Exposure to chemicals is one of the most common hazards in occupational settings. Where individuals are exposed to chemical substances at work risk assessments are required for compliance with the European Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH Regulations). Workplace risk assessment reports are required to demonstrate to regulators, auditors and management how conclusions on risks to individuals are arrived at and the justification of control measures for their management. This program provides a practical approach to conducting risk assessments demonstrating how reliable occupational health & hygiene data should be collected and used to make decisions on health risks from chemical substances.
By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:
- Determine and focus on four key elements such as how to measure exposure levels, how to select control measures, how to assess the performance of control used and how to assess effect on health and identify the examples of control measures for chemical substances including ventilation systems, personal protective equipment and administrative controls.
- Apply techniques for measuring exposure and assess whether the exposure data is reliable for making decisions on health risks
- Advise on the development of industry wide chemical risk assessment programs and the data requirements
- Review and develop policies on control methods within industry and systems for monitoring their performance
- Obtain information on exposure and the performance of control measures should be used when assessing health Risk
Day 1
Monitoring Exposure - Theory and Practice
- Terminology
- Legal requirements for monitoring exposure
- Principles of air monitoring and biological monitoring
- How to plan for monitoring and designing exposure surveys
- Instrumentation and techniques for measuring exposure level
- Biological monitoring
- Sample analysis
Day 2
Interpretation and Use of Exposure Data
- Basic calculations – exercise
- Making sense of exposure data
- Air exposure standards
- Writing reports and presentation of results
- Assessing risk from chemicals
Day 3
Assessment of Engineering Controls
- Need for prevention and control of hazards
- General control hierarchy and good industrial hygiene practice
- Legal requirements
- Ventilation systems types & design features
- Maintenance and examination
- Measuring performance -instruments, techniques and calculations
- Factor affecting performance
- Record keeping
- Instruments and techniques
Day 4
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Legal requirements for use
- Types (respiratory protection, gloves, hearing protectors)
- Selection and applications
- Assessment,
- Storage and maintenance
- Effective use
Day 5
Health surveillance & Case Studies
- Health surveillance techniques and their effective use
- Management of control systems and checking performance
- Use of data in risk assessment
- Organizational requirements
- Record keeping
This course is intended for personnel who have responsibilities for conducting, overseeing or developing workplace risk assessments programs in occupational health and hygiene, this includes engineers, occupational hygienists, safety practitioners and occupational physicians. Individuals whose work involves; either measuring occupational exposure data, assessing control measures or risk to health will benefit from this program.