COSHH essentials
Working Group on Action to Control Chemicals
COSHH essentials
INHALATION
EXPOSURE BANDING
AMOUNT DUSTINESS / VOLATILITY
BROAD CONTROL APPROACH + GUIDANCE ON TASK
HAZARD BANDING
Least hazardous
A B C D E
single exposure
Toxic, corrosive, etc.
toxic to reproduction
Asthma, can-cer, genetic damage
R36 R38
No R
R20 R21 R22
R42 R45, R49 R46, R68
R23, 24, 25 R34, 35 R37 R41, R43 R48/20/21/22
R26, 27, 28 R40 carc. R48/23/24/25 R60, 61, 62, 63
COSHH essentials
Skin, eye irritants; unclassified
Most hazardous
S – causes harm in contact with skin and/or eyes
Harmful on Very toxic,
All other R
COSHH essentials
HAZARD BANDS EXPOSURE BANDS
ic, corrosive,skin sensitiser
ion
Amount:
Small - ( l) Medium - ( l) Large - ( )
Dispersion Potential: Low (pellets or BP>150C) Medium (granule or BP 50-150C) High (powder or BP <50C)
INCREASING RISK
A – skin / eye irritant B – harmful C – severe irritant, tox
D – very toxic, harmful to reproductE – cancer, genetic damage, asthma
g, m
kg,
t, m3
< 0.5 ppm< 0.01 mg/m3D
0.5 to 5 ppm0.01 to 0.1 mg/m3C
5 to 50 ppm0.1 to 1 mg/m3B
50 to 500 ppm1 to 10 mg/m3A
Associated exposureAssociated exposureHazard Group
COSHH essentials
band - vapour band - dust
COSHH essentials
Dustiness of solid
Volatility of liquid
Amount
Small
Medium
Large
Low Medium High
Operating temperature (oC)
Boilin
g po
int (
o C)
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
20 50 75 100 150
High Volatility
Medium Volatility
Low Volatility
125
COSHH essentials
COSHH essentials
Hazard Assessment
Collects data: Produces:
(Control Guidance Sheets)
(evidence of assessment)
Control
- unit operation - chemical / product - risk [R] phrases - amount used - volatility / dustiness - process temperature - task duration
- control solutions
- assessment log
COSHH essentials
1. GENERAL VENTILATION
A good standard of general ventilation
4. SPECIAL
3.
2. ENGINEERING CONTROL LEV eg single-point extractor close to source, ventilated partial enclosure.
Least reduction in exposure
Most reduction in exposure
Get advice Expert advice is needed – seek help
CONTAINMENT Enclose or contain – small breaches may be OK
access design and equipment (with illustration) maintenance examination and testing cleaning PPE (plus another sheet for Control Approach ‘S’) training supervision employee checklist
COSHH essentials
COSHH essentials
Limitations: -----
Simplistic Tendency to over-precaution Unsuitable for gases, process emissions, etc. Refers higher risks for expert advice Skin exposure handled poorly
e-COSHH essentials
Internet product (includes Technical Basis)
Release 1: April 2002 Release 2: October 2003
- liquids and solids
- inhalation exposure
Missing: asbestos, lead, gases, skin exposure, other process emissions, RPE, safety, environment, etc.
- rubber, foundry, wood - mixtures - flour, isocyanate in MVR
- commercial and retail - common processes - special advice
e-COSHH essentials
www.coshh-essentials.org.uk Worked examples:
a very large casting 1 – Curtain coating and drying 2 – Spraying
www.coshh-essentials.org.uk 1 – Drying
1 – Drying
1 – Drying
1 – Drying
1 – Drying
Paint
R10 R65
1 – Drying
1 – Drying
1 – Drying
1 – Drying
1 – Drying
1 – Drying
1 – Drying
2 – Spray coating
2 – Spray coating
Home!
2 – Spray coating
2 – Spray coating
2 – Spray coating
2 – Spray coating
2 – Spray coating
2 – Spray coating
2 – Spray coating
e-COSHH essentials
What next?
Respirable crystalline silica Printing
Welding, cutting and allied activities Selection of RPE and PPE
Skin exposure Gases
Asthmagens in agriculture
e-COSHH essentials
Thank you.
Any questions?