Health and Safety

Health and Safety

Legal and Voluntary Codes • BSI (Kitemark Scheme) www.bsi-global.com • CE marking • Health and Safety Executive (HSE) www.hse.gov.uk • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

BSI • Non profit making organisation - publishes information on 19,000 standards. • involved in: • product testing and certification • systems assessment and registration • training • commodity inspection and testing • standards development

Go to Kitemark - Downloadable Publications Click to download Kitemark Brochure (pdf format 88kB))

BSI is proud of the Kitemark, and with good reason. It is the most well-known and respected product quality mark in the world. Regular UK consumer surveys tell us that 80% of the British public recognise the Kitemark as a symbol of quality and safety. What`s more, 60% of them are prepared to pay a price premium for products that bear the Kitemark. The Kitemark commands recognition and respect from consumers and business alike. This recognition extends to some organisations insisting that their suppliers` products bear the Kitemark before they will place an order with them. BSI runs Kitemark schemes for hundreds of products - cricket balls, pipes, valves, playground equipment...

Many products come under European Directives, and to be placed on the market in the EU, some must bear CE marking - it's a legal requirement. CE marking is the manufacturer's claim that the product meets the essential requirements of all relevant European Directives.

HSE's mission is: To ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are properly controlled.

What We Do • Ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are properly controlled. • The law says: • employers have to look after the health and safety of their employees; • employees and the self-employed have to look after their own health and safety; and • all have to take care of the health and safety of others, for example, members of the public who may be affected by their work activity. • Our job is to see that everyone does this. • We are interested in the health and safety of people at work - that includes people who may be harmed by the way work is done (for example because they live near a factory, or are passengers on a train). In some situations, we are also concerned with the way work affects the environment.

We develop new health and safety laws and standards, and play a full part in international developments, especially in the European Union and: • inspect workplaces; • investigate accidents and cases of ill health; • enforce good standards, usually by advising people how to comply with the law, but sometimes by ordering them to make improvements and, if necessary, by prosecuting them; • publish guidance and advice; • provide an information service; • carry out research; • carry out various activities such as nuclear site licensing and accepting off shore installation safety cases.

COSHH Regulations • Hazardous Substances • In terms of the Regulations, a Substance Hazardous to Health is: • one that has already been classified as being very toxic (T+), toxic (T), harmful (X), corrosive (C) or irritant (Xi) under the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging) Regulations or CHIP(The Approved Supply List). • or a substance which has been assigned exposure limits • or a substance that is carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction • or a biological agent, • or dust in substantial concentrations in air and • any substance not mentioned above but which creates a hazard to health comparable to those mentioned above.

What are hazardous substances? • Examples • Hazardous substances are anything that can harm your health when you work with them if they are not properly controlled e.g. by using adequate ventilation. They are found in nearly all work places e.g. factories, shops, mines, farms and offices. They can include: • substances used directly in work activities e.g. glues, paints, cleaning agents • substances generated during work activities e.g. fumes from soldering and welding • naturally occurring substances e.g. grain dust, blood, bacteria • For the vast majority of commercial chemicals, the presence (or not) of a warning label will indicate whether COSHH is relevant. For example, household washing up liquid doesn't have a warning label but bleach does - so COSHH applies to bleach but not washing up liquid when used at work.

What COSHH Requires • Complying with COSHH involves: • assessing the risks to health arising from hazardous substances at work and deciding what precautions are needed, • preventing or adequately controlling exposure, • ensuring that control measures are used, maintained, examined and tested, • if necessary, monitoring exposure and carrying out health surveillance and • ensuring that employees are properly informed, trained and supervised.

In the workshop General rules are • Aprons on • Hair tied back • Sleeves folded up • Face Shields to be worn on all electrical equipment • No eating/drinking • No running • No shouting • General common sense

Clearing up • Mark your work & put in relevant cupboard • Clear your workstation • Help others: • NO – ONE is to take their aprons off or leave the classroom until the entire workshop is clean and tidy for the next group.

Types of Injuries • Cut • Abrasion • Electrocution • Burns • Eye damage • Dust Inhalation • Squashed feet or fingers

Service and Maintenance • All tools and machines are checked on a regular basis and taken out of service if unsafe BUT • Tools and machines can become unsafe between inspections SO • The person responsible is the user and must carry out a RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk Assessment • Identify any risk associated with any tool or machine, and inform the teacher or technician who has been trained to decide there is a risk or not and will take the appropriate action, EITHER • Remove the tool from use OR • Advise that the tool is safe to use

Risk Assessment What would you look for with each of these tools and machines, to conduct a risk assessment? • Hammer • Wood Chisel • Drilling Machine • Soldering Iron • Metal Bench Vice • Sanding Machine

Health and Safety