As an employer, you are responsible for taking effective measures to control exposure to hazardous substances and protect health. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) employers are required to protect both employees and others who may be exposed to hazardous substances by ensuring that monitoring procedures are in place to ensure their safety. Solvents and in particular volatile organic compounds (VOC's) are a particular hazard as they become readily airborne in the form of vapours at room temperature.
Typical products containing VOC's that give rise to ill health include:
Our range of testing services and highly experienced technical team ensures we are able to measure exposure in relation to all workplace exposure limits (WEL's) as defined by the health and safety executive document EH40.
Actions and adviceThe starting point of a workplace exposure assessment in relation to COSHH is to review the data sheets for all substances used or worked upon.
Once the hazardous substance(s) have been identified an assessment of exposure levels should be conducted by implementing an exposure testing regime. These exposure levels should then be compared with the workplace exposure levels (WEL's) as defined by the Health & Safety Executive. Any actions should then be taken to either reduce or control exposure as part of an ongoing monitoring regime.
How can we help?Our consultants are here to help you and can develop and implement monitoring strategies to ensure maximum exposure limits are not exceeded with respect to hazardous substances used in the workplace or arising from your working activities. Our team we will advise on appropriate measures to be taken to reduce the risk of exposure to hazardous substances and ensure you comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations.
2023-11-30
Within the domain of occupational hygiene, employers face a critical challenge in controlling exposure to hazardous substances. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) constitute a class of chemicals that present a particular risk due to their ability to become airborne as vapours at room temperature. As an employer, it is imperative to comprehend the nature of VOCs, the industries or processes where exposure can occur, the associated health effects, and, most importantly, how to prevent or mitigate exposure effectively.
Contact Us
Please fill in the short form below for any enquiries.
Search
Please fill in the short form below for any enquiries.
Knowledge Centre
