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Posted By Chris Costall Hello all, I am in the process of revising my companies COSHH assessments, the form in use at present is not that comprehensive. Would anyone be willing to provide me with some templates…? Thanks in advance E-mail: ccostall@nfsluk.com
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Posted By John Mac Carthy
Chris
i use a company called Sypol, they do the work for you and provide you with a COSHH assessment with pictograms, even better mate!
John
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Posted By Richard Altoft
John, COSHH is to a large extent about how substances are used or how they are produced such as fumes and dust etc and the interaction with workers and others. How do you ensure Sypol take that into account for specific workplaces, specific processes and specif vulnerabilities of workers and others ??????
I would be interested in seeing an example - who should I approach??
R
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Posted By Guderian
In my experience this type of assessment cannot be recommended. They are far too generic and don't really take into account your actual circumstances of use of a substance.
Its easy enough to computerise into a database the pictograms and chemical safety phrases, chemical properties/health effects etc from an MSDS.
Then maybe get some newly qualified safety person to sit behind a desk tapping the keys and following on screen instruction.
A 'Suitable & sufficient' assessment - I'll leave you to decide...
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Posted By Gerry Marchant
We use the Sypol system and found it to be most effective.
Richard to answer your query they have an extensive list of work methods that you can look at, i.e. inside/outside/length of time in use/poor or good ventilation etc....if the method of work you are doing is not listed then you complete a request form send it off to them and within 48hrs you have a specific RA for you work and substance in use.
Google SYPOL and have a look at the website...well worth the money...saves me a whole lot of time
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
I would not be happy with any assessment (whether COSHH or anything else) that did not include direct observation of the task being assessed. Don't forget, you need to assess how the task is actually done not how it is supposed to be done.
Paul
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Posted By Mitch
Agree with Paul and the other posters, specific! Saying that I do use the COSHH on line for the odd simple infrequent task but use my own forms for anything out of the ordinary or frequently used.
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Posted By Heather Collins
I can see that the information provided would be a very good first step, especially for those without specialist chemical knowledge, as I agree that some manufacturers' MSDSs are less than easy to understand.
However I would echo what Paul says. A suitable and sufficient risk assessment where the assessor hasn't actually watched the process? No way.
I would want to add to any such "remotely produced" assessment with my own findings and I assume that this is what the people who use such a system must do. I hope....
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Posted By PL
COSHH, like every other RA should be specific to the materials used and how they are used.
e.g. We use a method of COSHH Assessment in the laboratories which includes the material charachteristics, how it will be used, where it will be used, it's reactivity and how much will be used.
If we use the same process to assess the chemicals for use on the manufacturing plant, we end up with even demineralised water getting an outcome of HIGH if used in a large enough quantity. Hence we use another method for the plant.
Both methods are valid to their application.
It's for this reason I would not be happy using an off the shelf system such as sypol.
It all comes down to application.
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Posted By Glyn Phillips
Try the 'COSHH Essentials - Easy steps to control chemicals'(HSG 193) available from all good bookshops / HSE publications. This contains all you need to know to undertake a COSHH assessment, including a basic form for recording results, actions and review.
On the subject of the mentioned company producing 'third party' COSHH assessments. My previous employer used this service which my predecessor implemented. The company supply a form you complete giving details of the substance, task, quantities etc. They use this and the MSDS for the substance to produce an assessment.
On taking the role with my previous employer I was not thrilled with this approach as it has a number of problems to my mind.
1/ The third party does not witness the operation at all and relies on the information you supply - how can this be suitable and sufficient.
2/ all the assessments came out as High / Med High risk and disproportionate control measures were required.
3/ most importantly, the assessment was just a rehash of the MSDS I had supplied in the first place. Which to my mind is not a COSHH assessment.
I do not feel that third party assessments, undertaken without understanding (or ever seeing) the process and working environment can be suitable.
I cancelled the subscription and did them myself; its easier, cheaper and ultimately more suitable - you know your work place.
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Posted By Alex Donaldson
Hi Chris
I've just finnished updating coshh process into my workplace, I have some templates and guildence on use you can have a look at them and if there any good feel free to use them.
cheers
Alex
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Posted By Chris Packham
I have three cautions:
1. COSHH essentials
Caution here as it relies upon risk phrases. You cannot do a COSHH risk assessment based on risk phrases, at least not where skin exposure is concerned. I can show you workplace environments where COSHH essentials indicates zero risk (as no chemicals with risk phrases in use) but where there is a significant risk. In one case 10% of the workforce were off with dermatitis!
2. Safety Data Sheets
You should not rely upon safety data sheets for a risk assessment. SDS are provided for CHIP, i.e. for supply, not for COSHH, e.g. for use. Paragraph 13 of the COSHH ACoP explicitly points out that the Approved Supply List is not sufficiently comprehensive for COSHH. What you need from your supplier is information about safe use. The supplier has a duty to provide this according to section 6-1 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act. Again I can demonstrate risk assessments from clients based on safety data sheets that are not worth the paper they are written on.
Remember that, as previous posters have indicated, that a risk assessment must be based on the chemicals as used, i.e. those actually present during the completion of the task. If you mix, react, dilute, heat, etc. and chemical how do you know what you are actually working with? How can a risk assessment that does not reflect what is actually being used stand up, certainly not in court!
3. Risk assessment
How can anyone do a risk assessment without first observing the actual task and conditions? Certainly in my particular field of skin exposure many factors can affect a risk assessment. I have seen nominally similar operations within the same workplace where the actual risks were vastly different, due to minor differences, ambient conditions, performance of extraction systems, working practice, etc., etc.
So I would be very cautious of any risk assessment not based on actual workplace observations, monitoring, etc. They can easily be wrong.
Chris
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