COSHH ASSESSMENT TRAINING

Essential Elements of a COSHH Form

• This presentation will explain how to undertake a COSHH Assessment using the standard University COSHH Assessment Form

• Clicking the left mouse button will move you to the next slide• At the end of this presentation you will find details on where

to go for further information and supporting documents

Introduction

Personnel AffectedYou must consider everyone who could be affected (eg other laboratory workers, visitors, cleaning and security staff). You must also consider potentially vulnerable people such as expectant mothers.

Academic / Supervisor ResponsibleThe member of Academic staff or Senior Technician in charge of the work MUST check the COSHH Assessment to ensure it is suitable. Their name must appear here on the Form and they must sign the Form.

Procedure TitleThis should be a short description of the work undertaken eg Preparation of 5M Sodium Hydroxide Solution.

List Hazardous Chemicals UsedA sensible approach is to include all the hazardous chemicals used in a procedure on the same Form. This cuts down paperwork and also encourages you to think about how chemicals could interact. REMEMBER the COSHH Assessment is specific to the procedure undertaken NOT the chemical.

For example, you may use hydrochloric acid in this procedure. However, if you were to use hydrochloric acid in another procedure a new COSHH Form would be needed. This is because the acid may be used differently and possibly used with other chemicals so the hazards are different.

Quantity Used and ConcentrationNote the amount of the chemical used and its concentration eg 100ml of 3M hydrochloric acid. This is important in deciding sensible control measures eg you may safely use 100ml of 3M hydrochloric acid outside of a fume hood BUT NOT 2.5litres of concentrated acid.

Quantity HandledThis is the container size of the chemical you are handling eg you may need to take a 2.5litre bottle of acid from the stores to remove a 100ml for your experiment. It is important to note this on the Form as this is the largest amount of the chemical you could spill etc.

Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs)WELs are legal, maximum airborne concentrations of chemicals and dusts that must not be exceeded. You can find out if a chemical has a WEL by looking at EH40 .

HazardsList the hazards with each chemical and potential routes of entry into the body eg toxic by inhalation. Further information on identifying chemicals hazards can be found on the HSS Website.

Always Check Before Starting• If a less hazardous substance can

be used eg use a toxic chemical in liquid rather than powder form or a less toxic chemical that does the same job.

• If the chemical is a known carcinogen / mutagen / teratogen. Exposure to such chemicals MUST be kept as low as possible. In addition, mutagens and teratogens pose a significant risk to expectant mothers so you MUST consider how such people will be informed of the risk and protected.Experimental Procedure

Provide enough details to allow another person to be able to repeat the experiment.

ControlsAs a first resort try to use engineering controls eg Fume Hoods, Glove Boxes or local exhaust ventilation systems to control hazards, as they not only protect you but also others and don’t rely on personal factors such as gloves fitting properly. Further information on control measures can be found on the HSS Website.

Procedural controls may also be useful eg restricting the use of toxic chemicals to clearly marked lab areas or carrying out operations in a particular way [eg adding acid to water when diluting concentrated acids].

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Should only be used as a last resort as it only protects the wearer and relies on the correct selection and fit to work properly and it is easy to get wrong. Further information on selection of PPE can be found on the HSS Website.

Monitoring• Reaction Temperature – may be

needed where you need to control exothermic reactions.

• Reaction Time – may be needed if hazards are created if the reaction goes on too long.

• Integrity of PPE – it is important to check PPE regularly to ensure it provides continued protection eg torn gloves allowing the chemical to get to the skin.

• Fume Hood Operation – it is important to check the hood is working properly, particularly if the experiment is lengthy or the chemical is extremely hazardous.

First AidRecord first aid actions here.

Spillage• Large Scale – the result of spilling

the maximum quantity handled in the experiment eg the 2.5litre bottle of concentrated acid.

• Small Scale – the result of spilling the amount used in the experiment.

You MUST detail exactly how you would deal with each type of spill. Guidance on Emergency Spill Procedures can be found on the HSS Website.

Fire and ExplosionAlways check if there is a risk of fire, a risk of explosion or both. If there is an explosion risk you MUST contact your College / Departmental Safety Co-ordinator.

Measures to control the risk of fire could include using smaller amounts of flammable chemicals and ensuring there are no sources of ignition present.

When detailing actions in case of fire consider the safety of people first. Only attempt to tackle a fire if the correct fire extinguishers are present, your means of escape are clear and the fire is small with no risk of spreading.

6M Sulphuric Acid

SB

28/10/08

At the End of the Experiment• Materials Saved for Future Use – if

the experiment produces solutions etc that will be used / stored for future use you MUST explain how these may be stored safely, how hazardous they are and how they should be labelled. For example, a 5% solution of ethanol is not flammable and may be stored on an open bench, but a 50% solution of ethanol is flammable and must be stored in fire safety cabinet.

• Disposal – if the experiment produces waste you must explain how the waste is to be disposed of and where it should be stored until disposal. Guidance on the storage and safe disposal of waste is available on the HSS Website.