Having a comprehensive safety strategy in place for your business ensures that you are working in line with current regulations but also, and more importantly, helps to reduce the risk of ill-health for your employees.
There are around 13,000 deaths per year in the UK which are estimated to be linked with workplace exposure to chemicals and dust.
But how can you prevent your employees from becoming a statistic?
What is Substance Exposure?
According to government guidance, exposure to a substance includes:
– breathing fumes, dust, vapour, gas, or mist
– skin contact
– injection into the skin
– swallowing
There are workplace exposure limits (WELs) provided by HSE (Health and Safety Executive) to help protect workers’ health. WELs are concentrations of hazardous substances in the air, averaged over a set period of time.
Thousands of substances are used in a workplace but there are only around 500 substances that have WELs. EH40 Workplace Exposure Limits is a publication which contains a list of all current UK Wels, which is legally binding under COSHH. This list is amended when there are new or revised WELs approved.
What does Exposure Monitoring do?
Exposure monitoring ensures that:
- Data is produced to implement remedial actions effectively
- The effectiveness of your existing control measures is checked
- The workplace exposure limits are not exceeded
- Health surveillance needs are identified
- A safer working environment for your team by minimising the risk of an accident is created
Businesses use Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems to control dust and fumes but a truly effective safety strategy must go beyond just installing LEV systems. Integrating exposure monitoring with LEV systems creates a comprehensive approach that maximises workplace safety and ensures compliance with health and safety regulations.
Over time, the performance of these systems can significantly decrease due to wear and tear or blockages. Testing and inspecting these systems every 14 months is required to comply with COSHH, with some systems requiring more frequent testing in line with HSG 258, the testing guidelines by the HSE.
What can Safety First Group do?
With a variety of services on offer including Occupational Exposure Monitoring and LEV System Inspections, your business can have a full safety strategy. To view all the services we offer, you can visit our services page.
Contact Safety First Group today to discuss your safety strategy.
