Working with oils and greases - Health and Safety implications

It is an inevitable consequence of many aspects of production and maintenance work that workers will come into contact with lubricants, including greases and oils.  Prolonged contact with oils and greases can cause a range of skin problems, such as: rashes (e.g. oil acne), dermatitis and even skin cancer and testicular cancer.  Contact with hot lubricants, during servicing or maintenance, may also cause burns. 

The chemically hazardous nature of oils means that consideration needs to be given to the provisions of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).  Under these regulations, the employer has various duties for preventing exposure to hazardous substances or for controlling such exposure to prevent harm to employees.  The employer must: 

·       assess the health risk arising from the work done and decide what precautions are needed,

·       introduce appropriate measures to prevent or control the risk,

·       ensure that control measures are used and the equipment is properly maintained and procedures observed,

·       where necessary, monitor exposure to hazardous substances and carry out appropriate health surveillance,

·       inform, instruct and train employees as to the risks and of the precautions to be taken,

·       make appropriate arrangements for dealing with accidents, incidents and emergencies. 

Oils can be damaged (or denatured) in normal use and the used oils are usually more hazardous than the clean, new oils. It is generally the used oils that are more strongly associated with skin cancers, etc.

Some of the hazards associated with oils and greases

Skin rashes and dermatitis

‘Oil acne’ may be identified by the presence of blackheads, pimples and pustules on the skin.   The arms are the area most commonly affected (as these are the area most likely to come into contact with oils and greases), but any other part of the body may be effected if it comes into contact with oils or oil soaked clothing.  Oils may also remove the skin’s own naturally protective oils, leaving it dry.  This dry skin is liable to crack and is more susceptible to damage caused by cuts and abrasions.

Skin cancer and testicular cancer

It has been established that contact with certain mineral oils may cause cancer in humans. The carcinogenic potential of oil products is usually, but not always, associated with the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.  Used oils (especially used engine oil) have been shown to have elevated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons levels.  Prolonged exposure to certain mineral oils, and especially to used engine oil, can lead to the development of warty swellings or sores on the skin, especially where contact is on the scrotum.  These warty swellings are slow to heal and may be cancerous.  It is recognised that prolonged skin contact with used engine oil can lead to skin cancer and testicular cancer (from putting oily rags into overall pockets).  Consequently, used engine oil is listed as a carcinogenic substance in Schedule 1 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). 

Slipping hazard

Slips often take place when there is not effective contact between a shoe sole and the floor surface. This can be due to: faults with the floor surface, an inappropriate floor surface, inappropriate footwear or contamination between the shoe sole and the floor surface such as oils, greases and water. All of these factors, either individually or in combination, affect slip resistance.

Burns

In common with all hot substances and surfaces, skin contact with hot oils, or pipe work carrying hot oils, may cause burns.

Some of the methods that can be used to control the hazards from oils and greases

The best control measures are those that avoid contact with oils (such as fully enclosed pumping systems in place of pouring systems for draining and filling operations), while others limit the amount of contact (such as hand washing after exposure). 

Risk Assessment
The use, storage and disposal of oils should be subject to suitable and sufficient risk assessments. The risk assessments should consider all of the processes involved and should specify the measures that will be used to control these hazards and risks. The risk assessmetn process should consider COSHH; Slips, trips and falls; hot oils; burns; fire risk; etc.

Overalls and Aprons

Workers potentially exposed to oils should be provided with a sufficient number of protective overalls.  It is usual for them to have at least three sets of overalls (one set to wear, one set being cleaned and at least one spare set), although some tasks may require more sets of overalls.  Suitable arrangements need to be made for the overalls to be cleaned.  It is recommended that overalls are dry cleaned in order to remove oils and greases.  Ideally, overalls should be supplied without (trouser) pockets, so that oily rags cannot be stuffed into the pockets - reducing the potential for prolonged skin (scrotal) contact.  Lack of pockets also reduces the risk of other injuries from the tools, etc. that may also otherwise be put into them.

The use of (disposable) plastic aprons should be considered for certain operations where there is a risk of oil contamination of the overalls.

Gloves

Appropriate gloves should be worn as a barrier to protect the hands from contact with oils and greases.  In many cases, disposable gloves are used, while in others, more robust longer use nitrile gloves are provided.  The type of gloves provided will be dictated by the level of protection required and the type of work being undertaken.  The thin, disposable gloves reduce skin contact with oil while allowing fine work to continue. The potential helath risks (to some people) from powdered latex gloves should be considered as part of the overall risk assessment. 

Suitable washing facilities

Decent washing facilities are necessary to remove oil from the skin.  These should include both hot and cold running water as well as suitable skin cleansers.  Suitable hand drying facilities should also be provided, such as paper towels.  The use of suitable conditioning creams after washing can help to counter the degreasing effects of the oil on the skin.  Skin must never be cleaned with solvents, etc.  So called “barrier creams” must not be relied on to protect the skin from exposure to oils.  They can, however, be a useful extra protection and can make it easier to wash oils off of the skin after exposure.

Tissue roll in place of rags

It is recommended that, where appropriate, the use of rags for cleaning up is replaced by the use of suitable tissue wipes (usually supplied in a roll form).  Dispensers for these rolls may be wall mounted at suitable locations in the workshop.  This means that clean tissue is readily available for addressing small spills, cleaning tools, etc. and also that there is no temptation to keep rags (potentially oil contaminated) in overall pockets.

Draining and filling of lubrication systems, including those associated with vehicles

The drainage of used oil from lubrication systems offers significant risk of contact with the used oil.  These contact risks exist during the draining process, but also in subsequent handling of the drained oil, such as during transfer to a waste disposal holding vessel such as an oil drum or tank.  The risks may be reduced substantially by the use of a suitable oil collection vessel that later allows the waste oil to be pumped from the collection vessel to the waste oil storage vessel.  The collection vessel should be fitted with a wide funnel (for catching the oil) which should in turn be fitted with mesh to catch sump keys, bolts, oil filters, etc.

Storage arrangements

Oil, including waste oil, should be stored in suitable, robust vessels inside a bunded storage area (with a bund capacity of at least 110% of the size of the largest storage vessel). Waste oils should be disposed of by a licensed collector of such special waste. 

Information, instruction and training 

Employees who are potentially exposed to oils and greases must be made aware of the hazards associated with these materials and of the control measures to be used to protect their health.  Awareness can also be raised with suitable notices and leaflets that are available from the HSE. 

Spillage procedure

As oils and greases cause slippery surfaces and so, consequently, any spillages must be cleaned up immediately, using suitable absorbent granules.  Appropriate steps should be taken to stop leaks, including general maintenance, gasket replacement, etc.

Potential for oil in air-lines

Where compressed air is used to provide breathing air to air-fed masks, etc., care must be taken to ensure that the workers are not exposed to oil mists from the compressed air.  Suitable filters should be fitted and maintained and the quality of the air should be checked regularly.

Health surveillance

As it is recognised that prolonged skin contact with mineral oils can lead to occupational dermatitis and, in some cases skin cancer, the employer should carry out routine skin inspections as a precautionary measure. Employees should be encouraged to report sore, red or itching skin, whilst the responsible person should carry out regular, documented and recorded skin inspections of hands and forearms at monthly intervals. Cases of suspected dermatitis should be referred to a doctor or occupational hygiene nurse for further investigation. The results of health surveillance must be recorded and records must be retained for 40 years.

Summary

 

As well as being excellent lubricants, oils and greases are hazardous substances.  Prolonged exposure may result in skin problems, including skin (and scrotal) cancer.  Avoiding exposure to oils is the best control measure available and is often achieved by the use of suitable barrier techniques, such as gloves, overalls, etc.  Where exposure does occur, good personal hygiene and health surveillance are essential.  Oil spillages causing slippery surfaces must be cleaned up immediately and oils (including waste) must be stored and disposed of appropriately.

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