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Use Of Harmful Substances

Many people suffer from work related ill health each year.

An assessment of the substances (chemicals, dusts, granules etc.) that are used in the workplace and the risk arising from their use, should be carried out.

A list should be prepared of all substances that are used and a check made of how they are managed. (It is important to determine what actually happens and not what is thought to happen.)

Reference should be made to both the labels on the containers, and the health and safety data sheets which should be obtained from the suppliers. (They are legally required to supply them.)

Consideration should be given to the manner in which substances are used, the advice given on the labels and data sheets and the precautions that are required to be in place.

Where possible, substances should be substituted by a less harmful one. If this is not feasible, consideration should be given to enclosing the process or using local exhaust ventilation. Personal protective equipment should only be used as a last resort.

Persons using potentially harmful substances should be given information on the substances with which they are dealing: they should be advised of the risks and be trained in the precautions that are required.

Noise

Exposure to excessive noise levels will lead to permanent damage to hearing.

Damage to your hearing may build up gradually and you may not notice changes from one day to the next.

As a rough guide, if the background noise is such that persons have to shout to be heard when they are 2 metres apart, there is probably a noise problem. A strategy should be developed for dealing with a noise problem. Advice should be sought from a specialist noise consultant who will be able to carry out a noise survey.

Noise is measured in decibels, normally expressed as d(B)A when referring to noise exposure. In most jobs, the risk depends not only on the noise level but also on how long the people have been exposed. The total amount of noise exposure over a working day is called the ‘daily personal exposure.’

Where the daily personal exposure exceeds 85d(B)A, hearing protection should be provided. Where the daily personal exposure reaches 90d(B)A, further measures are needed to reduce exposure to noise as far as possible. This may require reduction of the noise levels at source by engineering controls. It is not sufficient to rely on ear protectors. Noisy areas should also be clearly identified.

Employees should be instructed on the wearing of ear protection and informed of the hazards from noise.

Manufacturers/suppliers must provide details of noise levels at operating positions. Consideration should be given to noise levels when buying new machines.

Noise?Think about relocating noisy machines or processes in separate rooms away from people. In some cases, soundproof booths can be provided within a noisy area.

Remember, dealing with noise problems is about reducing individuals exposure to noise.