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Module 19

Lesson 19/26 | Study Time: 30 Min

Course: Person-centered Care

19. Demonstrate safe practices for storing, using and disposing of hazardous substances

Under
health and safety legislation…

Employers are required to:

-Determine
which hazardous substances are present in the workplace.

-Assess
the risks to employees and others from the presence of these hazardous
substances.

-Prevent
or control exposure to the hazardous substances to as low a level as is
reasonably practicable.

-Have
arrangements in place to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies.

-Provide
information, training, equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) with
guidance to be followed by employees.

Employees (that’s you) are required to:

-Co-operate
with their employer and follow agreed procedures.

-Make
full and proper use of control measures e.g. using extract ventilation where
provided, and report any defects.

-Report
any defects in equipment immediately to the employer as appropriate.

-Report
any accident or incident which may have resulted in the release of a
dangerous chemical or substance into the workplace.

-Use
any PPE equipment supplied.

A
risk assessment will be required where hazardous substances are used in the
workplace to determine what measures are required to protect anyone who could
be at risk of harm. The risk assessment will supplement your policies,
procedures and ways of working that must be followed when working with
hazardous substances.

Do you know what policies and procedures are in place for
COSHH?

If a risk assessment does not exist, you could ask for support to conduct one
which will help you to learn about this important process.

In
order to conduct a risk assessment…

You will need to know the risk assessment process and
legal requirements under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
Regulations. The risk assessment should cover storing, using and disposing of
hazardous substances. You can start with these tasks:

-List-Gather

-Read

-Assess

-Consider

1. How much of each substance is used and how
often is it used. Larger quantities or substances that are used will often
increase the risk of exposure.

2. How is each substance used. If the substances
are mixed, poured, sprayed, piped, heated, cooled, etc. The way they are used
will determine how you will control the exposures.

3.
How could people be exposed to the substance
and what effect could it have on their health.

4.
If the substance a solid, liquid, gas, mist
or fume. Will the substance damage skin, lungs, and eyes through skin contact,
absorption, ingestion, inhalation or injection.

Your workplace must have a specified and secure place for storing hazardous substances.

Safe storage will consider:

-Where is it stored?

-Is it secure?

-Length of time or expiry date

-Fire precautions

-Room ventilation

-Cleaning products must be kept in original containers

-Safety precautions

These are some of the main things you will need to follow:

Safe storage will consider:

Where is it stored?

Is it secure?

Length of time or expiry date

Fire precautions

Room ventilation

Cleaning products must be kept in original
containers

Safety
precautions

These are some of the main things you will need to
follow:

1.
Correctly use personal protective equipment
(PPE).

2.
Only use products in their original
containers.

3.
Always read and follow manufacturers’
instructions.

4.
Body fluids such as blood, urine, vomit and
faeces must be cleaned up immediately.

5.
Items used for cleaning spills like paper
towels should be disposed of as clinical waste.

6.
Contaminated linen should ideally be
washed immediately if you work in an individual’s home. In
a residential setting, it should be separated from other linen in an
identifiable bag. It is essential to use a hot wash setting.

7.
Use warning signs if necessary to warn others
of danger.

I know some of
this can seem a bit boring but when you learn about a man with Alzheimer’s
Disease who died because he ate a cleaning tablet left out in a care home which
looked like a sweet, you will understand why it is so important. This sad story
is covered in greater detail in our COSHH course.

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1- Module 1 2- Module 2 3- Module 3 4- Module 4 5- Module 5 6- Module 6 7- Module 7 8- Module 8 9- Module 9 10- Module 10 11- Module 11 12- Module 12 13- Module 13 14- Module 14 15- Module 15 16- Module 16 17- Module 17 18- Module 18 19- Module 19 20- Module 20 21- Module 21 22- Module 22 23- Module 23 24- Module 24 25- Module 25 26- Module 26