The HSE have recently provided a new leaflet on their website called 'Working with Substances Hazardous to Health'. The guide has been produced to give CoSHH advice and is aimed at smaller businesses.
It is an easy to use guide which centres on dealing with hazardous chemicals at work, so that they do not cause ill health to employees. The guide was actually produced with input from small businesses including hairdressers and construction workers. The guide provides up to date advice with regard to chemicals, and puts it in a language that makes it beneficial to small businesses.
If you are running a small business or are self employed, you will need this guide to make sure you are protecting your employees. Most businesses use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances.
Thousands of employees become sick due to dangerous substances annually. This leaflet gives guidance on working safely with a variety of substances, from metalworking fluids which can grow bacteria and cause dermatitis and asthma, to hairdressing products.
Many other products used in the workplace can be harmful such as paint, glue and beauty products. This useful guidance tool will help small businesses comply with health and safety law and are compliant with CoSHH regulations. Under CoSHH law, employers are required to control substances that are dangerous to health. The CoSHH Regulations require employers to undertake risk assessments on their employees to determine how workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals and by how much. CoSHH helps provide measures to reduce harm to health and gives guidance on how to keep all dangerous chemicals in good working order.
The guide is practical and user friendly, and it highlights the importance of employers checking each substance they use and finding out how the substance can be harmful. Employers are encouraged to check the information which comes with products, for example; a safety data sheet. A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a form containing data regarding the properties of a particular substance.
Small businesses are crucial contributors to the economy, yet are also affected by a high number of work related health issues each year. If employers follow the advice in the guide, they are then establishing sound measures to ensure the health and safety of their workers.
The guide can be found on HSE's website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf
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