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Exposure News
Welding Fumes - The Complete Guide
05-03-2021
With up to 80,000 known Welders in the UK, including those that use welding techniques as part of their positions, a big proportion of the population come face to face with potential harmful fumes and gases every single day. The fume given off by welding processes is a varying mixture of airborne gases and very fine metal particles.
Top Five Occupational Exposure Risks in Construction
01-03-2021
You may think that Construction as an industry is generally dangerous, and you’d be right, especially if those involved in projects are not suitably trained, don’t have the right personal protective equipment, and are not fully aware of relevant exposure risks.
Benefits and Challenges of Rapid Antigen Tests
09-02-2021
The sensitivity and specificity of rapid antigen tests have been presented by manufacturers in a way that inflates these performance characteristics. Figures in the 95%+ region are commonly stated.
With increasing pressure on the UK government to take action the real-world use of these antigen tests has extended beyond there original intended purpose of post-symptom diagnosis to encompass routine surveillance screening.
Furthermore the performance of rapid antigen tests has not been fully evaluated for detection of asymptomatic infections or during the incubation phase.
The dangers of disregarding or misunderstanding the imperfections in test sensitivity are evidenced by the outbreak that unfolded in the White House, which relied exclusively on rapid antigen screening as a sufficient measure to prevent transmission.
Compressed Air Quality for Breathing Apparatus
16-09-2020
Compressed air for breathing apparatus such as air fed masks or air tanks normally originates from a compressor system. These systems themselves can generate and concentrate a wide range of contaminants that can have an impact on the air quality being supplied to the users.
As the users life and health depends on the air supplied by the compressor, you should ensure that the air supplied meets the quality requirements shown below and outlined within BS EN 12021
HVAC COVID-19 Air Transmission
27-07-2020
Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) initially held that the coronavirus could not be spread through aerosols, it recently reversed its stance. The WHO guidelines now state that airborne transmission of the coronavirus may be possible indoors, especially for people who spend extended periods in crowded, poorly ventilated rooms.
This may also be a good time to think about improving air quality in buildings by significantly changing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems
or by making physical changes to manage indoor airflows.
COVID-19 Indoor Air Quality
19-05-2020
Given the World Health Organisation has now confirmed that COVID-19 survives under certain indoor air conditions for up to 3 hours and its head scientist of disease has urged hospitals to better manage their air quality for staff when treating patients, there is a serious need for the public to understand the impact that air quality and in particular humidification levels can have on the spread of a virus.
Occupational Health Surveillance Services - A Guide to Purchasing
03-04-2020
Health surveillance of employees likely to be exposed to health hazards in the workplace is an ongoing requirement of regulation 11 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002.
This artical will assist you in making an informed decision when appointing and selecting your Occupational Health (OH) Provider.
HSE Publishes Important Changes to Workplace Exposure Limits for Known Carcinogens
31-01-2020
The Health and Safety Executive has issued a new version of the EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits (4th edition) in January 2020. This document details the legal exposure limits of over 500 common substances that are hazardous to health under the COSHH regulations.
They have reduced the workplace exposure limits (WEL’s) of 11 existing carcinogens and classified 2 new substances as carcinogens.
Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions - The Complete Guide
15-01-2020
Diesel engine exhaust emissions (commonly known as ‘diesel fumes’) are a mixture of gases, vapours, liquid aerosols and substances made up of particles. The health effects to regular exposure can range from irritation of the airways to chronic respiratory problems.
Hand Arm Vibration, Control & Risk Assessment
31-07-2019
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 were introduced to protect workers from vibration at work and were recently updated in July 2019. Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) caused by exposure to vibration at work is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent.
The risks of flour dust exposure
11-12-2018
Flour dust is a daily occurrence in facilities including plant bakeries, craft bakeries, semi-automated craft bakeries, in-store bakeries, pizza and pastry manufacturing facilities and biscuit manufacturing which means that approximately 95,000 people working in the UK baking industry encounter it daily.
What is Tinnitus and how is it caused?
17-09-2018
When working in and around the construction, manufacturing, engineering and other noisy industries, or for businesses based in a factory or warehouse it is very common for workers to experience Tinnitus and assume it is a direct result of exposure to excessive noise.
Tinnitus is the term given to the sensation of hearing a sound in the absence of any external noise.
Five steps to preventing NOISE exposure in the workplace
05-06-2018
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) more than 1million employees in the UK are exposed to levels of noise that is putting their hearing at risk. With the increasing claims culture in the UK, it is essential than organisations comply with the control of noise regulations. Here are five steps that businesses can take to ASSESS and CONTROL excessive noise levels.
The importance of selecting the right ear protection
15-05-2018
Hearing protection is vitally important to those working in noisy environments daily.
BUT, if the protection provided by the hearing protection is too high, communication can become difficult and individuals can end up working in isolation or have difficulty hearing warning alarms or approaching vehicles.
Occupational Asthma
14-11-2017
As part of our workplace exposure testing and assessment service for clients, we often come across a frequent misunderstanding of Occupational Asthma and what causes it in the workplace.
If your business involves manufacturing, fabrication, welding or is based in a factory or warehouse, its very important you understand what Occupational Asthma is and how it is caused. It is now officially the most common work-related lung disease in the UK.
