| In my previous CoSHH diary I talked about how I | | | | two major concerns here, the first being that the |
| went about managing CoSHH as skillfully as I | | | | Safety Data Sheets if they exist are most likely |
| knew how. I found this included requesting | | | | out of date and the second that nobody has |
| information from suppliers and manufacturers | | | | looked at them since, well it's anyone's guess. |
| about their chemicals and the implementation of | | | | The first thing that I do is close the binder and tell |
| CoSHH Management,and with adequate training of | | | | the manager that I want to talk to his operators |
| employees so they also understood basic risk | | | | and it pretty much goes downhill from there. I'm |
| assessments. My diary concludes this week with a | | | | always keen to know if the assessments have |
| Health and Safety Executive Inspector's audit and | | | | been carried out by a consultant that has been |
| their findings. [based on a real audit and several | | | | used as a one-off and then never asked to |
| meetings with senior HSE inspectors]. | | | | return or train the operators. I always find myself |
| Wednesday morning started with a knock on my | | | | advising businesses that if they are using a |
| door. As I think anyone would, I felt a little | | | | consultant then they need to get them involved in |
| unnerved at first as I thought "oh dear, have I | | | | their business as health and safety is more then |
| got everything in order". And then I thought, yes | | | | just paperwork, it is about ensuring tasks are |
| of course I have, everything is fine. The inspector | | | | performed safely, that's it. If you wonder what |
| requested to see my health and safety | | | | an inspector is really looking for we are looking for |
| documentation before having a tour of the shop | | | | you to simply make the task safer and you have |
| floor. With an element of nervousness I handed | | | | clearly demonstrated that and communicated |
| him a binder and set off around the building. | | | | effectively down to your staff." |
| All in all I was very pleased with the response of | | | | Being that I was on a roll I decided to show off |
| my employees to some of the questions that had | | | | my CoSHH management system to get a feel |
| been asked by the inspector. I would say to | | | | for the work we had done. I explained a bit of |
| anyone running their own business or managing | | | | the history of what we had done as my diary |
| health and safety that it's definitely worth | | | | detailed in previous weeks. The comments on the |
| teaching your staff the basics every six months | | | | inspector's report where this: |
| or so; there's the fire exit, the meeting point, our | | | | "Excellent work was produced that had been |
| risk assessments are available here and that sort | | | | undertaken with CoSHH software in relation to |
| of thing. It's definitely no use if it's all in your head. | | | | CoSHH assessments." |
| I mean, what if you were out when the inspector | | | | He commented that he liked the fact that the |
| called??? Problems! | | | | report took you through assessing each activity |
| After walking around the building and offices for | | | | and hazards associated with the substance, and |
| about an hour we returned back to my office, I | | | | not just assessing the substance as so often is |
| offered the inspector a cup of tea and we sat | | | | the case. |
| down. The inspector remarked on the apparently | | | | After this I pretty much felt I'd had good day and |
| well advised staff we had and that when he had | | | | although I would never take my eye off the ball |
| asked them about the chemicals they were using | | | | now, knowing that I could get a surprise visit at |
| that they seemed to know a great deal about | | | | any time. I felt comfortable that I had everything |
| which where the 'nasty' ones and how to handle | | | | in order and a shiny health and safety report to |
| them. He also spotted that we had put the | | | | show off to my managers who had all something |
| CoSHH assessments on display next each | | | | to pat themselves on the back about. |
| machine so that the operators could see them | | | | So to everyone who wants to maintain a healthy |
| always. Here's the interesting part; the inspector | | | | business with healthy staff and adequate working |
| informed me he had confidence that I had | | | | policies I say, use common sense and start from |
| implemented and maintained a good health and | | | | the top down. It is imperative to have |
| safety strategy with no concerns at all. He was | | | | management buy-in and paper documentation is |
| happy to be on his way and we had the big green | | | | essential but it is also a must that you interact |
| light to continue our business and here's the | | | | with employees so they comprehend the dangers |
| clincher, he said: | | | | and how to perform their tasks safety with the |
| "You would not believe the number of times I | | | | knowledge of what to do in the occurrence of a |
| have walked into a business unannounced and | | | | accident. |
| have asked to see risk assessments and out | | | | This concludes my diary. To conclude my advise |
| pops from the manager's office filing cabinet a | | | | is, Be Prepared! A prepared business is a safe |
| dust covered and obviously unused binder of | | | | business and safe business is a good business. |
| CoSHH assessments and such like. Now there are | | | | |