4.6 Hazardous chemicals

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to set out the general principles and arrangements by which the University complies with the legislation.

A further purpose is to provide guidance on how to fulfil the requirements of this policy.

Introduction

There are a variety of reasons why a chemical substance may be hazardous. They can be very reactive and can cause fires and explosions. Many chemicals can affect your health. They can enter your body by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption and can cause acute and chronic ill health. Chemicals can also affect the environment and other living species.

The risk from the chemical can be significantly affected by its physical form. They may be in the form of solids, liquids, gases, fumes, or vapours.

The most obvious hazardous chemicals are those purchased for use such as laboratory chemicals, cleaning supplies, paints, photographic agents, fuel oils, and natural gas. They may also be generated by non-chemical processes. For instance, hazardous chemical substances such as wood dusts or welding fumes can be generated by processes such as cutting, grinding, drilling, welding, or soldering.

Appropriate precautions need to be taken to minimise risks from hazardous chemicals to the health and safety of people, damage to property, and danger to the environment.

Standard

The standard required of the University is set out in current legislation, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and approved codes of practice issued by the Health & Safety Executive. Guidance on how to fulfil these standards is provided.

General principles

Hazardous chemicals shall be eliminated, or the risks arising from such exposure shall be minimised.

Risk control systems shall be applied to ensure that the risks arising from exposure to hazardous chemicals shall be assessed and appropriate and effective control measures defined and implemented in line with legislative requirements. This applies to the storage, use, transportation, and disposal of hazardous chemicals.

Health screening and surveillance shall be provided as deemed appropriate by risk assessment, to any member of staff or student exposed to chemicals hazardous to health as a result of their University activities.

The effectiveness of risk control systems and the precautions to control exposure to chemicals shall be monitored and reviewed and action taken to address shortcomings in these risk control systems and measures.

Containers used to hold hazardous chemicals shall be labelled so that staff, students, and others are clear about the hazards of their contents.

Responsibilities and arrangements

Corporate managers must ensure compliance with this policy.

The Health and Safety Department provides expert advice to departments on their systems and precautions for controlling hazardous chemicals.

The Health and Safety Department ensures that arrangements for processing special waste are in accordance with legislative requirements.

The Human Resources Department, via the Occupational Health function provides expert advice on health risks, precautions, and health monitoring.

Heads of department must check whether their department obtains, stores, generates, uses, or disposes of hazardous chemical substances. Where this is the case, they must have an appropriate and effective chemical risk control system.

Heads of department must satisfy themselves through the application of effective risk control systems that risks to health and safety arising from the storage, use, generation, or disposal of hazardous chemicals within their sphere of control are properly assessed and controlled.

Heads of department must identify members of their staff who have specific roles in risk control systems.

Staff who are responsible for conducting their own activities or for supervising the activities of others must ensure that assessments have been completed and control measures applied in line with local risk control systems for hazardous chemical substances before the activity commences.

Staff or students carrying out work involving hazardous chemicals must take reasonable care of themselves and others affected by them and must not commence any activity without an understanding of the associated risks and necessary precautions. They must apply precautions as required by their supervisor.

Notes:

Asbestos is not covered by this policy: see Asbestos policy.

Asbestos policy

Radioactive chemicals pose additional risks to health. If, in addition to their radioactive nature, they are also 'hazardous chemicals' then both this policy and the radiation policy apply. Each department that handles radioactive samples must operate to local rules authorised by the University's Radiation Protection Advisor: see Radiation policy.

Radiation policy

Corporate arrangements

The Occupational Health Adviser carries out health screening, surveillance, and biological monitoring of staff and, where appropriate, students. Staff or students concerned about adverse effects on their health arising from University activities should contact the Occupational Health Adviser.

Transportation of hazardous chemicals by road, rail, air or sea is strictly legislated and must only be organised in line with guidance provided by the Health and Safety Department

Arrangements for the disposal of special chemical waste is co-ordinated by the Laboratory Services Manager for the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences.

The Health and Safety Department monitors the effectiveness of the risk control systems in each department and advises heads of department of improvements necessary to comply with legislation.

The Health and Safety Department monitors legislation and guidance on hazardous chemicals and advises heads of department of necessary changes to current practices.

There is guidance for corporate managers and heads of department to help them to identify the level of risk in their area and to indicate the standard of the risk control systems that they need to have in place: see below for 'Guidance on local arrangements for hazardous chemicals'.

Guidance on local arrangements for hazardous chemicals

Heads of department can seek advice from the Health and Safety Department about the standard of competence for members of staff with key roles in their system and particularly with regard to risk assessment and legislative requirements.

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4.6 Hazardous chemicals