%The_Company% is committed to ensuring full compliance with all hazardous substances requirements and will:
- Keep an Inventory – Hazardous Substances Register (Policy page 4.6) and ensure that it is readily available in the workplace.
- Use and Share Safety Data Sheets (SDS) – formerly referred to as MSDS, these should be sourced from your hazardous substance supplier, at the time of purchase. Read each document and note down important information about each; properties, how to store it, PPE requirements, and first aid information. Anyone who uses that substance must be familiar with the SDS and it must be easily accessible to all staff in the workplace. Document the SDS date on your Hazardous Substances Register.
- Conduct a Risk Assessment – can you substitute another substance for the same job? How can you reduce exposure to risks caused?
- Inform and Train your Workers – complete the Staff Skill Level Training Sheet to show this has been done.
- Prepare for Emergencies – have a plan outlining how you will deal with a hazardous substances emergency e.g., someone is burned or poisoned, a fire or leak occurs.
- Correctly Label Hazardous Substance Containers, including Waste
- Install Warning Signs – Place signs where substances are used and stored e.g., entrance to property, building and rooms where it is located and used. Signs must be clearly visible and state; hazardous substances present, general type of hazard, what to do in an emergency.
- Make sure Storage Areas and Containers are Safe – Store only what you need, keep incompatible substances separate, use appropriate containers and label everything clearly. Depending on the substances you use, you may need special storage cabinets and a compliance certificate.
- Take Care with Hazardous Waste – If waste is hazardous e.g., toxic or corrosive, you must treat the waste in the same way as you treat any other hazardous substance with similar properties. Including: recording it in inventory, correctly storing and labelling, ensuring staff working with it have the knowledge, experience and supervision to do so safely.
- Provide Protective Gear – You must make sure workers have the correct clothing and equipment, to use the substance. You must also ensure they know how to correctly use and maintain it
- Ensure that any containers used for Decanting or the transfer of hazardous substances are labelled correctly.
- Health surveillance is provided to a worker if there is a significant risk to health from exposure.
- Health monitoring records will be kept in a secure system for at least 30 years.