In this episode of The Interesting Health & Safety Podcast, Colin explains the processes and steps you should take to assess the chemicals and substances used by employees in the work place following the COSHH legal guidelines. Just because a substance can affect people’s health, this does not mean they cannot but used. We must simply control them to minimise health risks to workers, in turn minimising the high costs of prosecutions, civil action & loss of earnings derived from ill health.  

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Hazardous substances must first be deemed necessary and that there are no safer alternatives. It is vital that the employees are protected from the effects of these substances.  

• Begin by having a look around the business to identify the substances used in the business and create a list to determine what is being used. Colin shares how you can quickly attain the required safety data sheets required by COSHH law.  
• How can these substances harm me? What happens if I ingest it? What happens if I get it on my skin? What happens if the substance is spilt or catches fire? This is all key information required to control substances and ensure workers have the correct PPE and training to handle and the substances safely and effectively.   
• You need to check to ensure the control measures in place are effective. Colin recommends carrying out a health surveillance on employees is the best way to identify if any employees have any ongoing health issues which could be affected by the hazardous substances.   
• Consider putting an emergency procedure in place in case of a severe spillage or the worst case scenario was to occur. Your health and safety professional could help create a simple and straight forward plan to protect the employee’s health. 

Best Moments 

‘You need to go to your supplier and ask for the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)’ 

‘Check to see if people have dermatitis, check to see if people’s lung function has been reduced’  

‘If you’ve got a good understanding of the significant substances in the workplace, good control measures then you’re going to be a good place’ 

‘Identify the substances, have a good look around, get rid of what you don’t need’ 

‘Have a good process for dealing with spillages, for dealing with emergencies if these substances do get released’  
 

Host Bio: 

‘Making health and safety as important as everything else we do.’  

This is the belief that Colin is passionate about and through his consultancy Influential Management Group (IMG) is able to spread into industry.  

Colin works at a strategic level with company owners and board members. He helps business leaders establish and achieve their health and safety ambitions. 

He has developed a number of leading competency improvement programmes that are delivered across industry and his strengths are his ability to take a practical approach to problem solving and being able to liaise at all levels within an organisation. 

Colin also runs a company that vets contractors online and a network that develops and support H&S consultancies to become better businesses. 

Colin chairs the Construction Dust Partnership, -an industry collaboration directly involving many organisations, including the Health and Safety Executive. 

He is a Post Graduate Tutor at Strathclyde University and a highly sought after health and safety speaker and trainer.  

He has a Post Graduate Certificate in Safety and Risk management, an engineering degree and is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).