/ harmful / Chemicals that may cause damage to health.
/ corrosive / Chemicals that may destroy living tissue on contact.
/ irritant / Chemicals that may cause inflammation to the skin or other mucous membranes.

A guide to safe working practices

For Community Workers

Completion of this workbook meets these national standards

Covers Common Induction Standard 8

6. Handling hazardous substances

Outcomes:

6.1 Be aware of the hazardous substances in your workplace

6.2 Be aware of safe practices for

  • storing hazardous substances
  • using hazardous substances
  • disposing of hazardous substances

Unit HSC 027 Contribute to health and safety in health andsocial care. Outcome 6: Know how to handle hazardous substances and materials

Written by Colin Gardner, Mary Austin & Nicole Walland

Reviewed October 2014
Introduction

A substanceis classified as coming under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2005 where a symbol (similar to those on the front cover) is displayed on the product container.

Hazardous means that they could be harmful to people even if they are not classified as being under COSHH.

What is the issue for Community Services?

Service users might have one or two COSHH regulated substances in their home. It is more likely that they will have hazardous products. Therefore staff should read the guidelines in this booklet for general principles of working safely with hazardous products.

Hazardous chemicals in the home could include such things as drain or oven cleaning products or disinfectants.

Some service users might be using oxygen –awareness of safety issues regarding oxygen must be included in the risk assessment.

Activity 1.

Think about the homes where you are working and make a list of the chemicals that might cause harm if someone swallowed them or sprayed them into their eye:

What are your responsibilities?

Working in people’s homes requires a balance between awareness of your duty of care and respect for the person’s chosen lifestyle.

Duty of care:

The people you support may have health or cognitive conditions that have changed or limited their abilities. For example, their sight or dexterity may be limited or they may have difficulties understanding the consequences of their actions. People may be unwilling to cooperate with their support.

The initial assessment may alert you to their needs, but you should also be vigilant and act appropriately if you think an individual is in danger.

Acting appropriately could mean that you remove any immediate danger and advise theindividual and/or their families of your observations and discuss how the situation could be made safer.

Your recording of the issue and your actions should be made on the daily record and you should inform your manager. There might be a need for a referral(for example for an OT visit or a MCA assessment). Your Line Manager will organise this.

Chosen Lifestyes:

Most Community Services are short term and aim to leave the individual in a state to be able to manage their chosen lifestyle as independently as possible. Changes made to make the use of hazardousproducts safer need to be sustainable for the individual. E.g. putting hazardous products in a place that requires another person to access them limits the person’s choices and does not support independence.

As with all services that are based in an individual’s homes, support staff need to ensure they listen to the needs of the individual and put their own preferences and choices to one side.

For example, we might or might not support products that are environmentally friendly or we might have different standards of cleanliness. It is the individual’s lifestyle decisions which take priority.

General guidance for staff:

Avoid cleaning tasks & using cleaning products where possible to encourage the service user to be as independent as possible.

Encourage safe use of cleaning products and other potentially hazardous substances by tactfully offering advice, highlighting possible risks and proposing practical solutions where appropriate.

Ultimately it is the service user’s home and their choice whether to make any changes.

If you feel there is a risk, or have offered advice and a solution- record these in the daily records and report them to your line manager.

What are the health risksin using hazardous products?

The most common risks are likely to be through contact with the skin or eyes, breathing in or swallowing.

Many cleaning chemicals are hazardous because they are corrosive, meaning they can cause skin and eye burns if splashed onto the body.

Some may cause dermatitis (dry, sore, flaky skin) or other skin irritations, asthma and breathing problems.

Some substances can cause breathing problems if over-sprayed, used without adequate ventilation or sprayed onto hot surfaces.

There can also be harmful chemical reactions when substances are mixed. For example, cleaning products containing bleach mixed with acidic toilet cleaners or ammonia will give off harmful gases.

Other risks arise from accidental splashes to the skin and eyes while cleaning chemicals are being poured from one container into another or from spillages while being carried in open containers.

Touching the face/eyes/skin after handling a cleaning chemical can cause irritation, inflammation or chemical burns.

Activity 2

Is there anything about the people who use your service that might make them vulnerable to being harmed by cleaning chemicals?

What can be done to minimise risks?

We can take some action to lessen the risks of someone being harmed by using hazardous substances. We call these control measures.

Control measures can be as simple as wearing gloves or using a less harmful product.

Following these guidelines will support you to work safely and to give advice to service users on their safety

For Community Team Staff working in offices: If using any COSHH regulated or hazardous substances - keep your risk assessments and MSDS with the chemicals.

As you are working in people’s own homes, you can only advise on how to use, store and dispose of hazardous substances safely:

1. Read and follow Instructions

  • Always follow directions on products
  • Never use any unfamiliar products where you cannot read the directions.

2. Wear protective clothing if necessary

  • When handling substances always wear protective clothing where necessary. For example, if cleaning at eye level or above, wear eye protection.
  • Check that rubber gloves are free from holes, tears or thin patches. Some gloves may irritate the skin.
  • Always wash your hands and arms after using chemicals and before eating and drinking, even if you have been wearing gloves.

3. Take care when storinghazardous substances

  • Discuss with the service user how to store chemicals away from children and/or other vulnerable people
  • Offer advice if you think chemicals stored in the person’s home could be stored more safely. However, it is their decision. Record your actions in the daily records and report to your Line Manager.

Some suggestions for safe storage:

  • Store chemicals in an upright position with the lids in place.
  • Store chemicals in a cool and designated cupboard (e.g. under the sink) which can be locked.
  • Ensure spray bottles and other containers are clearly marked with their contents.
  • Keep cleaning cloths separate from cloths used for food preparation
  • Gas canisters must be stored outside.
  • In some cases small canisters can be stored inside. Risks can be if anyone in the property smokes, if the temperature inside the property rises or if there is a fire in the property.
  • Things to consider around the storage & use of gas canisters are: has there been a recent gas safety check on gas appliances? Is there adequate ventilation in the property? Is the canister in current use? Discuss the risks with the client and record and report to line manager.

4. Take care when using chemicalsNever mix cleaning chemicals from different containers.

  • Do not use anything from rusty, corroded or damaged containers.
  • When diluting always add the concentrated liquid to water, not the water to the concentrate.
  • Avoid splashes.
  • If you are dispensing powders, always use a scoop; never use your hand.
  • Never transfer cleaning chemicals into food or drink containers where they can easily be mistaken for foodstuffs.
  • Only use cleaning chemicals in well-ventilated areas. Sometimes an open window will be enough. Avoid inhaling fumes.
  • Do not try to identify a chemical by smelling it.
  • If aerosols are used for cleaning, never spray onto hot surfaces as this can produce harmful vapours. Never place aerosols on hot surfaces

5. Take care when disposing of chemicals

  • Read the label for information on how to dispose of the chemical.

6. Take immediate action if there is a problem

  • If cleaning chemicals are accidentally splashed onto your skin or the service user’s skin, always wash away with plenty of waterrather than with soap and water. If it is in the eyes, wash with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical advice. Seek medical advice if irritation persists and tell your manager.
  • Let your team leader or manager know immediately if you experience any adverse reactions to substances, for example headaches, nausea, skin complaints.
  • If chemicals are ingested, wash the mouth out with plenty of water and obtain medical advice. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING.
  • Always clean up any spills on floors or work surfaces immediately.
  • Complete an accident form where appropriate and return it to the office.

Remember: there are no safe substances – only substances handled safely

Check your knowledge:

For all staff

  1. If you splash a chemical in your eye – what would you do?
  1. What would you do if a Service user had a rusty aerosol in their cleaning cupboard?
  1. You return home from working in a service user’s house with itchy hands – what do you do?
  1. What would you do if a service user has a hoard of pills and doesn’t appear to know what they are for?

Legal requirements for Managers

Managersare required to:

  • Assessthe risks that arise from the use of hazardous substances. This will include any arrangements to deal with accidents, incidents or emergencies, such as those resulting from serious spillages. The assessment must also include the health and safety risks arising from storage, handling or disposal of any of the substances.
  • Prevent or, if this is not reasonably practicable, control the exposure to such substances.
  • Provide staff with information, instruction or training on the risks and the steps and precautions you have taken to control these risks, i.e. provision of appropriate rubber gloves or appropriate eye protection.

Managers practical risk assessment - this is covered by your SS22 Risk Assessment form, specifically the section on hazardous substances.

The support plan will reflect the underpinning principle of workers encouraging service users to be as independent as possible, thereby lessening the need for staff to be handling hazardous products.

Staff should be encouraged to record any issues around the use of hazardous substances, such as their concerns regarding the service users’ safety and any actions taken to promote safety in the service user’s home.Report these back to line manager immediately.

Answers

Activity 1.

Answers may include:

cleaning materials – oven cleaner, floor cleaner, bleach etc.

Tippex; plant food; sprays for cleaning phones and other electricals; personal medication such as paracetamol.

cement; petrol/oil; weed killers; paint and other decorating materials

Activity 2 - possible answers

People using your service may have poor eyesight; be unable to read; be confused; may self-harm; have poor dexterity (poor control over hand movements); reluctance or refusal to accept hazards.

Check your knowledge:

For all staff

1.If you splash a chemical in your eye – what would you do?Refer to container to see if there is advice. Usually it is to wash affected eye with water for 15 minutes. Seek medical advice.

2.What would you do if a Service user had a rusty aerosol in their cleaning cupboard? Tactfully advise them to dispose of it. Read the canister for directions on disposal.Record your advice in the daily notes and advise your line manager of your actions.

3.You return home from working in a service user’s house with itchy hands – what do you do?Wash your hands and arms in soapy water and rinse well. report it to your line manager. Seek medical advice.

  1. What would you do if a service user has a hoard of pills and doesn’t appear to know what they are for?Check to see if the service user has a list of their medication from the hospital and whether it is up to date. Consider whether a MCA referral needs to be made – do you think the person has capacity to manage their medication? Discuss with GP. Refer to Medication Policy. Discuss with Line Manager.