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#1 Posted : 13 September 2006 15:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By NatashaL
Hi
I was wondering if anyone had a simple layout form for when creating substance reports for the company COSHH file and what should be detailed on each report.
Do you need to detail info from all of the parts (1-16) from the MSDS on the company COSHH files?

I am also planning to look up the COSHH Essentials website to gather info from there too.

I would be grateful for any advice with this.

Cheers
Natasha
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#2 Posted : 13 September 2006 16:15:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kate Graham
What do you do with these reports apart from filing them?

There's no point just copying all the information off the msds into another format!

Kate
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#3 Posted : 13 September 2006 16:22:00(UTC)
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Posted By NatashaL
Hi Kate
Sorry i might not have made my email clear, i was looking to see what info you should put on the company reports i wasnt going to extract all the info from the MSDS and copy it over as it would be pointless.
It was just to have a form that i could use so the employees using the chemicals can refer to them without all the technical info on the MSDS, i would also keep the MSDS in the file incase they did need that too.
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#4 Posted : 13 September 2006 16:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By Catman
Hi Natasha

As you say, no need to copy everything over from the data sheet, just look through the data sheet and ask yourself, what does that mean in the way we use the substance?

As simply as possible......

Task Information + Data Sheet Information = What you need to control and the employees need to know.

e.g. The guys tell you they spray a substance + the data sheet says the substance is harmful if inhaled = that needs controlled and the guys need to know.

The HSE guides are useful and you will be up ad running in no time using them.

Cheers
TW
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#5 Posted : 13 September 2006 16:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By Darren J Fraser
I would give them a copy of the relevant COSHH RA.
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#6 Posted : 13 September 2006 18:51:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kate Graham
It's not enough just to give them the information about the chemicals, you need to assess the risks of the process and tell them what the conclusions are. The way I've usually done it is for each process, not each chemical, and lay it out something like this:

The hazards of chemicals in this process are:

Substance X is corrosive (etc etc)


The PPE to wear in this process is:

Goggles throughout

Rubber gloves for the ...ing stage

etc etc


The other precautions to take are:

Extraction for the ...ing stages

Put lids firmly back on after use

etc etc


In the event of a spill:

(repeat what msds say)


In the event of exposure:

(repeat what msds say)


This is then something can be usefully referred to and if more information is needed about an individual chemical (eg if there has been an accident) the full data are available in the data sheet.

HTH

Kate
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#7 Posted : 14 September 2006 08:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By Manny
In Germany there is a legal requirement to produce this document for the end user. The form is known as a "Betriebsanweisung" and gives the end user all the information he needs to conduct the task safely.
Do a google search or try the different accident insurance carrier (Berufsgenossenschaft)web sites, some of which are in English. Failing that I could send you a copy of one I made earlier as a template.

Manny
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#8 Posted : 14 September 2006 09:13:00(UTC)
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Posted By Descarte
I dabbled with something a few years back called a 2 page MSDS sheet, basically a cut down version of a MSDS which could be up to 16 pages long, compressed in to a 1 sided version which can be displayed in the work area.

Gives chemical hazards, first aid info, physical properties, emergency / spill procedure, PPE required etc...

If your interested im sure I can through one on an email your way.

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#9 Posted : 14 September 2006 09:23:00(UTC)
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Posted By NatashaL
Hi
Thanks very much for you help/info

Descarte
I would be grateful if you could email the info to me.

Kind regards
Natasha
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#10 Posted : 14 September 2006 12:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kate Graham
Fine but don't just copy over the PPE requirements from the msds. They tend to go way over the top so they can cover themselves for whatever drastic or bizarre use you might be making of the chemicals. The msds for sodium chloride will tell you to wear goggles, overalls, and all the rest - and indeed you might need to if you were working in messy conditions with vast quantities of it.

The decision about PPE has to depend on the amount of chemical and the way it is used not just what it is. So take the PPE recommendations on the msds with a pinch of sodium chloride. You need to base them on your own assessment not just on the msds. You are doing a COSHH assessment as well as the substance reports, aren't you?

Kate

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#11 Posted : 14 September 2006 12:32:00(UTC)
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Posted By Steve JB
Hi Natasha,

If you contact me direct i will let you have a 2 page COSHH assessment i use

Steve
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#12 Posted : 15 September 2006 02:57:00(UTC)
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Posted By David McGuire
Hi Natasha If you email me I can send you a copy of a COSHH assessment record that I use!!!
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#13 Posted : 15 September 2006 08:44:00(UTC)
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Posted By April Catherine Harvey
KATE IF YOU CONTACT ME DIRECT I WILL SEND YOU WHAT WE DO.
APRIL
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#14 Posted : 15 September 2006 08:53:00(UTC)
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Posted By Les Welling
You can also contact me and I will send you a COSHH risk assessment form we use.

Les
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#15 Posted : 15 September 2006 09:18:00(UTC)
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Posted By andymak
We have the safety data sheet for each substance used, we also have a generic RA detailing that precautions listed in the data sheet must be employed.
Our process is such that all employees using substances have to read and undersdtand the data sheets.
Adhoc substances that we don't use but may come across during the working day due to spills etc, are covered by specific RA's detailing what is it, how to clean it up, and what PPE (if any) is required. Our people are predominantly FM staff looking after an office based popluation so in general the substances we use and come across are fairly low risk.
If I were in an environment where high risk chemicals were used then I would look towards specific RA's and a documented policy of ensuring understanding of the hazard presented, and data sheet information by the people at risk. The data sheet and the RA would then form a pack for each substance.
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#16 Posted : 15 September 2006 09:50:00(UTC)
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Posted By Manny
Andy, you make sure that your staff read and understand the MSDS of the product which they are using but surely that is a bit OTT for people working in a low risk environment such as FM?

mANNY
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#17 Posted : 15 September 2006 19:42:00(UTC)
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Posted By Les Welling
You should also remember that the SDS does NOT constute the Risk assessment
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#18 Posted : 15 September 2006 20:41:00(UTC)
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Posted By paul eastell
Catman gives a good answer to the question. Get bogged down, complicate it and achieve nothing. MSDS tells a lot and must be used along with the way it is used.
Get a good proforma that covers the relevant aspects and use it. Check it after a short period and assess if it is adequate.
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#19 Posted : 17 September 2006 10:06:00(UTC)
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Posted By Chris Packham
May I add a word of caution?

The SDS (produced to comply with CHIP) are for supply and not necessarily applicable for use. For example, a metalworking fluid may contain a biocide that is not, itself, formaldehyde. Thus there may be no mention of formaldehyde on the SDS, although this potent sensitiser may be present in the substance when used.

In fact, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires the supplier to provide sufficient information that the end user can use the product safely for the purpose for which it was supplied (Section 6-1). In my experience most suppliers are totally unaware of this requirement, which, of course, requires much more information than the SDS is required to produce.

This position will almost certainly be reinforced when REACH comes into effect as suppliers will have to provide an exposure scenario, meeting the stipulations currently required by Section 6-1.

Just to illustrate this, water is one of the most common causes of occupational contact dermatitis (wet work), yet when did you last see water listed on a SDS? You cannot rely upon risk phrases. There are many chemicals that do not have a risk phrase but that can cause damage if in contact with the skin. This is why the guidance on risk assessment in the COSHH ACoP is not appropriate for skin exposure.

Chris
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