Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Legislation gave us the incentive to carry out an in-depth analysis of our operation.

From the results of our analysis we took the decision to completely rationalise our products and procedures, to try to eliminate any product that may have the potential to cause harm to the operative, other people, damage to the environment or the building.

Initially we selected one main supplier after carrying out extensive tests with the workforce.

Our next aim was to rationalise the number of products in use.

Retrained the staff to ensure the products we selected are used correctly.

Implemented a dilution control system.

Produced a dilution chart for the products and incorporated this into the staff handbook and site specific manual.

Supplied new PPE from product risk assessments.

Incorporated the product risk assessments and manufacturers safety data sheets for each individual product into a site specific manual.

Product Risk Assessments

Our starting point was to ensure that all of our staff who used chemicals had been covered by our assessments. Using this criteria we took the worst-case scenario, the person or persons that are in contact with each chemical for the longest period of time per day, week and year.

From this study we produced our Product Risk Assessments for each chemical and these are kept with the Manufacturers Safety Data sheets in the site manual.

Staff are informed at induction training of the location of the assessments on site and that they can have access to these documents at any time.

Our Risk Assessments are reviewed annually or when the product or procedure changes. The review is carried out by our Health & Safety Manager in conjunction with the Area Managers, Supervisors and an elected member of the cleaning staff.

Dust and fumes are assessed and incorporated into the individual task assessments that covers areas where dust or fumes may be present.

In some situations the products needed to achieve the desired results do have the potential to cause harm. To reduce the risk Lewis & Graves has trained a select number of people that would be supervised at all times and be supplied with correct PPE. As a caring company we would be continually looking to change this situation by sourcing alternative products, but in the meantime we monitor usage very closely.