GUIDELINES FOR WORKING WITH HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

INTRODUCTION: These Guidelines are to inform personnel about the appropriate steps that will help ensure that all workers are well informed and consulted about hazardous substance issues and exposure to hazardous substances will be minimized to prevent disease and injury to the workers, the people and/or the environment. Hazardous substances are used in most workplaces. In addition to laboratories, factories or production units, offices have hazardous substances such as toner in copying machines, cleaning products. Dusts and fumes generated by processes such as grinding or welding may also be hazardous. The general definition of a hazardous substance is any substance that has the potential to harm the health of persons in the workplace. These Guidelines can be universally applied for workplaces using chemicals/ biochemical/ other hazardous substances.

The Risk Management Process Identify the Risk Assess the Risk Control the Risk Evaluate the Effectiveness of Controls Inventory Labeling Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Monitoring Consultation Training Supervision Register of Hazardous Substances

THE RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS: Work with hazardous substances must be well managed to prevent any exposure, accidents, or ill-effects to the workers, the population and/or the environment. To manage these risks, we follow the basic risk management steps: a) Identify, b) Assess, c) Control the risks d) Evaluate the effectiveness of the controls.

The risk management process relies upon effective consultation, training and supervision.

a) IDENTIFY THE RISK: Identify whether any worker is using any hazardous substances. A Register of hazardous substances identified, used, or produced at the workplace,

must be maintained and be accessible.b) ASSESS THE RISK: Any work with hazardous substances must be adequately assessed to determine the level of risk to the health of individuals involved. This will allow reasonable decisions to be made about appropriate risk control measures.The risk assessment is only required if there is potential for exposure to hazardous substances i.e., vapors or dusts could be inhaled, there could be direct skin contact, or they could be ingested or injected. The assessment is made of the task or process involving the hazardous substance(s) rather than examining each substance individually. Some examples of processes include:

i. weighing out powdered hazardous substancesii. decanting cleaning fluidsiii. liquid chromatographyiv. distillation of solvents

v. decontaminating surfacesvi. diluting pesticidesvii. degreasing a motorviii. Sanding timber etc.

Confined spaces such as pits and tanks often develop concentrated atmospheres of hazardous substances like hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide etc

Levels of assessments1. Simple AssessmentsA simple risk assessment involves an inspection of the work area and consultation with the individuals performing the task to determine whether the hazardous substance is, or can be, readily controlled.2. Detailed AssessmentsA more detailed assessment is required where there is uncertainty about the level of risk from working with hazardous substances, or where the risk is significant i.e., the health hazard is serious. 3. Generic Risk AssessmentsA generic assessment is satisfactory for similar substances and processes i.e., an assessment of one may be applied to another similar substance and process.

Prioritizing Risk AssessmentsIn workplaces where there are many hazardous substances, it may be necessary to prioritize the order of risk assessments. Those hazardous substances which are used most frequently and whose effects are more severe should receive a high priority for early assessment.

ReassessmentReassessment is required at least every 5 years if the work is still performed or earlier where:

there is a significant change in the work process; a work related illness is reported; accidents or near misses have occurred; monitoring indicates significant exposure, or; new information about the hazardous substance(s) or process becomes available.

Any exposure to hazardous substances must be kept as low as practicable, so a range of measures to control the risk may need to be considered for implementation.

c) CONTROL THE RISK: Hazardous substances must be controlled according to the level of risk - as determined by the risk assessment. The normal hierarchy of hazard control applies:

Eliminate the substance or task if it is not essential Substitute the hazardous substance with something less or non hazardous Isolate the process by using barriers or distance Use engineering controls, such as local exhaust ventilation or automation of the process Minimize the volumes of hazardous substances used Establish safe work practices, such as restricting access to the area, keeping the area free of clutter, replacing lids on containers, safe storage and disposal, being prepared for emergencies. Provide training and supervision to the personnel involved and instruct them about local hazards and their control, safe work and emergency procedures. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, coats, safety glasses, dust masks etc., should be used.

Records are to be kept of hazardous substances, induction and training, including the names of employees, training dates, course outline and trainers name. To ensure that the risk control measure(s) implemented are acceptable i.e., practical and effective, it is necessary to consult with the people concerned with the hazardous substance i.e., users and supervisors.

EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTROLS: After control measures have been put in place to alleviate the risk associated with hazardous substances, they must be periodically reviewed to check their effectiveness. This may include a planned maintenance and testing program for engineering controls, or routine workplace inspection by the supervisor.

INVENTORY: An inventory must be kept of all hazardous substances used or produced at the workplace, including dusts and fumes. This inventory may be kept electronically or in printed form, and should be up to date.

LABELLING: Containers of hazardous substances used or handled in the workplace must be appropriately labeled. Used or Spent hazardous substances must also be appropriately labeled.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS): The MSDS gives details about (a) the properties of the substance, its toxicity and reactivity, and (b) precautions for safe use - segregation from incompatible materials, procedures for handling, transporting, spill control and first aid, suitable storage and disposal arrangements, and any facilities or personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used. These should be accessible.

MONITORING: Monitoring of the work environment is required either during the assessment of risk from working with hazardous substances, or to check the effectiveness of risk control measures implemented, particularly where serious health effects may result from failure of the controls. Health surveillance via biological monitoring is required for workers at high risk of health effects from exposure to hazardous substances and where there are valid techniques available to detect early signs of the disease or condition.

CONSULTATION: Effective and open consultation between the people involved in using hazardous substances and their supervisors is required to ensure that the risks and their controls are clearly understood. During the assessment of a work process involving hazardous substances, the workers involved with the process need to be consulted to give a "hands on" perspective on the likelihood of exposure (from their experience).

TRAINING: Each person working with hazardous substances should be trained to recognize hazardous substances. They should be familiarized with the risk control measures. A record of the hazardous substances training conducted is to be kept. This record should include the details of those who attended, the training date(s), and the name of course presenter(s) and an outline of the course content.

SUPERVISION: Each supervisor has a responsibility for managing the risks from hazardous substances in each area under their control and all people working under their direction. This includes putting in place effective mechanisms for consultation with and training of the personnel involved. The level of supervision given varies according to the experience and skill level of the people involved. Those people with little or no experience/skills in using hazardous substances in a work process should be given close, direct supervision. Conversely, for

those people with great experience and understanding of the work processes and hazardous substances risk management, supervision may be more distant and general.

REGISTER: A register of the hazardous substances is required and should have1. the inventory of hazardous substances and dangerous goods;2. the MSDS for hazardous substances and dangerous goods stored/used;3. risk assessments and associated work procedures for the tasks involving those substances; 4. Relevant training records for personnel involved.

HEALTH SURVEILLANCE

Maintain records 1. Occupational and medical history2. Demographic data3. Records of personal exposure