Hazards and Risks
Hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm i.e. highly flammable, corrosive, irritant/harmful.
Risk is the likelihood that someone will be harmed by the hazard and the severity of the harm caused i.e. high risk, medium risk or low risk. Risk varies according to the procedure i.e. how you are using a hazardous substance. COSHH regulations is related to this is that a method must be done, so you know how to use the substances i.e. use of ethanol in a practical is highly flammable and reacting ethanol with potassium metal will be explosive, which is a very high risk.
The body may be exposed to hazardous substances by ingestion, inhalation, corrosion, absorption and skin contact via injury or injection. Ingestion is when a substance has been taken through the mouth, this use to occur in the 1970s when they used to do pipetting through the mouth. Inhalation usually occurs when a substance in the form of powder or dust in the air is inhaled by a subject. Corrosion usually occurs when a corrosive chemical touches skin and this burns through the skin and its cells. Absorption usually occurs by a substance that could be easily absorbed by the skin e.g. phenol. Skin contact can lead to skin allergy such as dermatitis, i.e. accidentally pricking yourself with a syringe’s needle in a practical or pouring powder to measure for a practical or chemicals sipping into an unprotected injury or improper use of fume cupboards.
COSHH Measures
The COSHH procedures that must be undertaken before handling or working with hazardous substances are:
- Assessment must be done before commencing any work.
- Method must be done so you know how to use the substances.
- Exposure limits control measures for the worker and those on and off the premises.
Total prevent exposure by eliminating the substance by replacing it with something less harmful, proper engineering control for fumes and personal protection must be suitable for the practical.
Examples of reference sources of information that could be used when assessing risk are the MEL (Maximum Exposure Limits), OES (Occupational Exposure Standards) and the hazcards. Anyone who works in a place where hazardous chemicals are used need to be aware of COSHH procedures. The principles used to minimise risk are having safe systems at work, which are:
- Adequate information
- Suitable control measures e.g. protective clothing, eye wear and
- Personal hygiene- wash hands after removing gloves before eating, drinking or smoking.
Medical practitioners monitor the workers health if contaminated and monitoring the work area. The control measures for workers on and off the premises are:
- Ventilation of the substance being used,
- Substitution of hazardous chemicals,
- Containment of the substances and
- Personal protection e.g. eye wear, protective clothing.
Summary/Conclusive
Overall aims/object of COSHH are for you to know the hazard of substance, the risks associated with use of substance, those at risk during the experiment, the route of risk of the substance and the measures needed to reduce the risk. Its importance is to take into account the user and those in nearby buildings and is also to protect the future generations.