HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

Policy Statement

This policy is one of several related to Health and Safety and subject to the Health and Safety Executive Guidance and Codes of Practice.

There is an eight step guide to follow to ensure that COSHH requirements are being followed:

1. Assess the risks; what risks can any hazardous substances have to your health or the Children when used.
2. Decide what precautions are needed, whether the staff need to wear protective clothing and that they meet the requirements
3. Prevent or adequately control exposure; prevent all staff and children being exposed to any hazardous substances, make sure staff read labels and understand what the substances are used for
4. Ensure that control measures are used and maintained, make sure staff are aware of how much to use of cleaning substances or how much needs diluting
5. Monitor the exposure, make sure the chemicals and cleaning equipment is being used properly
6. Carry out appropriate health surveillance, carry out assessments and check all specific requirements and keep updated relevant information that may change within law
7. Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies, each policy and procedure is written for staff to read and they are all available for the Parents/Guardians to read as well

Hazardous Substances

There are many hazardous substances which are considered hazardous to health. The COSHH Regulations apply to substances which are identified as Toxic, Corrosive or Irritant. These can include cleaning materials, pesticides, acids, disinfectants, bleach and naturally-occurring substances such as blood and bacteria.

Hofts Childcare provides and requires all staff to wear protective clothing, i.e. disposable gloves and aprons and, where required, protective eye goggles when working with hazardous substances as directed by the HSE Safety Data leaflet.

Signage

All toxins, corrosives and irritants are identified when they are considered “dangerous to supply” by a label with a specific symbol.

International symbols have replaced the old European symbols, and staff need to be aware of changes. .

Hofts Childcare displays these signs Laboratory chemicals are stored in science laboratory on 3rd floor in locked cabinets and signs are displayed on the cabinets All other toxics, corrosives and irritants are stored in locked cupboards

Any product deemed to be “dangerous to supply” must be supplied with a Safety Data sheet. Please note: medicines, cosmetics and pesticides are covered by different legislation and do not have a Safety Data sheet.

Employers’ Responsibilities

To comply with the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) steps for all employers to protect their employees from Hazardous Substances, Hofts Childcare:

1. Identifies the hazardous substances that are used in the work place and the risks the substances pose to workers’ health
2. Puts into place, and regularly reviews, any precautions required before any work begins that involves hazardous substances
3. Prevents people being exposed to hazardous substances, but where this is not reasonably practicable will control the exposure
4. Ensures that control measures are used and properly maintained and that safety procedure is followed and reviewed regularly
5. Monitors, if necessary, staff exposure to hazardous substances
6. Requires all accidents, incidents and emergencies associated with COSHH to be reported and recorded according to Hofts Childcare policy
7. Ensures that all employees are properly informed, updated, trained and supervised as appropriate. A COSHH file is in place in each workplace. The file lists all the hazardous substances used in the workplace. It details:

• Where they are kept
• How they are labelled
• Their effects
• The maximum amount of time it is safe to be exposed to them
• How to deal with any emergency involving them.

Misuse or Harmful Practice

If workers are concerned about:

1. A substance being used in the workplace which is not in the COSHH file
2. Incorrect containers or labels being used
3. A container of one substance being used to store another substance
4. Labels being removed or changed.

It must be reported to their line manager or supervisor immediately.

Disposal of Hazardous Materials Bodily fluids: blood, urine, vomit, sputum and faeces

Disposable gloves and aprons must be worn.

Where possible the waste should be cleared and flushed down a sluice or toilet. The affected area should be cleaned with a disinfectant.

Cloths used for cleaning must be disposed of, along with the disposable apron and gloves. Hands must be thoroughly washed.
Any waste must be transferred in a sealed bag to the appropriate waste bin or container.
All waste disposal bags must be correctly sealed, as other people will have to deal with the waste after it has been placed in the bags or container.

Needles, syringes, (sharps)

Disposable gloves must be worn.

A yellow sharps box will be provided by a health professional. Never put sharps in anything other than this or, in an emergency, a hard plastic box. This must be sealed and collected by the local council for incineration.

Disposal of all other types of waste will be included in staff training.