controlled by general ventilation whereas a small quantity of a very toxic substance of high dustiness/volatility will require containment or a special approach.

The CE approach is beguilingly simple. But though CE was first published in 1999, there has been no validation to assess whether it has achieved adequate control in real workplaces. It is useful to assess whether CE is likely to lead to adequate control. The example in the panel applies CE to the spray application of a 2 pack paint containing isocyanates. It shows that a critical failing of the CE control approach is that it makes no mention of selecting less hazardous substances, although this is a basic requirement of COSHH.

RPE at work
A new edition of HSG53 was published early this year. This edition is based on a CE approach in which the user enters the Hazard Group, Quantity and Dustiness/Volatility factors into a matrix to determine the required APF. HSG53 also provides information of the suitability of devices for different work rates. For example, un-powered and fan-assisted devices are judged suitable for medium work rates and fan-assisted loose-fitting hoods to EN269 are deemed suitable for heavy work rates.

There are 3 major concerns about this edition of HSG 53: failure to address the legal duties with carcinogens and asthmagens; the potential inappropriateness of the work rate guidance for some fan-assisted and airline equipment; and selecting RPE on the basis of the CE approach. These concerns are outlined below.


Infection control
Professional Protection Systems PPS is reminding employers of the importance of casualty isolation and infection units to guard against natural threats. Besides the terrorist threat we need to remember other threats, like SARS, bird flu, hepatitis and TB, to name but a few, says MD Mark Whitcher. The PPS range includes isolation chambers, temporary waiting rooms, mobile intensive care, bronchoscopy and triage units, as well as a renal dialysis facility. The company has also introduced a pod to transport infected subjects without any risk to healthcare operatives. www.ppsgb.com

Save water
A water-efficient decontamination shower system has been developed by PBSG. The innovative ultrasonic fogging system is based on the company’s decontamination shower, which although highly effective, uses a lot of water. By creating a fogging system in conjunction with a soft spray, PBSG has managed to significantly reduce water consumption while still maintaining effective levels of decontamination. This has significant cost benefits for end users as well as benefits for the environment in general. www.pbsc.co.uk

Pollution solution for oil spills
Fentex and Allibert Helix offer a complete solution to the new oil storage regulations that just recently came into force. Safety product manufacturers distribute their range of plastic spill control products. They produce a wide range of proven drum funnels, sump pallets, drum bunds, drum stands, IBC bunds and spill flooring. www.fentex.co.uk

Go green
The new strategy GE Commercial Finance Gefleet Services has helped fleets to overcome the anti environmental bias founding many personal car ownership plan PCOP. Research by the company shows that drivers who switch from company car to a PCOP tend to choose more polluting vehicles. GE Fleet Services strategy sets a benchmark fuel consumption figure for each cash for car allowance band in a company’s PCOP. Drivers who pick vehicles that have a worse mpg figure then the benchmark have their allowance reduced and vice versa. www.gefleetservices.com

In sickness and in health
GB Environmental Ltd’s UV disinfection technologies could provide the cure for sick building syndrome. The company’s new range of AirGuard UV disinfectors is designed to retrofit into existing ductwork. They will kill the micro organisms in office ventilation systems that can contribute to employee illnesses. Employees falling ill from headaches, sore throats and respiratory problems, commonly referred to collectively as sick building syndrome, undoubtedly cost companies in terms of staff absences, explains Dr Ron Mitchell, the managing director. That is why further steps are taken to ensure that UV provides the ultimate barrier to micro organisms causing ill health in the work place.
www.gb-environmental.com

Legal duties
COSHH 2004 requires that the workplace Exposure Limit WEL for carcinogens and asthmagens should not be exceeded and that personal exposures should be reduced to as far below the WEL as is reasonably practicable. This legal duty is not mentioned in HSG53, although it does provide a worked example involving isocyanates.

Work rate guidance
The harder we work, the more air we breathe. For un-powered RPE, high work rates cause high breathing resistances, which can result in severe discomfort and lead to increased filter penetration and increased leakage between the face an the face piece. For tight fitting fan-assisted devices, the pressure in the airspace inside the face piece can fall below atmospheric pressure if the peak inhalation rate exceeds the air supply rate, and increased leakage can occur. However, as the wearer’s breathing can draw air through the filter, the effect of leakage is less important than with loose fitting devices, such as hoods or visors, because if such devices are over-breathed unfiltered air can be drawn directly into the wearer’s breathing zone. With tight fitting air fed devices, if the peak inhalation rate exceeds the air supply rate, the face piece collapses onto the face. This experience of breathing rubber can be extremely disconcerting.

HSG53 comments that users should ensure that air supply rates are suitable, but gives no guidance on the necessary air supply rates. Research suggests peak inhalation rates of about 200 I/min for moderate work and about 260 I/min for high work. Though some devices can supply such rates, many cannot. Previous RPE selection standards in the UK were therefore based on devices which just met the relevant standard. This principle has clearly not been adopted in the current edition of HSG53, which is a critical error.


Workplace Health Promotion

Two aspects of healthy eating and exercise if neglected might not lead to a work based illness, but the promotion may increase well being amongst staff, reduce sickness absence and improve productivity. The British heart foundation discovers that 37% of coronary heart disease deaths are related to inactivity. Diabetes UK cites overeating and sedentary lifestyles as key factors in type 2 diabetes. There is also evidence that the cause of certain cancers, high blood pressure or cholesterol, osteoporosis and arthritis also reduced substantially by a moderate daily exercise - www.fitness.gov. so if we have an active workforce of healthy eaters, there is less sickness absence and in more serious cases reduce the loss of replacing employees who die before they reach retirement age. www.healthyliving.gov.uk Being overweight may not itself be problem but it is an indicator of lack of exercise and unhealthy eating. According to the National Audit Office around two thirds of men and over half of women in the UK are overweight. The cost to UK industry is 18 million sick days a year and 40,000 lost years of working life at an economic cost of £2 billion a year. www.nao.gov.uk

The study by the European Network for Workplace Health Promotion at www.enwhp.org reports reductions in absence from work of up to 70% for those involved in WHP, as well as increases in productivity and reductions in staff turnover. For the company accountant, one study claims a gain of 10 times the amount invested in WHP.



Sources:
Robin Howie, Health and Safety at Work Journal, Nov 2005
DDA training on line assessment for testing knowledge on how employees best provide equal access for all. www.configure.co.uk
Asbestos help: www.tersusgroup.co.uk
Safe Communities Concept: safety promotion is about more than just the prevention of injuries, rather is to empower people to take control of their own health. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents RoSPA: www.rospa.com or www.phs.ki.se
e-learning case studies online: www.cipd.co.uk/helpingpeoplelearng