COSHH and Cleaning Supplies

One of the most common types of people to be affected by the COSHH regulations are those who work in the cleaning profession. All business, offices and public buildings such as schools, restaurants and shops hire professional cleaners in order maintain the hygiene and cleanliness of the buildings.

Cleaners use a variety of different products, this means that chemicals and hazardous substances are in the work and these all need to be carefully chosen so that they comply with the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)

Heavy industrial cleaning products are much stronger and more toxic that the normal household cleaners we are all used to, they often come with very strong warnings about dangers surrounding them if they are misused and not handled with the utmost of care, COSHH was set up in order to restrict and prevent harm coming to people who have a high amount of exposure to these types of substances within the work place.

Common causes known to be hazardous to health when people are working with cleaning supplies are ingestion, often from a simple act of not washing hands before eating or smoking. As well as this, cleaning supplies can release hazardous particles into the surrounding air and this can cause a variety of health complications that many people are not aware of when working with them for so long each day, some of these problems will not even appear till much later in life and are then unable to be treated. Many of the chemicals used in cleaning supplies can be abrasive and irritating to the skin which can cause problems with the skin that can also lead to further health implications in the future.

The COSHH regulations make sure that all the information regarding the chemicals and hazardous substances that are present in cleaning supplies are available to each and every person who will be working with them, as well their employers and businesses. Knowing what the risk attached to each chemical is and knowing how to prevent and reduce harm from exposure is priceless information when it comes to this kind of work. Employers have the legal responsibility to make sure that the correct equipment is provided for all the employees while working with these substances and that they are trained in the use of them and have first aid knowledge that may be required if any accidents or spillages may occur. Before working with these types of chemicals it is important to be informed of all the information you can about the dangers and risks associated with them by way of toolbox talks and issuing results of assessments.

Knowing how to read the labels and being able to predict risk, even for supplies you have no come across before will prepare people for all situations which may arise and create a safer, healthier and secure working environment for everyone involved.