policy by Robert Ryce

10.

Safe Handling and Use of Substances

10.1 The Director responsible for health and safety, Site Managers and Supervisors shall be responsible for identifying all substances, prior to purchase or being employed in the workplace, that require an assessment under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). 10.2 Where any substance has been identified as requiring an assessment under the COSHH Regulations, a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) shall be obtained from the manufacturer/supplier of the substances by the company and a COSHH assessment carried out to assess the risks arising from those substances identified. 10.3 Site Managers, Supervisors or the appointed health and Safety Advisor shall be responsible for carrying out COSHH assessments in respect of substances identified in relation to their use and the exposure of employees or other persons to the substance. 10.4 Where any substance identified as requiring an assessment under the COSHH Regulations is being supplied and used by a sub-contractor, the sub-contractor shall be required to supply the company with a suitable and sufficient COSHH assessment prior to employing the substance on site. 10.5 Site Managers and Supervisors shall be responsible for ensuring that all relevant employees are informed of the contents of COSHH Assessments undertaken and any implications in respect of employee’s health and welfare through the use of those substances. 10.6 The action(s) required to be implemented to remove or control any risks identified by the COSHH assessment for the safe use of a substance shall be the responsibility of the employee named on the COSHH Assessment by the Site Manager, Supervisor or Director responsible for health and safety. 10.7 Where any employee is exposed to certain hazardous substances (e.g. asbestos) the company shall arrange for health surveillance to be undertaken and for the required records in respect of the health surveillance to be maintained for the prescribed period (e.g. 40 years). 10.8 COSHH Assessments shall be reviewed at least annually or when it is apparent that the assessment is no longer valid, or where the substance is to be used in an area where additional safety precautions may be required (e.g. confined spaces) or the substance may come into contact with other substances creating additional hazards, whichever is the sooner. 10.9 Where reasonably practicable hazardous substances shall be replaced by non-hazardous or less hazardous substances. 10.10 The company shall comply with all required environmental control measures when working on site and shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that site waste, waste COSHH substances and waste containers are disposed of correctly by licensed waste contractors and not permitted to damage the environment. 10A Asbestos All work involving asbestos in any form will be carried out in accordance with The Control of Asbestos regulations 2006 and Approved Code of Practice. Work involving the removal of asbestos materials covered by The Control of Asbestos regulations 2006 will be carried out by licensed contractors only in accordance with the current Approved Code of Practice for Work with Asbestos Insulation and Asbestos coatings and Asbestos Insulating Board.

Various other guidance notes on working with asbestos products are contained in the HSE Guidance Notes and trade guidance literature.

KPM Construction Ltd H&S Policy – REVIEWED February 2009

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