Hazardous substances

Public services union UNISON has published a newly-updated guide on hazardous substances in response to the findings of a recent survey of its safety reps.

In the survey, almost a third identified chemicals and solvents, dusts, dermatitis and skin rashes and infections as being among their top five hazards of concern at work.

It launched the new guide, Hazardous substances at work, on 28 April, International Workers’ Memorial Day, to chime in with this year’s theme of “removing exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace”.

“While incidents leading to injury tend to get the publicity, the majority of work-related harm is caused by work-related disease rather than injury,” the union said.

The new guide explains the law on the control of substances hazardous to health, including where it does and does not apply, and how employers must assess the risks, avoid hazards, and prevent and control the risks of exposure. Each section includes a safety rep checklist, and case studies and tools are included to help branch safety officers and safety reps ensure that their employer properly tackles hazardous substances at work.

https://www.unison.org.uk/upload/sharepoint/On%20line%20Catalogue/22976.pdf