Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection

Overview

This Section is important for all processes with the product, including:

  • Receiving a product on site, particularly during transfer from the delivery vehicle to storage or a processing plant
  • Use(s)
  • Disposal

Risk Assessment Requirements

Key Considerations

Management should ensure all on-site processes are safe through risk assessment and risk management measures. The risk assessment needs to consider for each process the likely exposures to the product, including:

  • The amount of product
  • Its physical state (solid, liquid or gas)
  • Its hazards (e.g. highly flammable, toxic), both to workers and the environment (SDS Sections 2, 9, and 11)
  • Its physical properties, e.g. volatility (or evaporation rate), dustiness, miscibility with water, chemical reactivity (either with itself or with other substances) (see SDS Sections 9 and 10)

COSHH Hierarchy of Controls

Control Measures (in order of preference)

  1. Eliminate the hazardous substance
  2. Substitute it with a safer alternative
  3. Control exposure with total or partial enclosure, extraction and/or ventilation
  4. Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Exposure Scenarios (ES)

Extended Safety Data Sheet

The ESs break down the use of the product into smaller tasks:

  • Mixing in open containers
  • Filling using dedicated equipment
  • Application with roller
  • Different industries and conditions of use

Control Measures

Implementation Guidelines

Control Type Examples Application
Engineering Controls Ventilation, enclosure, automation Primary control method
Administrative Controls Work procedures, training, scheduling Supporting measures
PPE Respirators, gloves, goggles Last line of defense

Critical Safety Information

Essential Considerations

  • Special legislation applies for carcinogens (substances which may cause cancer)
  • Risk management measures must be determined through workplace risk assessment
  • Consider all possible routes of exposure (skin, eye, inhalation)
  • Evaluate both short and long-term potential harms
  • Ensure exposure remains below control parameters in Section 8.1
  • Maintain consistency with Exposure Scenarios in extended SDS