Nvq 5 Unit 504

Task 1

Legislation and policy development | Summary of the legislation/policy | How your service meets this |
COSHH | COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002) is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. These include; chemicals, products containing chemicals, fumes, dusts, vapours, mists, nanotechnology, gases and asphyxiating gases, biological agents (germs). If the packaging has any of the hazard symbols then it is classed as a hazardous substance and germs that cause diseases[1] such as leptospirosis or legionnaire’s disease and germs used in laboratories. | By meeting the standards set out in COSHH, we start by finding out what the health hazards are by reading and researching information on the product via leaflets and online research from the manufacturers. We then decide on how to prevent harm to health by doing a risk assessment[1], by doing this we identify the risks of the product to those in our service and we can then look at ways to avoid them. The ways in which we control them are by providing control measures to reduce harm to health, making sure they are used, keeping all control measures in good working order, providing information, instruction and training for employees and others, providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases, planning for emergencies. This is reviewed monthly and every six months we have a legionnaire’s test kit come through from an external laboratory that I personally oversee the testing of our hot water and arrange its collection and testing.We have a COSHH cupboard that is locked and the keys kept in a safe place in the office on site.We have monthly audits and inspections completed by myself, the manager and lead supports. We also have a weekly check system in which a full fire inspection is completed and a daily fire checks system, which we also have and complete daily.An external agency completes an annual fire equipment check,...