Workplace Safety
Asbestos Survey »
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health - COSHH »
Noise Test »
Portable Appliance Testing - PAT »
Accident Reporting - RIDDOR »
Stress Management »
Workplace Environment Tests »
Asbestos Survey
Asbestos, which is the collective name for a group of fibrous materials, does no harm provided it is in good condition and remains undisturbed. However, when it is disturbed or damaged it can release fibres into the air, which when inhaled can become a danger to human health.
Our Asbestos Audit conforms to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAW) which requires employers to:
- Carry out a risk assessment to identify the location and type of asbestos
- Keep an up-to-date record of the location of any asbestos material
- Assume that all materials contain asbestos unless there is evident that they do not
- Monitor the condition of asbestos materials to ensure that they are not deteriorating
- Prepare and implement a written management plan to control these risks and ensure that information about the location and condition of any asbestos is provided to any person who is liable to disturb it
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health - COSHH
Using chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can pose a danger to peoples’ health. Employers are required to protect employees from risks associated with hazardous substances at work.
There are 3 key areas of a COSHH policy.
1) Assessment and hazard identification. A COSHH assessment must be completed independently for all premises where hazardous toxic or corrosive substances are used or stored. This should cover
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Storage
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Decanting and distribution
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Usage
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Maintenance of facilities
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Loss of containment
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Disposal
2) Control. Are control measures such as enclosure, extraction, personal protective equipment etc in place?
3) Monitoring. Are control measures used, maintained and recorded? Also are the control measures effective?
Noise Test
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 aims to protect workers' hearing from excessive work place noise, which could cause hearing loss and/or tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears). These Regulations now apply to the music and entertainment sectors as they came into force on 6 April 2008.
Noise levels of 85 dB(A) pose a hazard to hearing loss and there is also a residual risk with constant exposure to noise levels of 82 dB(A).
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Employers will need to:
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Ensure appropriate health surveillance where a risk has been indicated.
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Eliminate the risk at source or reduce it to a minimum.
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Provide hearing protection at a noise level of 80 dB(A) instead of 85 dB(A). Also hearing protection must be worn at 85 dB(A) as opposed to 90 dB(A).
We carry out tests in line with Noise at Work Regulations 2005 to detect noise levels which pose a hazard to hearing loss.
Portable Appliance Testing - PAT
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires employers to put in place a program of inspection and electrical safety testing of portable appliances. A PAT must be carried out on every electrical item on your business premises that is connected to the electricity supply by a plug.
The testing consists of a visual inspection to check for damage and poor electrical standards such as plug or cable damage and a series of instrument tests to check for other electrical faults such as earth continuity, insulation integrity and earth leakage.
Portable electrical appliances should be tested regularly and test records kept somewhere accessible.
Accident Reporting Procedures - RIDDOR
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) requires the reporting of work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences. It applies to all work activities, but not necessarily to all incidents.
Accident reporting and the use of an accident book is a mandatory requirement. A reportable accident will include:
- Deaths
- Major injuries
- Accidents resulting in 3 days off work
- Diseases
- Dangerous occurrences
Employees must be informed of the procedures and the identity of the person responsible for investigating/reporting accidents and the location of the accident record book. The completed pages of the accident record book must be removed and filed separately.
Stress Management In The Work Place
MSS Health and Safety can assist you to adopt a positive approach to deal with work related stress:
Stress Policy
- Demonstrates that management takes stress seriously.
- Reflects management concern about the health and safety of its employees.
Stress Assessment
- Identifies and assesses the risks of work-related stress within the organisation.
- Ascertains the extent and degree of stress related problems.
Stress Management Training
- Makes employees aware of stress and the perceived pressures they face on a regular basis.
- Gets management and employees to focus on stress and understand how its cause and effect can create a positive approach to dealing with that stress and instigate action to reduce it.
The onus is on the employer to adopt measures to prevent and control work related stress. The law actually requires organisations to take positive action. Call us now on 0845 612 3222 for information on our comprehensive stress management package.
Workplace Environment Tests
Air QualityAir quality monitoring and products to improve air quality.
The Management of Health, Safety And Welfare Regulations 1992 states that that every enclosed workspace should be ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air. Poor air quality can affect offices as well as manufacturing processes and production areas.
Controlled dust monitoring service.
Dust can be a major irritant to people. Any air pollutant needs to be identified and either removed at source or controlled.
We have organised an online risk assessment process with an associate company to evaluate whether you have a problem with EMFs. For information on an evaluation process or if there are any further issues please email us or call us on 08456 123222.
EMFs emanate from electrical and electronic equipment including overhead power lines, domestic appliances and mobile phone base stations and TV/radio transmitters.
The EU Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Radiation) Directive 2004 is intended to protect workers from exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the workplace. The Directive becomes law in April 2012. Employers need to perform a risk assessment using "competent services or persons" in order to show compliance.
To view the full EMF Directive, click here.
Thorough analysis of your water system to assist in protecting against outbreaks of legionnaires' disease.
Health and safety law states that employers must identify and assess potential sources of risk from legionella that may affect staff or members of the public and take suitable precautions.
