Chemical Safety Consultancy
Chemical Site Safety Audit
A chemical safety review examines chemicals that are onsite and their associated hazards. The review can be completed as an initial exercise to start managing chemical safety onsite or at a more detailed level and typically includes:
- Chemical storage
- Chemical segregation
- How chemicals are transported onsite
- How chemicals are used
- Personal protective equipment
- Respiratory Protective Equipment
- First aid arrangements
- Chemical spill management
The review will also capture the control measures that are in place to bring onsite risks to an acceptable level. A report can be issued listing hazards identified and recommended corrective actions.
Chemical Agent Risk Assessments
The most important element for a chemical risk assessment is that a competent person undertakes the writing of chemical risk assessments with the involvement of all stake holders.
Chemical Agent Risk Assessments must be completed on all chemicals within the workplace. The chemical risk assessment must be based on:
- The full list of chemicals onsite,
- The hazards associated with the chemicals and
- Tasks for which they are being used.
- Complete chemical inventory:
The full list of chemicals should include what you are bringing onsite, what is being developed as part of the process and waste generated.
- Identify chemical hazards:
The most important sources of information regarding chemical hazards will be the chemical labels and safety data sheet. Information can also be obtained from other sources such as the Health & Safety Authority who has a library of support information on chemical safety available on their website and organisations such as IOSH, BOHS and OHSI.
- Assess exposure:
Once the chemical hazards have been identified the potential exposure must be assessed:
- How is the chemical used (e.g. sprayed, poured) and how often is the chemical used?
- How will the user be exposed? (e.g. breathing it in, contact with skin?)
- How much is used /generated ?
- How long is each user exposed to the chemical? (e.g. full shift or a few minutes?)
- Who uses the chemical? (e.g. how many people?)
- Are any vulnerable groups potentially exposed? For example, identify if reprotoxins are in use.
- Is the chemical mixed with other chemicals or exposed to high temperatures or pressure?
- Can non-users be exposed? (e.g. people working nearby, visitors, cleaning or maintenance staff?)
- Control your chemical risks:
- A competent person must be involved in the proves of recommending or reviewing controls in relation to chemical hazards.
- Chemical hazard controls should involve:
- Elimination of the task or chemical where possible
- Substitution with a non or less hazardous chemical
- Engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation, on tool extraction, isolation / containment hoods or booths
- Personal protective equipment (PPE), e.g. eye protection, gloves, masks and respiratory masks (RPE). As these are the last line of defence, PPE is used to control any residual risk after taking all the other measures. PPE only protects the user. Information on the correct PPE and RPE is provided in section 8 of the SDS,
- Emergency procedures in case of an accident, incident or spillage, e.g. eyewashes, showers, spill kits
- Record and review:
Risk assessments must be written down and reviewed on at least an annual basis, they must also be reviewed if circumstances change regarding the task, chemical hazards or any other change that may affect peoples Health & Safety.
