Introduction
Charity and voluntary workers make significant contributions to the quality of life of many people both at the local communities level and also more broadly at the national and even the international levels. The effective management of Health and Safety can be a challenging area in any organisation, but the problems can be greater in the charity and voluntary sector as many of the workers are not paid employees working regularly for the organisation, but are often unpaid workers making small, but valuable, time contributions. The charity and voluntary sector also uses workers from a very wide age range and probably has a greater proportion of very elderly workers than any other sector, as many people find more time for voluntary work when they have retired from other work. All workers, including paid employees and voluntary (unpaid) workers, have a right to work in a safe workplace where appropriate actions have been taken to prevent accidents and ill health. Both paid and unpaid workers also have a duty to contribute to the general health and safety of their workplace, in the same way that employees do in other work areas.
Charity and voluntary work can cover a wide range of activities, almost as broad as other working areas, but generally without the industrial aspects. Such work can include: office work; handling patients; retail work; driving (either alone, with others or transporting people); visiting people in their homes; etc. Typical hazardous are similar to other workplaces (such as fire; electrical; slips, trips and falls; etc.) as well as lone working and the manual handling difficulties associated with lifting and moving people. There may also be issues associated with fund raising activities, such as money handling, and with lone working.
Charity and voluntary organisations and Health & Safety law
It should come as no surprise that charity and voluntary organisations are subject to the same health and safety laws as comparable non-charity and non-voluntary organisations. They have a duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees and also any non-employees who may be affected by the undertakings of the organisation. These duties arise from Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974. Also, they are subject to a requirement to undertake assessments of the risks to employees (and non-employees) arising from their undertakings under Regulations 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The application of other health and safety legislation depends on the exact nature and undertakings of the organisation, just as it would in all other sectors.
In order to determine what health and safety legislation applies and how to comply with its variation provisions, charity and voluntary organisations must have access to competent health and safety advice. This may be provided from within the organisation or can be brought in from external sources, such as consultants.
As it is not uncommon to have elderly workers engaged in charity and voluntary work, the potential extra vulnerability of these people to injury needs to be accounted for in the risk assessments and in the control measures.
Training
Voluntary workers are not exempted from training and should be included in your training health and safety programmes. Due to the nature of voluntary work, consideration needs to be given to the most suitable way of doing this and the organisation will need to be flexible with the training times and the venues. Voluntary workers should be given suitable induction training, just like all other workers and this should include: Fire arrangements for the workplace; First aid arrangements for the workplace; Awareness of higher risk areas and operations; etc.
On the job (or tool box style) training may be provided to ensure that workers are aware of the risks to which they may be exposed and to ensure that they are aware of (and use) the appropriate control measures (such as those arising from the risk assessments) to avoid and control these risks.
In line with other work areas, records should be maintained of all of the training provided to workers.
Two examples of issues facing charity and voluntary workers
Dealing with donated goods
Charities often receive donations of goods for use or to be sold (such as in charity shops). Often, these goods are delivered in boxes or bags and are not sorted and are not packaged with the safety of the sorter in mind. The bags and boxes may be heavy and not substantial enough for the loads contained. After sorting, the goods may need to be cleaned before being displayed for sale.
Typical hazards and harm from sorting donated goods
• Manual handling of boxes and bags (often many of each and of variable, unknown and often heavy weights), leading to:
o Back injuries
o Slips, trips and falls while handling the bags and boxes
• Poor housekeeping arising from the number of boxes and bags donated and the unpacking and sorting of the materials, leading to:
o Slips, trips and falls
o Manual handling injuries due to over reaching
• Sharp objects (such as knives, broken glass and china, etc)
o Cuts and puncture wounds
• Contamination (materials that have leaked or clothing that is soiled or has become mouldy, etc)
o Exposure to substances hazardous to health
o Infections
• Ergonomic issue ( from working on tables of poor height and working from boxes and bags of variable size and shape)
o Back injuries
• Work Equipment issues (such as washing machines, steaming equipment, ironing equipment, etc)
o Electrical
o Burns and scolds
Typical measures to control the risks associated with sorting donated goods
• Ensure that there are sufficient people to handle the number (and weight) of the bags and boxes that need to be sorted
• Where appropriate, provide trolleys, sack trucks or other manual handling aids
• Provide suitable instruction to workers on how to lift and carry boxes and bags
• Ensure that workers take breaks from the physical exertion of lifting carrying
• Ensure that the work areas (including the means of access to and egress from them) are kept clean and clear of obstructions
• Ensure that the lighting in the sorting area is satisfactory
• Provide an sufficient number of suitable bins for the safe disposal and, where appropriate, segregation of waste from the sorting operation
• Provide a clear, flat surface of sufficient size for bags and boxes to the emptied out onto before sorting the contents
• Ensure that the work surface is at a suitable height for the workers involved in the sorting operation
• Provide appropriate personal protective equipment, such as protective gloves for handling sharp objects and appropriate gloves for handling contaminated items
• Establish a policy for dealing with broken glass (hoe to deal with it and how and where to dispose of it)
• Provide suitable bag openers or bag holders for holding “rag bags” open when they are being filled with fabrics
• Restrict the use of work equipment (such as steaming equipment) to those who have been trained in the use of the equipment.
• Provide a suitable ironing board that adjusts to a suitable height for the working using it
• Arrange for all work equipment to be maintained in good condition and for electrical equipment to be tested and inspected by a competent person regularly
Working in a drug “drop in” centre
Voluntary workers often help to man the various drug “drop in” centres around the country, either providing administrative support or providing counselling skills. Such centres provide help and advice as well as counselling services to their clients, which include: drug users and to their friends and families. In these settings, the potential for unpredictable behaviour from drug users visiting the centre means that aggressive and even violent situations are not uncommon.
Typical hazards and harm from working in a drug “drop in” centre
• The unpredictable nature of some drug users and other clients, leading to aggressive and violent behaviour, resulting in:
o Verbal abuse from clients
o Property damage caused by clients
o Personal injury caused by assault by clients
Typical measures to control the risks associated with working in a drug “drop in” centre
• Ensure that all workers are aware of what might happen in the centre and are aware of the procedures to be followed
• Establish and practice effective emergency procedures, including the use of panic alarms (that summon aid from other areas of the premises and (maybe) also from the local police service)
• Establish, and publish details of, a “zero tolerance” approach to violence and aggression – display suitable posters and bring this policy to the attention of all users of the centre
• Provide workers with suitable and sufficient training and information. In particular this should address:
o the adoption of a non-confrontational and non-judgemental approach to clients and the avoidance of patronising behaviour
o workers should be trained to help to create an equal balance of power between workers and clients
o the various control measures that are in place throughout the centre to safeguard workers
o identifying challenging behaviour in clients and strategies for diffusing the situation
o instructing workers not to compromise their own safety
• Consideration to the layout and design of the premises, with consideration to the safety of workers and also to the privacy needs of the clients. This would include:
o Suitable access control to the premises
o Provision of light, spacious, airy and well-decorated public and working areas, designed to give a calming and welcoming effect
o Provision of a Reception desk designed to provide a central control point from which all client accessible areas can be supervised
o Ensuring that the counselling rooms provide privacy, but are also within hearing distance of the reception and that they have suitable panic alarms fitted
o Design of the workers’ office areas such that they are located out of client sight, but are open plan to allow workers to see each other
• Establish suitable work procedures to help to minimise the risks of conflict, including:
o a good, accurate appointment system
o avoiding keeping clients waiting (which may result in them becoming annoyed or frustrated)
o continuous staff of reception by trained workers
o procedures to respond to panic alarms in a prompt and appropriate manner
Summary
The challenges associated with the management of health and safety charity and voluntary workers are not that different from those facing other businesses. Many of them can be dealt with by the application of thought and common sense. In line with all other businesses, there is a requirement to consider the risks that workers may be exposed to and to establish controls to avoid and control these risks. The examples above demonstrate that the processes to control the risks are not difficult to identify or to implement. There are two particular problems that need to be considered carefully for the charity and voluntary sector: training of workers and the potential for elderly workers.
Please visit our website
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Safe isolation of plant and equipment – Part 2: Key Stages
Introduction
In order to allow various processes such as: cleaning, maintenance, plant repair and modification to take place, safe isolation of plant and equipment is essential. This is not specifically covered by any health and safety legislation, although there are the usual, general legal drivers, such as: the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 (Section 2: duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, Section 3: duty to ensure the health and safety of non-employees), the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3: duty to carry out risk assessments) as well as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2005 (DSEAR), etc.
Failures during the isolation and re-instatement of plant and equipment are a significant cause of loss of containment incidents and can lead to major accidents. There are eight key stages that should be considered in the isolation, and subsequent return to service, of plant and equipment:
• Hazard identification
• Risk assessment and selection of isolation scheme
• Planning and preparation of equipment
• Installation of isolation
• Draining, venting, purging and flushing
• Testing and monitoring effectiveness of the isolation
• Carrying out the intrusive activity
• Reinstatement of plant
Hazard Identification
Hazards may exist from either substances within the plant and equipment or from the nature of the work to be carried out. All (potential) hazards must be identified so that appropriate control measures can be introduced for the isolation of the plant and equipment. Particular hazards will exist if the substance is:
• toxic
• flammable
• pyrophoric
• under (high) pressure
• at high or low temperature
• reactive
• an asphyxiant (such as nitrogen)
• capable of forming an explosive atmosphere (including dusts)
• remaining in equipment as a sludge or hard deposit
In the event of a loss of containment leading to a release, the potential for a major accident will depend on a range of factors including
• the nature and properties of the substance
• the amount of the substance released
• the potential for escalation (such as: the presence of other plant, including confining structures, and other hazardous substances)
• the people at risk, their proximity to the plant and the speed with which they may be affected
Hazards associated with the task to be undertaken include:
• Entry into confined spaces
• Issues associated with access (such as working at height, etc.)
• Hot work (such as welding, cutting, grinding, drilling, electrical work, etc.)
Risk Assessment and the selection of isolation scheme for the plant and equipment
It should form a part of the company’s policies and procedures that intrusive work is not carried out on live plant and equipment unless there is no reasonably practicable alternative. A risk assessment should be carried out for the isolation process to identify the safest isolation scheme and should consider:
• all preparatory work for the isolation (such as depressurisation and release of stored energy, draining and venting, purging and washing out)
• installation/removal and proving of the isolation the integrity of the isolation during intrusive work, and the compatibility of any nearby work or operations on shared systems
• the requirements for testing and reinstatement of plant (such as: pressure leak testing, purging, controlled repressurisation and refilling
The risk assessment should also consider the potential for loss of containment and the potential harm (to people and to the environment) that may result from this.
Planning and preparation of equipment
As with many areas, planning is an essential stage in the isolation of plant and equipment. Appropriate preparation and planning:
• helps to identify any task-specific risk assessments that may be required
• identifies whether larger sections of the plant need to be shut down
• identifies interaction with other sections of plant subject to temporary isolation
• involves sequencing and co-ordination of any intrusive work with other plant operations
• includes a 'walk-the-plant' step, to check that the installation matches the piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID) and
• allows a check that all isolation points have been identified and are accessible and can be operated
• ensures preparation and co-ordination of job documentation, including:
o risk assessments
o method statements
o permit to work certificates
o isolation certificates
o etc
• ensures cross-referencing of relevant permits; and
• enables that all necessary and appropriate tools, equipment, PPE, materials, etc., are available
Installation of isolation
The process of installation of the necessary isolations can be considered in two parts: the initial isolation and the final (or full) isolation. The initial isolation (which is usually valved) is generally of a short duration. It allows the insertion of a positive isolation after the plant that is downstream of the initial isolation has been depressurised and purged. The final isolation protects the workers that are carrying out the intrusive work, and others who might be affected, such as from a release of substance from the plant during the intrusive activity.
Suitable blank flanges, plugs, etc (appropriately rated and installed properly, with the correct gaskets and securing bolts) should be used to close off any open pipe work. Appropriate engineering practices should be adhered when securing flanges, etc. Isolations must remain secure throughout the duration of work: locking arrangements or barriers, to prevent accidental or unauthorised removal of the isolation, should be used where practicable.
Draining, venting, purging and flushing
Draining, venting, purging and flushing may be required in situation where the plant or equipment contains hazardous substances, etc.
Testing and monitoring effectiveness of the isolation
In most cases, it is necessary to prove the integrity of all of the isolation points of an isolation scheme before proceeding with intrusive work, unless the risk assessment indicates otherwise.
• each part of the isolation should be proved separately
• each part should be proved to the highest pressure which can be expected within the system during the work activity
• where possible, each part of the isolation should be proved in the direction of the expected pressure differential
Carrying out the intrusive activity
It is important to ensure that the integrity of all isolations is maintained while the intrusive work is carried out.
Reinstatement of plant
Reinstatement or recommissioning of the plant requires equivalent controls to those used during installation of isolation. Where work has been controlled under multiple permits and dependent on common isolation points, it is important to define and control the sequence of plant reinstatement. This should include a review of all (cross-referenced) permits in force and their related isolations and checking that any plant control and protection systems functions that were overridden for the purposes of the isolations are restored to their normal condition. Care must be taken when removing positive isolations as, for example, hazardous substances may have built up behind the blank or spade if a valve leaks. Use appropriate documentation, such as isolation certificates, to log all disturbed items on a plant and to control their reinstatement.
Summary
Safe isolation of plant and equipment is an important part of the management of health and safety at work and, as such, should form part of the documented policies and procedures of the company (including the Health and Safety Policy). The key stages in the process of plant isolation (and re-instatement) must be planned and controlled. Risk assessments must be carried out to determine the range of control measures required and the order of work and the need for administrative controls, such as permit to work systems, etc. Plant and equipment should be isolated in accordance with a planned system, devised and controlled by a competent person (or persons). Isolations should be made and checked and should remain in place until removed in accordance with a planned schedule for the reinstatement or recommissioning of the plant.
Please visit out website
In order to allow various processes such as: cleaning, maintenance, plant repair and modification to take place, safe isolation of plant and equipment is essential. This is not specifically covered by any health and safety legislation, although there are the usual, general legal drivers, such as: the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 (Section 2: duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, Section 3: duty to ensure the health and safety of non-employees), the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3: duty to carry out risk assessments) as well as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2005 (DSEAR), etc.
Failures during the isolation and re-instatement of plant and equipment are a significant cause of loss of containment incidents and can lead to major accidents. There are eight key stages that should be considered in the isolation, and subsequent return to service, of plant and equipment:
• Hazard identification
• Risk assessment and selection of isolation scheme
• Planning and preparation of equipment
• Installation of isolation
• Draining, venting, purging and flushing
• Testing and monitoring effectiveness of the isolation
• Carrying out the intrusive activity
• Reinstatement of plant
Hazard Identification
Hazards may exist from either substances within the plant and equipment or from the nature of the work to be carried out. All (potential) hazards must be identified so that appropriate control measures can be introduced for the isolation of the plant and equipment. Particular hazards will exist if the substance is:
• toxic
• flammable
• pyrophoric
• under (high) pressure
• at high or low temperature
• reactive
• an asphyxiant (such as nitrogen)
• capable of forming an explosive atmosphere (including dusts)
• remaining in equipment as a sludge or hard deposit
In the event of a loss of containment leading to a release, the potential for a major accident will depend on a range of factors including
• the nature and properties of the substance
• the amount of the substance released
• the potential for escalation (such as: the presence of other plant, including confining structures, and other hazardous substances)
• the people at risk, their proximity to the plant and the speed with which they may be affected
Hazards associated with the task to be undertaken include:
• Entry into confined spaces
• Issues associated with access (such as working at height, etc.)
• Hot work (such as welding, cutting, grinding, drilling, electrical work, etc.)
Risk Assessment and the selection of isolation scheme for the plant and equipment
It should form a part of the company’s policies and procedures that intrusive work is not carried out on live plant and equipment unless there is no reasonably practicable alternative. A risk assessment should be carried out for the isolation process to identify the safest isolation scheme and should consider:
• all preparatory work for the isolation (such as depressurisation and release of stored energy, draining and venting, purging and washing out)
• installation/removal and proving of the isolation the integrity of the isolation during intrusive work, and the compatibility of any nearby work or operations on shared systems
• the requirements for testing and reinstatement of plant (such as: pressure leak testing, purging, controlled repressurisation and refilling
The risk assessment should also consider the potential for loss of containment and the potential harm (to people and to the environment) that may result from this.
Planning and preparation of equipment
As with many areas, planning is an essential stage in the isolation of plant and equipment. Appropriate preparation and planning:
• helps to identify any task-specific risk assessments that may be required
• identifies whether larger sections of the plant need to be shut down
• identifies interaction with other sections of plant subject to temporary isolation
• involves sequencing and co-ordination of any intrusive work with other plant operations
• includes a 'walk-the-plant' step, to check that the installation matches the piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID) and
• allows a check that all isolation points have been identified and are accessible and can be operated
• ensures preparation and co-ordination of job documentation, including:
o risk assessments
o method statements
o permit to work certificates
o isolation certificates
o etc
• ensures cross-referencing of relevant permits; and
• enables that all necessary and appropriate tools, equipment, PPE, materials, etc., are available
Installation of isolation
The process of installation of the necessary isolations can be considered in two parts: the initial isolation and the final (or full) isolation. The initial isolation (which is usually valved) is generally of a short duration. It allows the insertion of a positive isolation after the plant that is downstream of the initial isolation has been depressurised and purged. The final isolation protects the workers that are carrying out the intrusive work, and others who might be affected, such as from a release of substance from the plant during the intrusive activity.
Suitable blank flanges, plugs, etc (appropriately rated and installed properly, with the correct gaskets and securing bolts) should be used to close off any open pipe work. Appropriate engineering practices should be adhered when securing flanges, etc. Isolations must remain secure throughout the duration of work: locking arrangements or barriers, to prevent accidental or unauthorised removal of the isolation, should be used where practicable.
Draining, venting, purging and flushing
Draining, venting, purging and flushing may be required in situation where the plant or equipment contains hazardous substances, etc.
Testing and monitoring effectiveness of the isolation
In most cases, it is necessary to prove the integrity of all of the isolation points of an isolation scheme before proceeding with intrusive work, unless the risk assessment indicates otherwise.
• each part of the isolation should be proved separately
• each part should be proved to the highest pressure which can be expected within the system during the work activity
• where possible, each part of the isolation should be proved in the direction of the expected pressure differential
Carrying out the intrusive activity
It is important to ensure that the integrity of all isolations is maintained while the intrusive work is carried out.
Reinstatement of plant
Reinstatement or recommissioning of the plant requires equivalent controls to those used during installation of isolation. Where work has been controlled under multiple permits and dependent on common isolation points, it is important to define and control the sequence of plant reinstatement. This should include a review of all (cross-referenced) permits in force and their related isolations and checking that any plant control and protection systems functions that were overridden for the purposes of the isolations are restored to their normal condition. Care must be taken when removing positive isolations as, for example, hazardous substances may have built up behind the blank or spade if a valve leaks. Use appropriate documentation, such as isolation certificates, to log all disturbed items on a plant and to control their reinstatement.
Summary
Safe isolation of plant and equipment is an important part of the management of health and safety at work and, as such, should form part of the documented policies and procedures of the company (including the Health and Safety Policy). The key stages in the process of plant isolation (and re-instatement) must be planned and controlled. Risk assessments must be carried out to determine the range of control measures required and the order of work and the need for administrative controls, such as permit to work systems, etc. Plant and equipment should be isolated in accordance with a planned system, devised and controlled by a competent person (or persons). Isolations should be made and checked and should remain in place until removed in accordance with a planned schedule for the reinstatement or recommissioning of the plant.
Please visit out website
Safe isolation of plant and equipment – Part 1
Introduction
The safe isolation of plant and equipment is essential to allow various processes to take place, such as: cleaning, maintenance, repair and modification. Although no health and safety legislation covers this area specifically, there are several general legal drivers, such as the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 (Section 2: duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, Section 3: duty to ensure the health and safety of non-employees), the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3: duty to carry out risk assessments) as well as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2005 (DSEAR), etc. Failures during the isolation and re-instatement of plant and equipment are a significant cause of loss of containment incidents and can lead to major accidents. In some cases, the isolation may take place a long way from where the work is being carried out. Suitable procedures need to be implemented, managed, monitored, reviewed and revised. The effectiveness of an isolation system depends on the adequacy of other arrangements, including work control systems (especially permit-to-work), operating procedures, training and competence, management of change and contingency plans.
The safe isolation of plant and equipment can be considered in three sections:
• The management of isolation of plant and equipment
• The safe systems of work for the isolation of plant and equipment
• The key stages for the safe isolation of plant and equipment
The management of isolation of plant and equipment is considered in outline in this article, while the other items will be considered in a future article.
The management of isolation of plant and equipment
As with nearly all aspects of modern health and safety management, risk assessment is central to the safe isolation of plant and equipment. Although the actual mechanics of isolating plant and equipment may be carried out a range of people, it must be managed effectively, and several points should be considered:
• The safe isolation of plant and equipment should form part of the organisation’s Health and Safety Policy
• Suitable and sufficient assessments of the risks arising from (operations requiring) the isolation of plant and equipment must be carried out (by a competent person) and suitable measures implemented
• Suitable policies and procedures must be established and implemented to either avoid the risk entirely or, where this is not reasonably practicable, to reduce the risk to as low a level as is reasonably practicable
• Consideration must be given to the isolation procedures under both normal operating conditions and other foreseeable conditions
• A process for assessing and implementing any variations from existing procedures should be established
• Procedures to monitor and, where appropriate, improve the effectiveness of isolation procedures should be introduced
In order to manage the isolation of plant and equipment in a safe and effective manner, consideration should be given to:
• The design (of plant and equipment)
• Human factors
• Roles and responsibilities
• Training and competence
• Monitoring, auditing and reviewing
Design
Good initial design of plant and equipment is the most effective way to maximise the inherent safety and, as such, is fundamental to achieving safe and effective isolation of the plant and equipment without creating unnecessary constraints on plant operation. Intrusive repair and maintenance work or internal inspection tasks will require the plant or equipment to be shutdown (or at least certain sections of it). Where isolation is required to enable such tasks, suitable isolation arrangements on the plant should be identified and specified at the design stage. Similarly, consideration of plant isolations should be considered if the plant or equipment is to be modified. Design considerations should include:
• Positive isolation requirements (where vessel entry may be required, where isolation of toxic or dangerous substances is requires and to control segregation of parts of plant and equipment)
• Plant identification (A scheme to identify all process plant, piping, and valves should be drawn up. All items should be readily identifiable on the plant and referenced on the piping and instrumentation diagrams. Additionally, key items of equipment labelled permanently)
• Pipework
• Valves
• Pressure safety valves
• Spared equipment (Isolation arrangements should allow complete segregation from on-line plant and equipment for operational and/or maintenance reasons)
• Location of isolation and testing facilities (Unless contraindicated by risk assessment, isolation and bleed points should be as close as possible to the plant item. Concentration of maintenance work in one place aids control of the isolation arrangements and minimises the inventory of fluid to be depressurised and drained)
• Access and lighting (the design should allow safe access and adequate lighting to allow isolations to be made safely)
Human factors
A review and accidents and incidents involving failures to isolate plant and equipment show that human failure is an important consideration. The performance of isolations depends not only on the integrity of the isolation hardware, but also on the adequacy of the arrangements for identifying each isolation point, securing the isolation, proving/monitoring and maintaining overall control of work. Human failures can be divided into two groups:
• Errors, and
• Violations.
Roles and responsibilities
It is important to ensure that key staff are given (and understand) clearly defined roles and responsibilities for drawing up, maintaining, monitoring and improving the policies, procedures and systems for the safe isolation of plant and equipment.
Training and competence
All personnel involved in the isolation of plant and equipment must be competent to carry out their designated tasks and to discharge their responsibilities. They should:
• Understand the purpose, principles and practices of the organisation’s isolation procedures and safety rules
• Have an understanding of the consequences of any release of hazardous substances
Consideration should be given to the training and competence of staff who:
• Plan the isolations
• Authorise the isolations
• Authorise variations (or any other non-standard isolations)
• Install and remove isolations
• Check and test the isolations
• Work on the plant and equipment
Monitoring, auditing and Reviewing
The processes of monitoring, audit and review enable an organisation to confirm that it actually does what its policies and procedures say that it does, and helps to ensure that this is what it should do. Effective monitoring, audit and review systems:
• Help to identify any deficiencies in the policies and procedures for the isolation of plant and equipment
• Identify and implement any necessary corrective action before these lead to incidents
• Identify of how well the isolation of plant and equipment is are controlled within the organisation
Summary
Safe isolation of plant and equipment is an important part of the management of health and safety at work and, as such, should form part of the documented policies and procedures of the company (including the Health and Safety Policy). Risk assessments must be carried out to determine the range of control measures required. These control measures may include items such as Permit to Work Systems, etc. All policies, procedures and risk assessments must be kept up to date and should be monitored and reviewed regularly and should be revised as necessary.
Please visit our website
The safe isolation of plant and equipment is essential to allow various processes to take place, such as: cleaning, maintenance, repair and modification. Although no health and safety legislation covers this area specifically, there are several general legal drivers, such as the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 (Section 2: duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, Section 3: duty to ensure the health and safety of non-employees), the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3: duty to carry out risk assessments) as well as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2005 (DSEAR), etc. Failures during the isolation and re-instatement of plant and equipment are a significant cause of loss of containment incidents and can lead to major accidents. In some cases, the isolation may take place a long way from where the work is being carried out. Suitable procedures need to be implemented, managed, monitored, reviewed and revised. The effectiveness of an isolation system depends on the adequacy of other arrangements, including work control systems (especially permit-to-work), operating procedures, training and competence, management of change and contingency plans.
The safe isolation of plant and equipment can be considered in three sections:
• The management of isolation of plant and equipment
• The safe systems of work for the isolation of plant and equipment
• The key stages for the safe isolation of plant and equipment
The management of isolation of plant and equipment is considered in outline in this article, while the other items will be considered in a future article.
The management of isolation of plant and equipment
As with nearly all aspects of modern health and safety management, risk assessment is central to the safe isolation of plant and equipment. Although the actual mechanics of isolating plant and equipment may be carried out a range of people, it must be managed effectively, and several points should be considered:
• The safe isolation of plant and equipment should form part of the organisation’s Health and Safety Policy
• Suitable and sufficient assessments of the risks arising from (operations requiring) the isolation of plant and equipment must be carried out (by a competent person) and suitable measures implemented
• Suitable policies and procedures must be established and implemented to either avoid the risk entirely or, where this is not reasonably practicable, to reduce the risk to as low a level as is reasonably practicable
• Consideration must be given to the isolation procedures under both normal operating conditions and other foreseeable conditions
• A process for assessing and implementing any variations from existing procedures should be established
• Procedures to monitor and, where appropriate, improve the effectiveness of isolation procedures should be introduced
In order to manage the isolation of plant and equipment in a safe and effective manner, consideration should be given to:
• The design (of plant and equipment)
• Human factors
• Roles and responsibilities
• Training and competence
• Monitoring, auditing and reviewing
Design
Good initial design of plant and equipment is the most effective way to maximise the inherent safety and, as such, is fundamental to achieving safe and effective isolation of the plant and equipment without creating unnecessary constraints on plant operation. Intrusive repair and maintenance work or internal inspection tasks will require the plant or equipment to be shutdown (or at least certain sections of it). Where isolation is required to enable such tasks, suitable isolation arrangements on the plant should be identified and specified at the design stage. Similarly, consideration of plant isolations should be considered if the plant or equipment is to be modified. Design considerations should include:
• Positive isolation requirements (where vessel entry may be required, where isolation of toxic or dangerous substances is requires and to control segregation of parts of plant and equipment)
• Plant identification (A scheme to identify all process plant, piping, and valves should be drawn up. All items should be readily identifiable on the plant and referenced on the piping and instrumentation diagrams. Additionally, key items of equipment labelled permanently)
• Pipework
• Valves
• Pressure safety valves
• Spared equipment (Isolation arrangements should allow complete segregation from on-line plant and equipment for operational and/or maintenance reasons)
• Location of isolation and testing facilities (Unless contraindicated by risk assessment, isolation and bleed points should be as close as possible to the plant item. Concentration of maintenance work in one place aids control of the isolation arrangements and minimises the inventory of fluid to be depressurised and drained)
• Access and lighting (the design should allow safe access and adequate lighting to allow isolations to be made safely)
Human factors
A review and accidents and incidents involving failures to isolate plant and equipment show that human failure is an important consideration. The performance of isolations depends not only on the integrity of the isolation hardware, but also on the adequacy of the arrangements for identifying each isolation point, securing the isolation, proving/monitoring and maintaining overall control of work. Human failures can be divided into two groups:
• Errors, and
• Violations.
Roles and responsibilities
It is important to ensure that key staff are given (and understand) clearly defined roles and responsibilities for drawing up, maintaining, monitoring and improving the policies, procedures and systems for the safe isolation of plant and equipment.
Training and competence
All personnel involved in the isolation of plant and equipment must be competent to carry out their designated tasks and to discharge their responsibilities. They should:
• Understand the purpose, principles and practices of the organisation’s isolation procedures and safety rules
• Have an understanding of the consequences of any release of hazardous substances
Consideration should be given to the training and competence of staff who:
• Plan the isolations
• Authorise the isolations
• Authorise variations (or any other non-standard isolations)
• Install and remove isolations
• Check and test the isolations
• Work on the plant and equipment
Monitoring, auditing and Reviewing
The processes of monitoring, audit and review enable an organisation to confirm that it actually does what its policies and procedures say that it does, and helps to ensure that this is what it should do. Effective monitoring, audit and review systems:
• Help to identify any deficiencies in the policies and procedures for the isolation of plant and equipment
• Identify and implement any necessary corrective action before these lead to incidents
• Identify of how well the isolation of plant and equipment is are controlled within the organisation
Summary
Safe isolation of plant and equipment is an important part of the management of health and safety at work and, as such, should form part of the documented policies and procedures of the company (including the Health and Safety Policy). Risk assessments must be carried out to determine the range of control measures required. These control measures may include items such as Permit to Work Systems, etc. All policies, procedures and risk assessments must be kept up to date and should be monitored and reviewed regularly and should be revised as necessary.
Please visit our website
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Night Workers - cancer link blog
Night-Shift Work – a link to breast cancer in women?
It is well established that there can be undesirable consequences for those working shifts outside standard daytime hours, particularly those covering the night or with early morning starts. Over the past few years, evidence has been emerging that suggests that night shifts are bad for you. Typical symptoms include: fatigue, disturbed sleep, digestive problems and a greater risk of accidents at work. Some studies also show a higher risk of breast cancer in women who sleep for fewer hours at night.
Danish Government pays out for breast cancer in shift workers
In March 2009, the Danish government paid compensation to around forty women who had developed breast cancer after long spells of shift work involving working at night. This decision followed a ruling by Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, which is part of the United Nations World Health Organisation) that night shifts probably increase the risk of developing cancer. Part of the function of the IARC is to study and rank cancer risks. Category One risks are known carcinogens, including asbestos, but night-working has been categorised as only one level below that, i.e. a probable cause of cancer. The IARC reached this conclusion after looking at a wide number of studies in humans and in animals. A report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported a 36% greater risk of breast cancer for women who had worked night shifts for more than 30 years, compared with women who had never worked nights.
A hormonal mechanism for breast cancer
When faced with a diagnosis of cancer, people want be able to identify a single factor in their history that they can identify as the single cause of the disease. Cancer, however, is a complicated disease and rather than thinking in terms of a single cause, its best considered as being the result of a combination of many factors, which all have a small, but significant, contribution. In the case of breast cancer these factors would include: the woman’s genes, her age, her weight, her race, how much she drinks, when she started (and stopped) her periods, how many children she has had, whether (and for how long) she took birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, and how long she breast-fed.
In 2001, several epidemiological studies providing evidence linking breast cancer in women with prolonged periods of working at night were reported. Within these studies, a biologically plausible mechanism related to the suppression of melatonin was suggested as a potential explanation for these findings. According to this theory, this association arises from reductions in serum levels of melatonin that follow from nocturnal exposure to light. Melatonin is known to suppress tumour growth in experimental animal models, and reduced melatonin levels may increase ovarian oestrogen release. In the normal pattern of life, our eyes sense the reduction of natural light levels. This triggers the pineal gland to begin the secretion of the hormone melatonin and as the melatonin levels rise in our bodies we tend to get sleepy. In women, as the melatonin levels rise, the production of the female sex hormone oestrogen decreases. It is believed that the production of oestrogen stimulates the growth of breast tissue including some breast cancers. It may be considered that more light results in less melatonin and in more oestrogen, which means a greater risk of cancer.
Information from studies
Nurse study - In 1988, nearly 80,000 nurses who had no history of breast cancer were questioned about previous overnight shift work. The study participants were then followed for ten years. The resulting analysis was then adjusted for potential confounding factors and it was found that women who had worked rotating night shifts for 30 years or longer had significantly increased risk for developing breast cancer compared with those who had never worked night shifts (a relative risk of 1.36). Among nurses with less than 30 years of shift work, risk was slightly elevated but fell just short of significance (a relative risk of 1.08).
Second study - In a separate study, 813 women with breast cancer were compared with 793 age-matched controls. A history of overnight shift work during the previous 10 years was associated with significantly increased risk for breast cancer (an “odds ratio” of 1.6, after adjustment for other risk factors). Breast cancer risk was also found to be increased significantly among women who frequently did not sleep during the middle of the night for any reason (there was an “odds ratio” of 1.7 for the group with at least 2.6 nights per week of interrupted sleep).
Danish Study - In a population-based case-control study, the breast cancer risk among Danish women aged between 30 and 54 who worked predominantly at night was investigated. Individual employment histories were reconstructed back as far as 1964 for each of 7035 women with breast cancer along with individually matched controls from the records of a nationwide pension scheme with compulsory membership. The “odds ratio” for breast cancer among women who worked at night at least half of a year was 1.5 and there was a tendency to increasing odds ratio by increasing duration of night time employment.
Practical steps to reduce the risks of breast cancer - for shift workers
Shift workers can reduce their personal risk by eliminating some lifestyle risk factors, by:
• stopping the use of tobacco
• keeping alcohol intake moderate
• exercising regularly
• maintaining a healthy weight
• getting enough sleep on a regular basis
• make sure that their bedroom is completely dark when they sleep (both at night and during daytime, to make sure that melatonin secretion is not affected)
“Be Breast Aware” – there is a free leaflet available from the NHS in a range of languages. Breast aware encourages women to:
• Take care of your own well-being
• Know what is normal for you
• Know what to look and feel for
• Report any changes without delay
• Attend for breast screening if aged 50 for over
Practical steps to reduce the risks of breast cancer - for the employer
• Train and educate shift workers on what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and how to achieve it and maintain good quality sleep
• Design shift schedules to allow sufficient rest and provide the opportunity to obtain adequate sleep.
• Keep overtime at a healthy level
• Introduce health surveillance for night shift workers
Visit our website
It is well established that there can be undesirable consequences for those working shifts outside standard daytime hours, particularly those covering the night or with early morning starts. Over the past few years, evidence has been emerging that suggests that night shifts are bad for you. Typical symptoms include: fatigue, disturbed sleep, digestive problems and a greater risk of accidents at work. Some studies also show a higher risk of breast cancer in women who sleep for fewer hours at night.
Danish Government pays out for breast cancer in shift workers
In March 2009, the Danish government paid compensation to around forty women who had developed breast cancer after long spells of shift work involving working at night. This decision followed a ruling by Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, which is part of the United Nations World Health Organisation) that night shifts probably increase the risk of developing cancer. Part of the function of the IARC is to study and rank cancer risks. Category One risks are known carcinogens, including asbestos, but night-working has been categorised as only one level below that, i.e. a probable cause of cancer. The IARC reached this conclusion after looking at a wide number of studies in humans and in animals. A report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported a 36% greater risk of breast cancer for women who had worked night shifts for more than 30 years, compared with women who had never worked nights.
A hormonal mechanism for breast cancer
When faced with a diagnosis of cancer, people want be able to identify a single factor in their history that they can identify as the single cause of the disease. Cancer, however, is a complicated disease and rather than thinking in terms of a single cause, its best considered as being the result of a combination of many factors, which all have a small, but significant, contribution. In the case of breast cancer these factors would include: the woman’s genes, her age, her weight, her race, how much she drinks, when she started (and stopped) her periods, how many children she has had, whether (and for how long) she took birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, and how long she breast-fed.
In 2001, several epidemiological studies providing evidence linking breast cancer in women with prolonged periods of working at night were reported. Within these studies, a biologically plausible mechanism related to the suppression of melatonin was suggested as a potential explanation for these findings. According to this theory, this association arises from reductions in serum levels of melatonin that follow from nocturnal exposure to light. Melatonin is known to suppress tumour growth in experimental animal models, and reduced melatonin levels may increase ovarian oestrogen release. In the normal pattern of life, our eyes sense the reduction of natural light levels. This triggers the pineal gland to begin the secretion of the hormone melatonin and as the melatonin levels rise in our bodies we tend to get sleepy. In women, as the melatonin levels rise, the production of the female sex hormone oestrogen decreases. It is believed that the production of oestrogen stimulates the growth of breast tissue including some breast cancers. It may be considered that more light results in less melatonin and in more oestrogen, which means a greater risk of cancer.
Information from studies
Nurse study - In 1988, nearly 80,000 nurses who had no history of breast cancer were questioned about previous overnight shift work. The study participants were then followed for ten years. The resulting analysis was then adjusted for potential confounding factors and it was found that women who had worked rotating night shifts for 30 years or longer had significantly increased risk for developing breast cancer compared with those who had never worked night shifts (a relative risk of 1.36). Among nurses with less than 30 years of shift work, risk was slightly elevated but fell just short of significance (a relative risk of 1.08).
Second study - In a separate study, 813 women with breast cancer were compared with 793 age-matched controls. A history of overnight shift work during the previous 10 years was associated with significantly increased risk for breast cancer (an “odds ratio” of 1.6, after adjustment for other risk factors). Breast cancer risk was also found to be increased significantly among women who frequently did not sleep during the middle of the night for any reason (there was an “odds ratio” of 1.7 for the group with at least 2.6 nights per week of interrupted sleep).
Danish Study - In a population-based case-control study, the breast cancer risk among Danish women aged between 30 and 54 who worked predominantly at night was investigated. Individual employment histories were reconstructed back as far as 1964 for each of 7035 women with breast cancer along with individually matched controls from the records of a nationwide pension scheme with compulsory membership. The “odds ratio” for breast cancer among women who worked at night at least half of a year was 1.5 and there was a tendency to increasing odds ratio by increasing duration of night time employment.
Practical steps to reduce the risks of breast cancer - for shift workers
Shift workers can reduce their personal risk by eliminating some lifestyle risk factors, by:
• stopping the use of tobacco
• keeping alcohol intake moderate
• exercising regularly
• maintaining a healthy weight
• getting enough sleep on a regular basis
• make sure that their bedroom is completely dark when they sleep (both at night and during daytime, to make sure that melatonin secretion is not affected)
“Be Breast Aware” – there is a free leaflet available from the NHS in a range of languages. Breast aware encourages women to:
• Take care of your own well-being
• Know what is normal for you
• Know what to look and feel for
• Report any changes without delay
• Attend for breast screening if aged 50 for over
Practical steps to reduce the risks of breast cancer - for the employer
• Train and educate shift workers on what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and how to achieve it and maintain good quality sleep
• Design shift schedules to allow sufficient rest and provide the opportunity to obtain adequate sleep.
• Keep overtime at a healthy level
• Introduce health surveillance for night shift workers
Visit our website
Spray Painting - Health & Safety considerations
The nature of spray painting operations means that they create the potential for employees (and others) to be exposed to substances that are hazardous to health. These substances include: solvents (often refer to as or thinners); simple paint systems (which may contain lead) and two pack paint systems. Two pack paint systems will usually be either epoxy systems or polyurethane systems. Polyurethane systems involve the use of isocyanates (in the hardener) which are respiratory sensitizers and are associated with occupational asthma. Further to this, preparation of surfaces for painting may involve exposure to dusts generated from rubbing down and to filling materials, such as epoxy resins.
This article does not deal with the fire and explosion risks associated with solvents or with the paint spraying operation.
COSHH
When considering exposure to hazardous substances,
The prime piece of legislation applicable when considering the [potential for exposure to hazardous substances is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). If lead based materials are being used, then consideration must be given to the provisions of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW).
Under COSHH, the employer is charged with the duty of preventing exposure to hazardous substances (where this is reasonably practicable) and for controlling exposure to prevent harm to employees (and others). The employer must:
• assess the health risk arising from the work done and decide what precautions are needed
• implement appropriate measures to prevent or control the risk
• ensure that control measures are used and the equipment is properly maintained and procedures observed
• where appropriate, 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 suitable arrangements for dealing with accidents, incidents and emergencies
There is an explicit duty on the employer to avoid the use of a hazardous substance by replacing it with another substance or process that either eliminates or reduces the risk to employees, so far as is reasonably practicable. The Approved Code of Practice for the COSHH Regulations makes it clear that it is an employer’s overriding duty and first priority to consider how to prevent employees being exposed to substances hazardous to health. Failure to tackle this duty is a failure to comply with a fundamental principle of the Regulations. To achieve this, employers should consider:
• changes to the method of work such that the operation giving rise to the exposure is no longer required (such as using a water based system in place of a solvent based system); or
• modifications to the processes to eliminate the generation of a hazardous by-product or waste material; or
• substitution of a hazardous substance with a non-hazardous substance that presents no risk to health
Where use of a hazardous substance cannot be eliminated, the employer must consider routes to reduce exposure to hazardous substances. These should include:
• using an alternative, safer substance (such as moving to a one pack isocyanate free system in place of a two pack polyurethane); or
• using a different form of the same substances; or
• using a different process
It should be noted that such changes may create new or different risks. These risks should be considered as part of the risk assessment processes required under COSHH, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 or any other piece of relevant legislation. It may not be appropriate to change to a slightly safer substance, health wise, if the fire risks are increased disproportionately.
Health hazards
Solvents/Thinners
Direct skin contact with organic solvents can cause defatting, irritation and even lead to dermatitis. Commonly used solvents include xylene, acetone and methylethylketone (MEK). These solvents may be absorbed through unbroken skin and are also harmful by inhalation. Once absorbed into the body they may cause systemic effects.
Paints
The hazards associated with paints vary enormously and are often associated with the solvent, the hardener (such as isocyanates) or with the pigment system (such as lead), etc.
Lead
Lead can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and ingestion. Typical symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, tiredness, stomach pains, constipation and loss of weight. Continued exposure may cause more serious problems such as nerve and brain damage. In the case of pregnant workers, the developing foetus is especially vulnerable to the effects of lead, which may lead to impaired mental development.
Dusts
Prolonged exposure to dust can cause respiratory disorders and any dust of a substantial concentration is regarded as hazardous under COSHH, whether or not the substance of the dust is hazardous. Some dusts will be more hazardous than the so called nuisance dusts above. For example: if paint work if rubbed down as part of the preparation process, then if the original paint contained lead, the dust will also contain lead, but it will be present in a form that is more easily inhaled.
Isocyanates
Vapours containing isocyanates are highly irritating to the eyes and to the respiratory tract and may cause asthma. Asthmatic attacks may occur immediately or may be delayed for up to 12 hours after exposure. Symptoms of over exposure include: sore eyes; running nose; sore throat; coughing; wheezing; tight chest fever and breathlessness. In many cases, complaints will (at first) clear up at weekends or during other breaks from work, but are likely to return on resumption of work. Some people may become sensitised and even minute concentrations of isocyanates can lead to severe asthmatic attacks. There are an estimated 1,500 to 3,000 new cases of occupational asthma each year and this rises to 7,000 cases a year if you include asthma made worse by work (work-related asthma). There are thought to be at least 150 new cases of occupational asthma associated with paint spraying operations, although the figure may be higher and paint sprayers are considered to be 80 times more likely to develop work related asthma than the rest of the working population.
Control measures - to protect employees and other from harm
The best control measures are those that avoid exposure to hazardous substances, while others limit the amount of contact or attempt to mitigate the effects.
Elimination
If hazardous substances are not used, then employees cannot be exposed to them and so avoidance is the best solution. Inferior to this is to user safer, rather than safe, substances. If is essential that alternatives are sought to paint systems that contain or that utilise isocyanates. Increasingly, lead free paints are now available and new water based paint systems have been developed.
Ventilation, extraction systems and spray booths
Ensure that hazardous substances are not used in confined spaces or areas of poor ventilation. Where possible, use them in areas of good natural ventilation, such as outdoors. If natural or general ventilation is inadequate, then local exhaust ventilation may be required to remove hazardous fumes and vapours from the workplace.
Most spray painting operations take place inside a booth. The booth needs to be designed to deal with the operations to be undertaken: it needs to be the right size and have suitable extraction for the materials being sprayed. It must be designed such that the solvents and the overspray are captured and then ducted away and exhausted into a safe area. There have been cases of “home made” booths being used that were inadequate for the tasks (and so did not protect the sprayer) or which exhausted fumes into the workplace, causing ill health (from exposure to solvents and to isocyanates) to develop in others, including the receptionist in one case.
All local exhaust ventilation systems must be tested and inspected, by a competent person, at least once in every fourteen month period. They must also be maintained in working condition and should be checked, routinely, by the operatives.
Personal Protective Equipment
Despite the fact that personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be considered as the last resort, it will often have a role to play in protecting spray painting operatives. Different types of PPE are available: skin protection (overalls, gloves, gauntlets); eye protection (glasses, goggles, face masks, etc) and respiratory protection (dust masks through to air fed respirators). It is important that the appropriate PPE is provided and that risk assessments have been carried out to show that the PPE provided is appropriate and that it provides the right level of protection.
Welfare facilities
Decent washing facilities are necessary to remove hazardous substances 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 solvents. They can, however, be a useful extra protection and can make it easier to wash oils off of the skin after exposure.
Smoking, eating and drinking
Smoking is now prohibited in all workplaces. Suitable welfare arrangements should be made so that there is no eating or drinking in areas where hazardous substances are present. Employees should be discouraged from consuming food or from drinking in the work area as any contamination on their hands may easily be ingested.
Health surveillance
Heath surveillance will not protect employees from exposure to hazardous substance. However, appropriate health surveillance will often allow for early identification of symptoms so that additional preventive measures can be taken at an early stage. Where workers are exposed to solvents, the employer should carry out routine skin inspections as a precautionary measure. Where workers are exposed to isocyanates, the employer should arrange for lung function testing to be carried out regularly. The results of health surveillance must be recorded and records must be retained for 40 years.
Information, instruction and training
Employees must be made aware of the hazards associated with the substances to which they may be exposed and of the control measures to be used to protect their health. Awareness can also be raised by obtaining and distributing suitable notices and leaflets, many of which are available from the HSE.
Spillages
Spillages should be cleaned up immediately, using suitable absorbent granules. A suitable spillage response kit should be kept available on site. Employees should be trained in the safe use of this spillage response kit and the disposal of the materials.
Active Monitoring
The use of control measures should be actively monitored by the employer. It is not sufficient to put systems in place: they must be monitored and their effectiveness and use checked by managers and/or supervisors.
Summary
Occupational ill health may result from uncontrolled or inadequately controlled exposure to hazardous substances associated with paint spraying. Isocyanates are one of the most hazardous substances used in paint spraying, leading to over 150 new cases of work related asthma each year. A key to avoiding ill health is to avoid or control exposure to hazardous substances, including solvents, lead and isocyanates. This may involve extraction and ventilation systems (such as spray booths), PPE, personal hygiene regimes, training and health surveillance.
Please visit our website
This article does not deal with the fire and explosion risks associated with solvents or with the paint spraying operation.
COSHH
When considering exposure to hazardous substances,
The prime piece of legislation applicable when considering the [potential for exposure to hazardous substances is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). If lead based materials are being used, then consideration must be given to the provisions of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW).
Under COSHH, the employer is charged with the duty of preventing exposure to hazardous substances (where this is reasonably practicable) and for controlling exposure to prevent harm to employees (and others). The employer must:
• assess the health risk arising from the work done and decide what precautions are needed
• implement appropriate measures to prevent or control the risk
• ensure that control measures are used and the equipment is properly maintained and procedures observed
• where appropriate, 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 suitable arrangements for dealing with accidents, incidents and emergencies
There is an explicit duty on the employer to avoid the use of a hazardous substance by replacing it with another substance or process that either eliminates or reduces the risk to employees, so far as is reasonably practicable. The Approved Code of Practice for the COSHH Regulations makes it clear that it is an employer’s overriding duty and first priority to consider how to prevent employees being exposed to substances hazardous to health. Failure to tackle this duty is a failure to comply with a fundamental principle of the Regulations. To achieve this, employers should consider:
• changes to the method of work such that the operation giving rise to the exposure is no longer required (such as using a water based system in place of a solvent based system); or
• modifications to the processes to eliminate the generation of a hazardous by-product or waste material; or
• substitution of a hazardous substance with a non-hazardous substance that presents no risk to health
Where use of a hazardous substance cannot be eliminated, the employer must consider routes to reduce exposure to hazardous substances. These should include:
• using an alternative, safer substance (such as moving to a one pack isocyanate free system in place of a two pack polyurethane); or
• using a different form of the same substances; or
• using a different process
It should be noted that such changes may create new or different risks. These risks should be considered as part of the risk assessment processes required under COSHH, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 or any other piece of relevant legislation. It may not be appropriate to change to a slightly safer substance, health wise, if the fire risks are increased disproportionately.
Health hazards
Solvents/Thinners
Direct skin contact with organic solvents can cause defatting, irritation and even lead to dermatitis. Commonly used solvents include xylene, acetone and methylethylketone (MEK). These solvents may be absorbed through unbroken skin and are also harmful by inhalation. Once absorbed into the body they may cause systemic effects.
Paints
The hazards associated with paints vary enormously and are often associated with the solvent, the hardener (such as isocyanates) or with the pigment system (such as lead), etc.
Lead
Lead can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and ingestion. Typical symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, tiredness, stomach pains, constipation and loss of weight. Continued exposure may cause more serious problems such as nerve and brain damage. In the case of pregnant workers, the developing foetus is especially vulnerable to the effects of lead, which may lead to impaired mental development.
Dusts
Prolonged exposure to dust can cause respiratory disorders and any dust of a substantial concentration is regarded as hazardous under COSHH, whether or not the substance of the dust is hazardous. Some dusts will be more hazardous than the so called nuisance dusts above. For example: if paint work if rubbed down as part of the preparation process, then if the original paint contained lead, the dust will also contain lead, but it will be present in a form that is more easily inhaled.
Isocyanates
Vapours containing isocyanates are highly irritating to the eyes and to the respiratory tract and may cause asthma. Asthmatic attacks may occur immediately or may be delayed for up to 12 hours after exposure. Symptoms of over exposure include: sore eyes; running nose; sore throat; coughing; wheezing; tight chest fever and breathlessness. In many cases, complaints will (at first) clear up at weekends or during other breaks from work, but are likely to return on resumption of work. Some people may become sensitised and even minute concentrations of isocyanates can lead to severe asthmatic attacks. There are an estimated 1,500 to 3,000 new cases of occupational asthma each year and this rises to 7,000 cases a year if you include asthma made worse by work (work-related asthma). There are thought to be at least 150 new cases of occupational asthma associated with paint spraying operations, although the figure may be higher and paint sprayers are considered to be 80 times more likely to develop work related asthma than the rest of the working population.
Control measures - to protect employees and other from harm
The best control measures are those that avoid exposure to hazardous substances, while others limit the amount of contact or attempt to mitigate the effects.
Elimination
If hazardous substances are not used, then employees cannot be exposed to them and so avoidance is the best solution. Inferior to this is to user safer, rather than safe, substances. If is essential that alternatives are sought to paint systems that contain or that utilise isocyanates. Increasingly, lead free paints are now available and new water based paint systems have been developed.
Ventilation, extraction systems and spray booths
Ensure that hazardous substances are not used in confined spaces or areas of poor ventilation. Where possible, use them in areas of good natural ventilation, such as outdoors. If natural or general ventilation is inadequate, then local exhaust ventilation may be required to remove hazardous fumes and vapours from the workplace.
Most spray painting operations take place inside a booth. The booth needs to be designed to deal with the operations to be undertaken: it needs to be the right size and have suitable extraction for the materials being sprayed. It must be designed such that the solvents and the overspray are captured and then ducted away and exhausted into a safe area. There have been cases of “home made” booths being used that were inadequate for the tasks (and so did not protect the sprayer) or which exhausted fumes into the workplace, causing ill health (from exposure to solvents and to isocyanates) to develop in others, including the receptionist in one case.
All local exhaust ventilation systems must be tested and inspected, by a competent person, at least once in every fourteen month period. They must also be maintained in working condition and should be checked, routinely, by the operatives.
Personal Protective Equipment
Despite the fact that personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be considered as the last resort, it will often have a role to play in protecting spray painting operatives. Different types of PPE are available: skin protection (overalls, gloves, gauntlets); eye protection (glasses, goggles, face masks, etc) and respiratory protection (dust masks through to air fed respirators). It is important that the appropriate PPE is provided and that risk assessments have been carried out to show that the PPE provided is appropriate and that it provides the right level of protection.
Welfare facilities
Decent washing facilities are necessary to remove hazardous substances 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 solvents. They can, however, be a useful extra protection and can make it easier to wash oils off of the skin after exposure.
Smoking, eating and drinking
Smoking is now prohibited in all workplaces. Suitable welfare arrangements should be made so that there is no eating or drinking in areas where hazardous substances are present. Employees should be discouraged from consuming food or from drinking in the work area as any contamination on their hands may easily be ingested.
Health surveillance
Heath surveillance will not protect employees from exposure to hazardous substance. However, appropriate health surveillance will often allow for early identification of symptoms so that additional preventive measures can be taken at an early stage. Where workers are exposed to solvents, the employer should carry out routine skin inspections as a precautionary measure. Where workers are exposed to isocyanates, the employer should arrange for lung function testing to be carried out regularly. The results of health surveillance must be recorded and records must be retained for 40 years.
Information, instruction and training
Employees must be made aware of the hazards associated with the substances to which they may be exposed and of the control measures to be used to protect their health. Awareness can also be raised by obtaining and distributing suitable notices and leaflets, many of which are available from the HSE.
Spillages
Spillages should be cleaned up immediately, using suitable absorbent granules. A suitable spillage response kit should be kept available on site. Employees should be trained in the safe use of this spillage response kit and the disposal of the materials.
Active Monitoring
The use of control measures should be actively monitored by the employer. It is not sufficient to put systems in place: they must be monitored and their effectiveness and use checked by managers and/or supervisors.
Summary
Occupational ill health may result from uncontrolled or inadequately controlled exposure to hazardous substances associated with paint spraying. Isocyanates are one of the most hazardous substances used in paint spraying, leading to over 150 new cases of work related asthma each year. A key to avoiding ill health is to avoid or control exposure to hazardous substances, including solvents, lead and isocyanates. This may involve extraction and ventilation systems (such as spray booths), PPE, personal hygiene regimes, training and health surveillance.
Please visit our website
Friday, 26 February 2010
New Tower Cranes Regulations
The Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes Regulations 2010
As expected, the new Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes Regulations 2010 have been issued and will come into force in April this year. To see the Regulations, click here
These new regulations apply to an employer who provides for use, or whose employee uses, a conventional tower crane at work on a construction site. They also apply to self-employed persons, in respect of a conventional tower crane used at work, and a person who has control to any extent of the management, supervision and use of a conventional tower crane, subject to the extent of that control.
Employers are required to notify the HSE of the information relating to the conventional tower crane set in the Schedule to the regulations within 14 days of the completion of the thorough examination of the crane, before it is put into service, as required by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
Where no thorough examination of the conventional tower crane has been carried out within 14 days of its installation, the HSE must be notifoed of the details of the crane as soon as reasonably practicable and of any subsequent thorough examination under LOLER, within 14 days of that information becoming available.
If you require assistance with matters relating to Health & Safety, please contact me through my website.
As expected, the new Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes Regulations 2010 have been issued and will come into force in April this year. To see the Regulations, click here
These new regulations apply to an employer who provides for use, or whose employee uses, a conventional tower crane at work on a construction site. They also apply to self-employed persons, in respect of a conventional tower crane used at work, and a person who has control to any extent of the management, supervision and use of a conventional tower crane, subject to the extent of that control.
Employers are required to notify the HSE of the information relating to the conventional tower crane set in the Schedule to the regulations within 14 days of the completion of the thorough examination of the crane, before it is put into service, as required by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
Where no thorough examination of the conventional tower crane has been carried out within 14 days of its installation, the HSE must be notifoed of the details of the crane as soon as reasonably practicable and of any subsequent thorough examination under LOLER, within 14 days of that information becoming available.
If you require assistance with matters relating to Health & Safety, please contact me through my website.
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
A returning client - British Library
I'm about to start work on another interesting project for the British Library!
Their operations are more diverse than you might think - several interesting and challenging areas of health and safety to look at with them.
COSHH, Risk Assessment, Fire Safety, Training ... all good stuff
Please let us provide your health and safety needs - visit our website
Their operations are more diverse than you might think - several interesting and challenging areas of health and safety to look at with them.
COSHH, Risk Assessment, Fire Safety, Training ... all good stuff
Please let us provide your health and safety needs - visit our website
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)