Starting in April 2015 and running through the financial year 2015/16 the HSE are carrying out a
proactive inspection programme to manufacturing industries, including foundries, where exposure to materials containing respirable crystalline silica(RCS), carcinogens and asthmagens are used, produced or process generated, focussing on controlling serious health risks.
As part of this work, inspectors will be assessing businesses management arrangements for assessment and
control of risks from exposure to RCS, carcinogens and asthmagens;
Areas and issues to be looked at during inspections include:
- Have you carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment?
- Have you provided appropriate control measures?
- Have you provided adequate training for relevant employees in the associated health risks and the correct use of control measures?
- Are LEV (local exhaust ventilation) systems provided and if so, suitable for the purpose for which they were provided and are they maintained and inspected by a competent person at least once every 14 months?
- Is RPE (respiratory protective equipment) provided, appropriately selected, used, maintained and checked at suitable intervals?
- Do you use suitable cleaning methods?
- Is health surveillance provided wherever appropriate?
- Are significant sand residues are removed prior to fettling by enclosed shot blasting?
- Is fettling carried out in extracted booth with turntable for ease of handling/working on the casting without blocking LEV airflow?
- Is there availability of exposure monitoring data to confirm exposures are below the WEL?
- Is RPE provided (powered the preferred option) where exposures are not below the WEL?
There is much more besides that will be reviewed.
Members of the SHIFT initiative have received a presentation detailing this work plan at the first safety forum of 2015 earlier in March and work will continue to educate, advise and assist them by providing expert speakers and presentations at future events being held in July & November 2015.
For more information on becoming a member of the SHIFT initiative and what can be gained from it, please contact Richard Heath on 0121 601 6392 or by e-mail [email protected]