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Fogging Equipment - Sanitising solution Training requirements?
Rank: Forum user
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Hi All Im after some opinions on how to interpret HSE guidance. We use fogging equipment with a sanitising product as a measure to sanitise areas after have a confirmed covid case in the business. ( i know its not a effective control, however this is established and unlikely we will remove the process anytime soon) Im of the opinion that there is not a requirement for certified training for this equipment/process, as we are using a sanitising product and not a fumigant. All the HSE guidance seems to be targetted at fumigants which obviously are a lot nastier and require more stringent training requirments to avoid killing people. I believe just formal in house familirisation training would be sufficient for our purposes, accounting for manufacuters instructions and our RA and COSHH RA.
HSE guidance, under the section Disinfecting premises using fog, mist or UV treatment there is a link "users must be competantly trained" : https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/disinfecting-premises-during-coronavirus-outbreak.htm It takes you to this guidance which only seems to be about fumigants: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/fumigation.htm
Any thoughts?
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Rank: Super forum user
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The disinfecting agent should come with an SDS, which might give you some clues as to how hazardous it is. Read it carefully and make sure that it describes the hazard relating to using it as a misting agent as this creates risks to eyes, ingestion etc which probably don’t exist if are simply wiping it onto a surface. Users should at least follow the manufacturers guidance and they appreciate why this is important. It should be made clear to them that the substances involved especially if being made into a fog can harm people and that for example you should not be fogging areas where people are present. You should also know when it is safe to return to an area that has been fogged.
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1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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The problem with these machines is that the SDS provided is quite often a copy of a copy for the material under supply which completely neglects the physical transformation of the material during the generation of fog. It will likely state the physical form as solid/powder/liquid when in fact the equipment is eminating vapour -change the physical form and you change the exposure scenario. As such you need to be very competent to undertake a COSHH assessment in these circumstances - it is not something any on-line provider could ever accurately execute on your behalf.
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2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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The problem with these machines is that the SDS provided is quite often a copy of a copy for the material under supply which completely neglects the physical transformation of the material during the generation of fog. It will likely state the physical form as solid/powder/liquid when in fact the equipment is eminating vapour -change the physical form and you change the exposure scenario. As such you need to be very competent to undertake a COSHH assessment in these circumstances - it is not something any on-line provider could ever accurately execute on your behalf.
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2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Also remember that the agents used need to be registered as biocides - but at the begining of the pandemic they were given exemptions which have now expired. However not everyone has gone through the the approval process yet. I found one of my sites had decided to use a fogging agent and they could not understand that the exemption they had did not prove it was safe to use.
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1 user thanked HSSnail for this useful post.
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Fogging Equipment - Sanitising solution Training requirements?
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