Since 1974 a number of Regulations have been
introduced which describe in detail the requirements
for specific safe working practices. One
of the most recent is the Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1988.
COSHH is a major piece of health and safety
legislation. It tightens the general obligations of
an employer under Section 2 of the Health and
Safety at Work Act by specifying comprehensive
rules on how substances should be controlled.
COSHH applies to all substances in all forms,
including gases, vapours, solids, dusts, liquids,
and even micro-organisms. It also covers mixtures
and preparations.
A substance may be a hazard to health if the
substance itself is harmful or if:
1 There are hazards from impurities.
2 Dust or fumes are generated during use.
3 It is dangerous when used in combination with
other materials.
COSHH attempts to follow the principle of good
occupational hygiene practice:
1 Assess the hazard (Regulation 6)
2 Control it (Regulations 7, 8, 12)
3 Maintain the control (Regulations 9, 10, 11).
Assessment: Regulation 6
An employer shall not carry on any work which is
liable to expose any employees to any substance
hazardous to health unless he has made a suitable
and sufficient assessment of the risk created, and
the steps needed to achieve and maintain control.
Control of exposure: Regulation 7
Exposure must be prevented or adequately controlled.
Adequately controlled means that repeated
exposure must not cause damage to health.
Maximum exposure limits must not be exceeded
or employers may be prosecuted.
Use of controls: Regulation 8
Employers should take all reasonable steps to
ensure that control measures are properly used,
and employees shall make full and proper use of
the controls provided.
Maintenance of controls: Regulation 9
Controls must be maintained in efficient working
order and good repair. Thorough examinations and
tests must be made at suitable intervals. Records of
tests and repairs must be kept for five years.
518 Repair of Vehicle Bodies
Exposed monitoring: Regulation 10
Air sampling is required to monitor exposure every
twelve months if:
1 It is needed to maintain control.
2 It is needed to protect health.
3 Listed carcinogens are in use.
Health surveillance: Regulation 11
Health surveillance is required at least every twelve
months if:
1 Valid health surveillance techniques exist.
2 Specified substances are in use.
Surveillance may include biological monitoring,
clinical examinations and review of health records.
Records must be kept for 30 years (Figure 15.11). Identify hazards (a hazard is the potential to
cause harm)
1 Nature of hazard
2 Route of exposure
3 Possible interactions.
Evaluate the risk (risk is the likelihood that a
substance will cause harm in the actual circumstance
of use)
1 How is the substance used?
2 How is it controlled?
3 What is the level of exposure?
|
|
|
Decide on controls
1 Type of controls (substitution, local exhaust
ventilation (LEV))
2 Maintenance and testing procedures
3 Air monitoring
4 Health surveillance
5 Record keeping.
Record assessment A record must be kept of all
assessments other than in the most simple cases that
can be easily repeated (Table 15.1, Figure 15.13).
Review Assessments should be reviewed for
example when:
1 There are any significant changes to the process,
e.g. plant changes, volume of production.
2 New substances are introduced.
3 Ill-health occurs.
4 New information becomes available on hazards
or risks.
Figure 15.11 Health surveillance record (Akzo
Coatings PLC)
Figure 15.12 Training record (Akzo Coatings PLC)
Information, instruction and training:
Regulation 12
The employees must be told:
1 The risk to health
2 The results of the tests
3 The control measures to be used.
They must be given appropriate instruction and
training. Any person carrying out work under
the Regulations must be competent to do so
(Figure 15.12).
Carrying out a COSHH assessment Gather
information
1 What is used, handled, stored
2 Intermediates, by-products, wastes.
Bodyshop planning 519
Table 15.1 Guide to safe working practices: to be filled in by the bodyshop. The example gives a typical process carr ied out in most paint shops
every day. The initial assessment has identified there is a serious risk to peoples health from the way the hazardous substance is being used.
Immediate steps must be introduced to control and reduce the risks. Failure to comply to the approved code of practice by an employer may lead to
prosecution
Precautions
Activity Hazard Risk Personal General Products used Products contain Remarks
Wet sanding Wet sludges Skin contact Gloves Carry out in
of fillers of unknown with unknown a properly
and stoppers composition materials ventilated area
Eye contact with Goggles or
splashes of visor
unknown
materials
Remarks: Conclusions: Conclusions:
Priming Washfiller 580 Zinc chromate Product substitution
Mixing (hardener Solvents and, Inhalation of Respirator Carry out in a well _5% MEL not possible. Issue
addition and depending on solvent vapours suitable ventilated area or Butyl acetate staff with respirator
or thinning) the particular for solvent with local exhaust 1025% OES and eye protection
product, vapours where ventilation to Plus blends of Arrange for extraction
isocyanates, extraction minimize vapour additional solvents to be installed in
acids or inadequate build-up. NB air- mixing room
polyamides fed respirators are
may be not required when
present Skin contact with Gloves mixing isocyanate
solvents containing products
Eye contact with Goggles or visor at ambient
vapours, solvents temperatures
or paint splashes under conditions of
good ventilation
Remarks: Conclusions: Conclusions: Washfiller Ethanol 1530% OES Reduce mixing from
High risk Strong smell of No LEV in mixing phosphoric Methyl isobutyl ketone three times a day to
Carried out three solvent from area hardener 3045% OES_ once daily
times daily acid hardener Plus blend of additional
No respirator or solvents including
eye protection phosphoric acid
used whilst
mixing
(Continued)
520 Repair of Vehicle Bodies
|
|
|
Table 15.1 (Continued)
Precautions
Activity Hazard Risk Personal General Products used Products contain Remarks
Application Spray mist Inhalation of Respirator All spraying must be As above As above Issue replacement
containing solvent vapours suitable for carried out in a charcoal respirator,
solvent and, or spray mists solvent properly ventilated set up inspection
depending on vapours and spray enclosure and maintenance
the particular particulates records. No
product, spraying to be done
isocyanates, Air-fed respirators outside spray
zinc or must be worn booth
strontium (i) whenever
chromates, isocyanates are
polyamides present or
or acids (ii) when zinc
or strontium
chromate
containing
primers are
used and the
ventilation in
the spray
enclosure is
inadequate for
the particular job
Skin contact with Gloves
solvent vapour
or spray mists
Eye contact with Goggles or visor
solvent vapour
or spray mists
Remarks: Conclusions: Conclusions:
High risk Cartridge mask Spraying in open
Process carried used but in poor workshop
out daily condition Poor extraction
Bodyshop planning 521
Figure 15.13 COSHH assessment record (Akzo coatings PLC)
522 Repair of Vehicle Bodies
