Coshh is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. You can prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous substances by:
Finding out what the health hazards are;
Deciding how to prevent harm to health;
Providing control measures to reduce harm to health;
Making sure they are used;
Keeping all control measures in good working order;
Providing information, instruction and training for employees and other;
Providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases;
Planning for emergencies.
If the substance is harmful, such as the developer/fixer in the dark room, you could be exposed by:
■ breathing in gases, fumes?
■ contact with the skin?
■ swallowing?
■ contact with the eyes?
Exposure by breathing in
Once breathed in, some substances can attack the nose, throat or lungs while
others get into the body through the lungs and harm other parts of the body, eg
the liver.
Exposure by skin contact
Some substances damage skin, while others pass through it and damage other
parts of the body. Skin gets contaminated:
■ by direct contact with the substance, eg if you touch it or dip your hands in it;
■ by splashing;
■ by substances landing on the skin, eg airborne dust;
■ by contact with contaminated surfaces – this includes contact with
contamination inside protective gloves.
Exposure by swallowing
People transfer chemicals from their hands to their mouths by eating, smoking etc
without washing first.
Exposure to the eyes
Some vapours, gases and dusts are irritating to eyes. Caustic fluid splashes can
damage eyesight permanently.
Health and Safety at Work: ACT 1974
An act to make further provision for securing health, safety and welfare of persons at work, for protecting others against
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