IOSH Managing Safely

Gloves... and how to take them off

Wood Dust Exposure

IOSH LEV Testing Course

Local Exhaust Ventilation Testing Course

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Testing Training Course

COSHH Awareness Training

Environmental Management Systems

Woodworking Inspections

HSE Inspection of woodworking premises 2013/14

 

From April 2013 HSE inspectors are carrying out visits to woodworking premises, mainly to check that:

• woodworking machinery is being used correctly;
• wood dust is being controlled;
• operators and supervisors have received adequate training in the safe use of woodworking machinery and the correct use of local exhaust ventilation (LEV);
• the LEV is suitable for the job and is being used and maintained correctly.

Contact Occhnet for LEV training and LEV testing www.occhnet.co.uk

Isocyanates - Are you doing enough?

Work With Isocyanates? Are You Testing Correctly?

 

Biological monitoring for Isocyanates has become the occupational standard for those working with isocyanate-based chemicals for example throughout the motor-vehicle repair industry and surface coatings industries.

However the HSE’s recent drive on Isocyanate testing has exposed many companies not carrying out biological monitoring required by them under the COSHH regulations.

Companies found to be falling short may be issued with an Improvement Notice from the HSE which would lead to charges under the HSE Fee for Intervention scheme – if you’re unsure about your requirements towards biological monitoring please contact us for advice, we are here to help.

www.occhnet.co.uk

Formaldehyde

Biocidal Products Directive (BPD) Non Inclusion Decision for Formaldehyde (product type 20)

The EU Commission has published a new Biocidal Products Directive (BPD) Non Inclusion Decision, dated 25 April 2013, in the Official Journal of the European Union, for formaldehyde (product type 20). Biocidal products containing formaldehyde (product type 20) shall no longer be placed on the market with effect from 1 July 2015.

The Decision was taken because the EU Commission considered the reference products containing formaldehyde, submitted as part of the active substance dossier for evaluation, to be in the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition and hence excluded from the scope of the BPD. Applications for product authorisation should be made under 1831/2003.

Companies supplying preservatives for food or feedstock as biocidal products containing formaldehyde must manage the supply of the affected biocidal product to ensure there will be none remaining in the EU supply chain by the Non Inclusion date (1 July 2015).

Environmental Management Systems

LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION ASSESSMENT TRAINING

1 Day ASSESSOR TRAINING COURSE

23^rd October 2012

Ramada Hotel, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0DQ

 

Course Content

This assessor training will be based on a theory workshop designed to enable the participants to carry out thorough testing and examination of LEV systems as is required COSHH. The delegates will consider design, performance, control, suitability and record keeping.

 

Theory Session

The following subject areas will be covered:

¨      Legislation – Covering the duties and responsibilities of both employer and employee.

¨      Hazardous Substances – What substances are hazardous? - Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations

¨      Basic Principles of Control

¨      Assessment Methods

¨      Information gathering - Monitoring Techniques (Face Velocity, Static Pressure, Duct Velocities, Capture Velocity etc)

¨      Evaluation of Risk – (consequences of system failure)

¨      Actions

¨      Records - Format and Presentation

¨      Review - Appropriate time scale

¨      Informing Others – Who needs to know?

¨      Knowing Your Limitations

Course Literature

Delegates will receive full course notes, which will include details of worked examples, calculations.

Optional Knowledge Check

The delegates who choose to do so will undertake a knowledge check test to demonstrate their understanding and acquired skills. This knowledge check test would be posted back to Occhnet for marking. On attaining a pass mark the delegate will be presented with a course certificate.

Skills

After attendance of this assessor course delegates will obtain the skills to undertake thorough examination and testing of LEV systems within the workplace. They will be able to carefully review information gathered to undertake:

¨      capture velocity measurements at each extraction point

¨      air flow measurements in each duct

¨      static pressure measurements at key positions

¨      identification of fan speed and rotation

                       

This 1 day course includes lunch, coffee and refreshments and will run from 9:30 – 15:30.

Delegate Rate -     £345 + VAT/ Single Booking

                                    £325 + VAT/ delegate for 3 or more bookings

Payment required on booking.

To book simply email info@occhnet.co.uk, phone or fax with your company details and number of delegates.

                             

Booking Terms – Credit Card Payment or Company order number must accompany delegate bookings in order for them to be processed. Cheques made payable to Occhnet Ltd.

Cancellation refunds will be awarded on the following scale: up to 21 days full refund, up to 14 days 50% refund, less than 14 days no refund.

Training Opportunities

Asbestos Awareness Courses - In-house, delegate Rate £95 + VAT minimum spend £285 + VAT

½ Day Introduction To Environmental Management Systems, 24th September 2012, Swansea £125 + VAT

½ Day RISK ASSESSOR TRAINING

9th October 2012, Bristol £155 + VAT

 Local Exhaust Ventilation Awareness

10th October 2012, West Midlands

£125 + VAT

COSHH Assessor Course

6th November2012, Worcestershire

£375 + VAT

Local Exhaust Ventilation Assessor Training

Local Exhaust Ventilation Thorough Inspection and Test

24th July 2012

Holiday Inn Express, Swansea,

M4 Junction 43

Course Content

This assessor training will be based on a theory workshop designed to enable the participants to carry out thorough testing and examination of LEV systems as is required COSHH.

Legislation – Covering the duties and responsibilities of both employer and employee.

Hazardous Substances – What substances do we need to control

Basic Principles of Control

Assessment Methods

Information gathering - Testing Techniques (Face Velocity, Static Pressure, Duct Velocities, Capture Velocity etc)

Evaluation of Risk – (consequences of system failure)

Actions

Records - Format and Presentation

Review - Appropriate time scale

Informing Others – Training requirements

Optional Knowledge Check

The delegates who choose to do so will undertake a knowledge check test to demonstrate their understanding and acquired skills. This knowledge check test would be posted back to Occhnet for marking. On attaining a pass mark the delegate will be presented with a course certificate.

 Course Fees

This 1 day course includes refreshments and will run from 9:30 – 15:00.

Delegate Rate -       £345 + VAT/ Single Booking

            £325 + VAT/ delegate for 3 or more bookings

Booking Terms – Payment must accompany delegate bookings in order for them to be processed. Cheques made payable to Occhnet Ltd.

Cancellation refunds will be awarded on the following scale; up to 21 days full refund, up to 14 days 50% refund, less than 14 days no refund.

Email Booking to info@occhnet.co.uk

Diesel Engine Exhaust Fumes and Lung Cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), (June12, 2012) classified diesel engine exhaust as that exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer. The classification is: 

Carcinogenic to Humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence that exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer.

Potential for exposure to diesel particulate and toxic fumes exists whenever workers are in close proximity to operating diesel equipment. Where diesel vehicles and equipment are used in confined areas (e.g. within a building) there is a significant risk of exposure.

Within the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations (COSHH) Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions are classed as a substance hazardous to health and as such it required that employers prevent or reduce workers exposure as much as is reasonably practicable.

Is your workforce significantly exposed? Do you know the level of exposure?

Occhnet can undertake occupational exposure monitoring in accordance with recognised sampling methodology in order for employers to fulfill the requirements of the UK Regulations.

Occupational exposure monitoring is undertaken to determine the level of exposure within the workplace to substances hazardous to health.

Exposure monitoring enables the employer to determine the level of risk associated with the work process and to ensure that control measures are working correctly.

We will provide guidance on appropriate monitoring requirements to ensure that employers can demonstrate compliance with the COSHH regulations.

We are professionally qualified to produce a detailed survey report giving the results of sampling, the adequacy of control measures and requirements for further controls as appropriate.

If you have any questions or would like a quotation please contact Occhnet on info@occhnet.co.uk or through the website http://www.occhnet.co.uk/

Diamond Training Deals

To Celebrate the Jubilee Occhnet are offering a 5% reduction to all course booked before 30th June 2012

 

• Asbestos Awareness Courses - In-house,  delegate Rate £95 + VAT minimum spend £285 + VAT

• ½ Day Introduction To Environmental Management Systems, 28th June 2012, Swansea £125 + VAT
• ½ Day RISK ASSESSOR TRAINING 21st August 2012, London £175 + VAT
•  Local Exhaust Ventilation Awareness 7th August 2012, West Midlands £125 + VAT

COSHH Assessor Course 14th August 2012, Worcestershire £375 + VAT

Contact Occhnet - info@occhnet.co.uk for bookings

Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 - Regulation Change

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 [1] came into force on 6 April 2012, updating previous asbestos regulations to take account of the European Commission's view that the UK had not fully implemented the EU Directive on exposure to asbestos (Directive 2009/148/EC).

From 6 April 2012, some non-licensed work needs to be notified to the relevant enforcing authority.

From 6 April 2012, brief written records should be kept of non-licensed work, which has to be notified e.g. copy of the notification with a list of workers on the job, plus the level of likely exposure of those workers to asbestos. This does not require air monitoring on every job, if an estimate of degree of exposure can be made based on experience of similar past tasks or published guidance.

By April 2015, all workers/self employed doing notifiable non-licensed work with asbestos must be under health surveillance by a Doctor. Workers who are already under health surveillance for licensed work need not have another medical examination for non-licensed work. BUT medicals for notifiable non-licensed work are not acceptable for those doing licensed work.

Some modernisation of language and changes to reflect other legislation, e.g. the prohibition section has been removed, as the prohibition of supply and use of asbestos is now covered by REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulations 2006).

Medical Surveillance

By 30 April 2015, all workers carrying out NNLW will need to have had a medical examination. Examinations will then need to be repeated at least every 3 years, as long as the worker continues to do NNLW. After April 2015, workers carrying out NNLW for the first time will have to have an examination before they can start such work:

• Medical examinations must include an examination of the chest and a lung function test;
• They need to be carried out by a licensed medical practitioner, e.g. a GP;
• Those workers already under surveillance via a licensed contractor and in possession of a valid certificate do not need to have the NNLW medical;
• Medical examinations should be carried out in work time at the employers' expense;
• The fee should be agreed with the doctor before the examination is carried out- HSE can accept no responsibility for remuneration matters;
• The doctor must issue a certificate to confirm the examination has taken place and on what date. The employer needs to keep this certificate for 4 years.

For further information or Asbestos Awareness Courses contact Occhnet http://www.occhnet.co.uk/

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) Change – 6 April 2012

From 6 April 2012, subject to Parliamentary approval, RIDDOR’s over three day injury reporting requirement will change. From then the trigger point will increase from over three days’ to over seven days’ incapacitation (not counting the day on which the accident happened).

Incapacitation means that the worker is absent or is unable to do work that they would reasonably be expected to do as part of their normal work.

However, under EU law, employers and others with responsibilities under RIDDOR must still keep a record of all over three day injuries – if the employer keeps an accident book, then this record will be enough.

The deadline by which the over seven day injury must be reported will increase to 15 days from the day of the accident.

More information please contact http://www.occhnet.co.uk/

Inspection Initiative - Are you Prepared?

REFURBISHMENT INSPECTION INITIATIVE

 

HSE Construction inspectors will be carrying out an intensive inspection initiative during February and March 2012.  These inspections will focus on the refurbishment/building site risks that make construction one of Britain’s most dangerous industries – working at height safely, good order on site, and the risks associated with the removal of asbestos.

• Falls from height remains one of the most common causes of fatalities and major injuries in the construction industry, with more than five incidents every day.
• 54% of the workers who have died in construction over the last few years were doing refurbishment, repair and maintenance jobs.

HSE will not hesitate to take action if we find poor practice that is putting the lives of workers and the public at risk.

Many incidents are completely avoidable by taking simple commonsense precautions. Find out what you can do to improve health and safety on your site before an inspector calls.

http://www.occhnet.co.uk/