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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face all the risks from the use of dangerous substances but are often not big enough to have “in-house” expertise. This page highlights key information for addressing the risks faced from the use of dangerous substances.
The European Agency for Safety and Health at work provides free material in all languages aimed at SMEs in particular. An introduction to dangerous substances in the workplace provides a useful starting point, and is available in 11 languages.
A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can judge whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. The aim is to make sure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill.
A risk assessment involves identifying the hazards present and then evaluating the extent of the risks involved, taking into account existing precautions. The results of a risk assessment should help users choose which good practice measures are most appropriate.
There are a number of models developed by Member States to assist SMEs to do a risk assessment. BIA, in Germany, has produced Das Spaltenmodell (The Column Model), an aid to risk identification and substitute assessment. This is available in PDF format in both German and English .
COSHH Essentials , from the Health and Safety Executive (UK), is an interactive website that takes you through a number of easy steps to control health risks from chemicals.
Other Member States also provide guidance on assessing the risks from dangerous substances. For example, the Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo (INSHT), Spain, provides guides on the Evaluación de las Condiciones de Trabajo en la PYME (evaluation of conditions of work in SMEs).
European Union law relating to dangerous substances lists the steps to be taken to prevent and control the risk to workers from dangerous substances. On this web feature there are many examples of actions that can be taken to reduce the risks to workers. For example, ISPESL, Italy has an Archivio Soluzioni (database of practical solutions).
Where possible, the use of dangerous substances should be eliminated. If this is not possible, then the dangerous substance should be replaced by one non-hazardous or less hazardous. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has produced a factsheet entitled Elimination and substitution of dangerous substances in 11 languages explaining what needs to be done; while on this site are a number of detailed case studies on how to substitute successfully.
Controlling the work can be achieved by designing the work processes and engineering controls to avoid or minimise the release of dangerous substances into the workplace, an by reducing the number of workers and the length of time that they are exposed to dangerous substances.
The engineering control measures required will depend upon the substances used and the process being carried out, but guidance is available. One example of help is from INRS in France entitled L'assainissement de l'air des locaux de travail.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is, by law, the last resort of control measures. It should be used only where exposure cannot be adequately controlled by other means. Where PPE is given to workers, they must be trained in its use. Many Member States provide guidance on the selection and use of personal protective equipment. For example, INHST’s Guía técnica para la utilización por los trabajadores en el trabajo de los equipos de protección individual from Spain, and the HSE’s guide Selecting protective gloves for work with chemicals .
Workers must know what about the risks they face, the preventive measures being taken, and any emergency action plans. This information should be provided in clear, non-technical language that will be easily understood. The European Agency has provided a factsheet in 11 languages to help entitled Communicating information about dangerous substances.
Workplaces change and things go wrong. In order to make sure that the workers are still protected, regular monitoring of safety and health standards is required. This includes the investigation of incidents, workers complaints, and health problems.
The extent of this monitoring will depend upon the size of the workplace, the type of work undertaken, and the substances used. Use of some substances (e.g. lead) requires the regular health surveillance of workers.
The Agency’s web feature contains much more information on the dangers from dangerous substances, and can be searched by industry sector (branch), topic, or by information provider. There is information on many of the common hazards facing small and medium enterprises in Europe, such as asbestos, solvents, and latex.
It is recommended that you seek clarification of specific national legislation that may apply relating to the use of dangerous substances in the workplace.
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