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Occupational Hazards – Hazardous Substances At Work

Substances that are hazardous or dangerous to health are used in many workplaces.  These can range from flammable liquids, pressurised substances, chemicals that may cause low or severe irritation, to corrosive acids and alkalis, as well as other products that may cause a hazardous situation to occur through exposure or chemical reaction.  When using these products in the workplace measures must be taken to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) to ensure the safety of staff and the public (other regulations such as the CLP Regulations and REACH may also need to be adhered to).

The proper storage and labelling of these substances is an important part of adhering to the guidelines set out by COSHH and DSEAR as it helps to mitigate their potential risks through security, safety and awareness.  Hazardous storage vaults, cupboards, cabinets and bins can help you to comply with COSHH and DSEAR by providing safe and secure repositories for substances that pose a danger to health when they are not in use.  The storage system you require will depend on the substance stored (whether it is corrosive or flammable etc.) and the volume you are storing.  You may also want to consider factors such as temperature, ventilation, light concentration as well as the transport of the substance stored.

A suitable risk assessment (which is carried out to COSHH and DSEAR guidelines) will help you to avoid and plan for potentially dangerous accidents or events when dealing with substances hazardous to health.  Key to carrying this out is correctly labelling and maintaining a record of hazardous substances or chemicals.  This will help you to maintain safe levels and segregate any dangerously reactionary substances, as well as provide any additional protective measures required for dangerous or hazardous substances.  If in doubt, contact the supplier or refer to the data sheet supplied with the product (if available), making sure you adhere to the manufacturer’s guidance on proper storage, labelling and handling.