How to Work Safely With Hazardous
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Transcript of How to Work Safely With Hazardous
How to work safely with hazardous substancesFor small businesses
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 1 19/04/11 12:46 PM
Do I need to read this?
Does your work involve using any substances that:
• are explosive, corrosive or easily ignited?
• will cause you or your workers to become ill after either short or long-term exposure?
Do you want some influence over your ACC work levies?
If you’re unsure or you’ve answered ‘yes’ to either of these questions, you should read this booklet.
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 2 19/04/11 12:46 PM
1
What are the problems?
Many chemicals and other substances used or produced in the workplace can damage your health. A large number of people in a wide range of jobs may be exposed to them.
Hazardous substances include chemicals, poisons, explosives and flammable substances. Exposure can happen by breathing them in, through contact with the skin, by splashing, or by swallowing them from unwashed hands.
If exposure isn’t prevented, or properly controlled, it can cause serious illness, including cancer, asthma and dermatitis and sometimes even death.
When you’re working with hazardous substances – what you don’t know really can hurt you!
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 1 19/04/11 12:46 PM
2
Why should you do something about it?
• Fewer injuries mean lower cost to your business and this becomes more apparent with the introduction of experience rating. Under experience rating, eligible businesses and self-employed people, who have lower-than-average injury rates, with better-than-average return-to-work rates, may get a discount on their levies. Those with worse-than-average claims experience may get a loading on their levy.
Experience rating recognises and rewards those business owners with good claims experience. It also encourages businesses to prevent injuries in the workplace and when accidents do happen, help injured employees return to work as safely and quickly as possible.
For more detailed information about experience rating please go to www.acc.co.nz/er
• The most current research* estimates that 700 to 1,000 people die in New Zealand each year from diseases caused through the work they do. Most of these deaths are from cancer or respiratory illness and they have been caused by exposure to hazardous substances.
• Many more people live with these diseases for years and their lives are severely limited by them – they are unable to take part in normal family, sporting and recreational activities.
• You or your workers could suffer serious health problems or early death if you are not working safely with these hazardous substances.
* National Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee (NOHSAC). The Burden of Occupational Disease and Injury in New Zealand. November 2004.
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 2 19/04/11 12:46 PM
3
What should you do now?
You will need to:
1. List all the hazardous substances that are used in your work.
2. Check with Enviromental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) in case you need to be an Approved Handler to use the substance. Telephone Hazardous Substances Compliance 0800 376 234.
3. Find out if it’s possible to do the job with safer products.
4. Get an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) from your supplier for each product you need to use.
5. Use the MSDS to work out what safety precautions are needed:
– quantity allowed?
– storage needs?
– ventilation requirements?
– safe exposure levels?
– training and safety gear needed?
– emergency procedures?
6. Work out your plan for using the substance safely.
7. Train your workers and make sure they are following the safety plan.
8. Regularly check that exposure levels are safe.
9. Arrange for a doctor to monitor your own and your workers’ health.
10. Have a plan for dealing with accidents and emergencies. Think about:
– fire extinguishers and hoses
– emergency showers or eyewash facilities
– first aid training and equipment
– emergency communications (mobile, radio telephone)
– distance from emergency services
– the safety of customers and visitors.
11. Check the list at the back of this booklet for where to get further advice.
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 3 19/04/11 12:46 PM
4 Que
stio
nsYe
sN
oN
/AA
ctio
n re
quire
dD
ate
com
plet
ed
Chem
ical
s an
d po
ison
s
Do
you
use
any
chem
ical
s or p
oiso
ns in
yo
ur w
orkp
lace
?•
Com
plet
e a
list o
f all
haza
rdou
s sub
stan
ces u
sed
•G
et a
n M
ater
ial S
afet
y D
ata
Shee
t (M
SDS)
for e
ach
subs
tanc
e an
d fin
d ou
t wha
t ha
rmfu
l effe
cts i
t may
hav
e
•Fi
nd o
ut if
you
can
do th
e jo
b w
ithou
t usi
ng th
e ch
emic
als o
r poi
sons
Doe
s the
MSD
S sa
y th
at th
e su
bsta
nce
may
be
expl
osiv
e, fl
amm
able
or h
arm
ful t
o he
alth
?
•Fo
llow
the
MSD
S in
stru
ctio
ns fo
r sto
rage
and
labe
lling
•Fi
nd o
ut h
ow to
use
the
subs
tanc
e sa
fely
Do
your
wor
kers
use
or m
ix ch
emic
als o
r po
ison
s?•
Mak
e su
re a
ll w
orke
rs a
re tr
aine
d in
how
to u
se th
e su
bsta
nces
safe
ly
•Pr
ovid
e th
em w
ith th
e pr
oper
safe
ty g
ear
•Ch
eck
to m
ake
sure
safe
ty p
roce
dure
s are
alw
ays b
eing
follo
wed
Expl
osiv
es
Do
you
use
expl
osiv
es in
you
r wor
kpla
ce?
•Co
ntac
t the
Env
ironm
enta
l Ris
k M
anag
emen
t Aut
horit
y (E
RMA)
to fi
nd o
ut w
hat t
he
law
says
and
how
to m
anag
e ex
plos
ives
safe
ly. P
hone
04
916
2426
or e
mai
l in
fo@
erm
anz.
govt
.nz
Hea
lth
Issu
es
Are
you
or y
our w
orke
rs u
sing
subs
tanc
es
that
may
be
harm
ful t
o he
alth
?•
Find
out
if y
ou a
nd y
our w
orke
rs n
eed
to h
ave
regu
lar h
ealth
chec
ks
•Ar
rang
e fo
r a d
octo
r to
carr
y ou
t reg
ular
chec
ks
Do
you
or y
our w
orke
rs fe
el u
nwel
l aft
er
wor
king
with
haz
ardo
us su
bsta
nces
? •
Imm
edia
tely
see
a do
ctor
and
let t
hem
kno
w w
hat s
ubst
ance
has
bee
n us
ed
•Co
ntac
t the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Lab
our o
n 08
00 2
0 90
20
for a
dvic
e on
usi
ng th
e su
bsta
nce
Emer
genc
y Pr
oced
ures
Do
you
need
a p
lan
for h
ow to
dea
l with
ac
cide
nts a
nd e
mer
genc
ies?
•
Mak
e su
re y
ou a
lway
s hav
e th
e pr
oper
em
erge
ncy
equi
pmen
t and
trai
ned
firs
t ai
ders
ava
ilabl
e
Haz
ardo
us s
ubst
ance
s sa
fety
che
cklis
tIf
you
answ
er ‘y
es’ t
o an
y que
stio
ns o
n th
e ch
eckl
ist, y
ou n
eed
to fo
llow
the
‘Act
ion
requ
ired’
and
indi
cate
the
date
you
com
plet
ed it
.
Phot
ocop
y fo
r you
r ow
n us
e
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 4 19/04/11 12:46 PM
5Que
stio
nsYe
sN
oN
/AA
ctio
n re
quire
dD
ate
com
plet
ed
Chem
ical
s an
d po
ison
s
Do
you
use
any
chem
ical
s or p
oiso
ns in
yo
ur w
orkp
lace
?•
Com
plet
e a
list o
f all
haza
rdou
s sub
stan
ces u
sed
•G
et a
n M
ater
ial S
afet
y D
ata
Shee
t (M
SDS)
for e
ach
subs
tanc
e an
d fin
d ou
t wha
t ha
rmfu
l effe
cts i
t may
hav
e
•Fi
nd o
ut if
you
can
do th
e jo
b w
ithou
t usi
ng th
e ch
emic
als o
r poi
sons
Doe
s the
MSD
S sa
y th
at th
e su
bsta
nce
may
be
expl
osiv
e, fl
amm
able
or h
arm
ful t
o he
alth
?
•Fo
llow
the
MSD
S in
stru
ctio
ns fo
r sto
rage
and
labe
lling
•Fi
nd o
ut h
ow to
use
the
subs
tanc
e sa
fely
Do
your
wor
kers
use
or m
ix ch
emic
als o
r po
ison
s?•
Mak
e su
re a
ll w
orke
rs a
re tr
aine
d in
how
to u
se th
e su
bsta
nces
safe
ly
•Pr
ovid
e th
em w
ith th
e pr
oper
safe
ty g
ear
•Ch
eck
to m
ake
sure
safe
ty p
roce
dure
s are
alw
ays b
eing
follo
wed
Expl
osiv
es
Do
you
use
expl
osiv
es in
you
r wor
kpla
ce?
•Co
ntac
t the
Env
ironm
enta
l Ris
k M
anag
emen
t Aut
horit
y (E
RMA)
to fi
nd o
ut w
hat t
he
law
says
and
how
to m
anag
e ex
plos
ives
safe
ly. P
hone
04
916
2426
or e
mai
l in
fo@
erm
anz.
govt
.nz
Hea
lth
Issu
es
Are
you
or y
our w
orke
rs u
sing
subs
tanc
es
that
may
be
harm
ful t
o he
alth
?•
Find
out
if y
ou a
nd y
our w
orke
rs n
eed
to h
ave
regu
lar h
ealth
chec
ks
•Ar
rang
e fo
r a d
octo
r to
carr
y ou
t reg
ular
chec
ks
Do
you
or y
our w
orke
rs fe
el u
nwel
l aft
er
wor
king
with
haz
ardo
us su
bsta
nces
? •
Imm
edia
tely
see
a do
ctor
and
let t
hem
kno
w w
hat s
ubst
ance
has
bee
n us
ed
•Co
ntac
t the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Lab
our o
n 08
00 2
0 90
20
for a
dvic
e on
usi
ng th
e su
bsta
nce
Emer
genc
y Pr
oced
ures
Do
you
need
a p
lan
for h
ow to
dea
l with
ac
cide
nts a
nd e
mer
genc
ies?
•
Mak
e su
re y
ou a
lway
s hav
e th
e pr
oper
em
erge
ncy
equi
pmen
t and
trai
ned
firs
t ai
ders
ava
ilabl
e
Publications
The following are some of the publications available from the Department of Labour:
• Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Substances Hazardous to Health (MOSHH) in the Place of Work.
• Managing Substances Hazardous to Health (MOSHH) – A Brief Guide for Employers.
• Workplace Exposure Standards (effective from 2010).
Contact the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)
• For publications or advice, phone 04 916 2426 or email [email protected].
• Website www.ermanz.co.nz
• Refer to the list of Hazardous Substance Advisors on the ERMA website for an Advisor in your area.
Contact the Department of Labour – Health and Safety
• For publications or advice, phone the Workplace Health and Safety Infoline, freephone 0800 20 90 20.
• To get help with difficult or technical health and safety problems, use the online Knowledgebase at: www.dol.govt.nz/workplace/knowledgebase/contact
Contact ACC
• To contact the ACC Injury Prevention team, phone 0800 844 657 or email [email protected]
Where can you get further information or help?
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 5 19/04/11 12:46 PM
6
Notes:
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 6 19/04/11 12:46 PM
7
Notes:
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 7 19/04/11 12:46 PM
8
Notes:
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 8 19/04/11 12:46 PM
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 9 19/04/11 12:46 PM
www.acc.co.nz0800 844 657
ACC5835 March 2011 ISBN: 978-0-478-36223-7
342344-ACC5835-Pressfile.indd 10 19/04/11 12:46 PM