Where can you find out about exposure limits for workers?
Exposure within the workplace can occur in various forms such as solids, liquids, vapours, gases and fumes. The effects of this type of exposure can be dangerous from all perspectives – which is why it’s so important to be careful.
What are the different types of exposures?
- Biological agents such as micro-organisms/bacteria, viruses, fungi transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).
- Carcinogens and mutagens
- Asthmagens such as manufactured chemicals or naturally occurring materials, such as fungal spores.
Exposure to these substances can result in absorption into the body; the different ways that one can experience this is:
- By breathing fume, dust, gas or mist
- By skin contact
- By injection into the skin
- By swallowing
Employers should consider how hazardous a substance is regarding how it may occur within the work activity. A harmful component may be in the form of: a chemical compound, a mixture of compounds, micro-organisms or natural materials such as – flour, stone or wood dust.
Workplace regulations
To control the exposure of anything hazardous to health, awareness of legal limits permitted to be present in the workplace is vital. These are known as workplace exposure limits (WELs) listed in HSE’s booklet EH40 Workplace exposure limits.
Workplaces can further protect themselves and their workers by being mindful in identifying the potentially hazardous elements that may be detrimental to one’s health. They can do this by taking the adequate steps to ensure that labels and safety data sheets are being regularly checked to ensure that they are as far below exposure levels as is reasonably practicable – to provide a suitable control procedure.
How do I know if exposures are below the WEL?
You can keeps tabs on your exposure levels by monitoring them. This can be done by measuring the substances that workers inhale whilst their doing tasks. For further guidance, head over to the exposure measurement: Air sampling G409 (PDF), which tells you what to expect from a competent consultant who provides monitoring services.
Where can you find out further information on all of this?
The health has published a document which consists of the list of WELs for use with COSHH – EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits.
Conclusion
With all of this considered, it is even more of a reminder of why we should be careful, especially during this time when health and safety are so important. Here at LEV Engineering, we have a range of engineers available to test out the LEV machines to ensure that they are safe before usage.
Find out more about LEV Engineering services here:
https://www.levengineering.co.uk/
Or you can Contact Us below.