Posted By Karen Hodkin
I'm doing a COSHH assessment for a dental practice and they use household cleaning products - I know I have to assess the hazard labelled products, i.e. Bleach but do I have to do anything with the other products i.e. washing-up liquid? Anybody know any good website to get further info on these products?

Posted By garyh
COSHH is of course for Substances Hazardous to Health.

Hence, washing up liquid will not be included in the real world.

I would make a list of materials like this - list the hazards, briefly describe exposure, conclude it is low risk, then state that a full assessment is not required.

If you really do want to assess fully, contact the supplier / manufacturer and ask them foe a safety data sheet which would assist in doing you assessment.

Posted By Ian Cook
I would disagree with Gary - I would say that washing up liquid could be hazardous - doesn't it cause all sorts of problems for people with sensitive skin (myself included?) - so that would be classed as an irritant?!

Posted By J Knight
Hi Folks,

I wouldn't under most circumstances carry out an RA for using washing-up liquid, although it does cause irritation for particular people (me included). The thing with COSHH is that you shouldn't think about the substance primarily, your first thought should be about the work to be carried out. It's not so much the detergent which should or should not be assessed, its the task of washing the pots, or whatever you're doing with it. Looking at it this way is on the one hand closer to the intention and spirit of the regs and more likely to lead to a sensible but safe approach to the task,

John

Posted By J Knight
Hi Raymond,

Agree entirely. I was once informed that we had to risk assess washing up liquid following a very nasty incident where somebody drank a cup-full and aspirated on his vomit. He nearly died. However, this was deliberate self-harm by an intelligent person, and if Fairy hadn't been available there is no doubt he would have used any other available means. I refused to either ban(!) or assess washing-up liquid in the circumstances even though the care regulators insisted, and they eventually accepted our reasoning and changed their minds,

John

Posted By Chris Packham
At the European Society of Contact Dermatitis conference in Berlin last September two papers were presented showing that wet work, i.e. exposure to water, with and without washing up liquid, detergents, etc., is the largest single cause of occupational contact dermatitis.

Is the health and safety profession really suggesting that on the basis of this we can ignore these chemicals? What argument would you then present when a worker develops irritant contact dermatitis from the washing-up liquid and then claims compensation?

In fact, wet work is well recognised. For example, in Germany a special regulation (TRGS401) deals with this problem and with the similar problem of damage to the skin from wearing occlusive gloves.

I come back to the definition of a substance hazardous to health in the COSHH regulations. When it comes to skin forget risk phrases. There are literally thousands of chemicals capable of causing dermatitis that do not carry a risk phrase. Ignore these at your peril. The HSE inspector almost certainly won't.

Chris

Posted By Pete48
Hazard is not the same thing as risk, is it? I think the point here is that given the environment outlined in the original post, then the message seems to be "keep it simple."
I don't think anyone would say ignore it; but some things just do not need writing down. As one who gained a whole two per cent at O level chemistry, (one for my name and one for my exam number), I might not have the confidence to dismiss any substance as low risk without assessment. However, a moments thought and I think I could outline the hazard and risk controls relevant to these household substances as long as they are used as expected when retailed to the public. A few notes in my COSHH assessment file and on to the next and potentially much higher risk.

Posted By Andrea Kay
Could anyone give me some guidance on how risk and safety phrases were developed. Alternatively, point me in the direction of any relevant documentation. Thankyou in anticipation....
Kind Regards