What is COSHH Training and Why is it Important for Cleaners

March 21, 2023March 21, 2023 Sikander Zaman

COSHH, also known as Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, is a set of regulations on hazardous substances in a workplace. It requires employers and businesses to apply measures and provide proper safety training. COSHH training educates workers on how to handle and use dangerous substances to prevent harm to themselves and others. As every regulation has its purpose, this blog will help you understand COSHH rules and how they create a safer workplace.

Understanding COSHH regulations and having COSHH training is vital for anyone whose profession involves hazardous substances. One example is cleaners, who work with various dangerous substances while performing regular tasks. Thus, cleaners must be aware of the possible threats in their workplace and the importance of training. Here are some of the examples of poisonous substances cleaners can be exposed to:

Cleaning chemicals, such as bleach, disinfectants, and degreasers
Biological hazards, such as bacteria and viruses
Dust and particles, while cleaning surfaces like carpets
Waste products, such as chemical and medical waste
Asbestos
Pesticides
Solvents, such as paint thinners
Heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium
Cleaning professions that may require COSHH training

Several cleaning professions would require COSHH training. Some examples of these professions include:

Janitors and Cleaners: They are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of a workplace. Such jobs increase exposure to hazardous chemicals, dust, and biological agents.
Healthcare cleaning staff: Cleaning staff at hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. Exposure to infectious agents, medical waste, and hazardous chemicals.
Industrial cleaners: Cleaners who work at factories and other industrial settings. Asbestos and heavy metals are some examples of hazardous substances in such workplaces.
Window cleaners are exposed to chemicals, dust, and particles while at their work.
Carpet cleaners may be exposed to hazardous substances such as cleaning chemicals, dust, and particles.
Kitchen cleaners: Many hazardous substances might be present in a commercial kitchen. While working in kitchens, cleaners encounter dangerous substances like cleaning chemicals, grease, and biological agents.
Outdoor cleaners: These cleaners are responsible for working outdoors in parks and streets. Pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals are possible threats to exposure.

COSHH Training: Why do cleaners need COSHH training?

As we are of COSHH regulations and what purpose it serves. Understanding that a person should be trained to comply appropriately with such rules is essential. In addition, COSHH training is often a legal requirement for many employers. Under UK laws, employers have to protect the health and safety of their workers and provide them with training and safety equipment. COSHH rules might be confusing for a person to understand. Not taking it seriously can lead to a worker injuring himself while handling dangerous substances. Thus, you must know how to act when taking such substances and other vital things to remember. For that, COSHH training serves the purpose of training a person to handle and assess the poisonous substances in their surroundings while performing their tasks.

According to the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), cleaning workers are more likely to suffer from occupational asthma and other respiratory diseases due to exposure to hazardous substances. In 2019/2020, there were 12,000 reported cases of work-related respiratory diseases in the UK. From which the cleaning workers were the ones who were most affected. The HSE also says that around 10% of the cleaning workers suffer from skin conditions like dermatitis due to exposure to cleaning chemicals.

Thus, it is very common for a cleaner to suffer from exposure to hazardous substances. So there arrives the need for proper COSHH training so that the workers know how to handle the poisonous substance while assessing the risks. The health risks of hazardous substances, such as occupational asthma, often develop slowly. Insufficient safety measures and training make it hard for workers to recognize these signs, so proper training and surveillance are necessary. Given the risks of cleaning activities, COSHH training for cleaners is crucial. This training familiarises the workers with what their employer should do to protect them.

As well as the safety measures the cleaners can adopt to cut the threat of hazardous substances. A COSHH training for cleaners covers the following:

Legal duties and responsibilities: Many businesses may contract cleaning companies to perform cleaning for them. Cleaners need to understand who is accountable for what so that they can perform their jobs accordingly.
Safe handling and usage techniques: Learning how to handle and store hazardous substances safely. Including proper labelling, storage, and transport.
Personal protective equipment (PPE): At the least, protective gloves are important when using cleaning chemicals to prevent skin irritation. Yet, cleaners will need more robust equipment, such as respiratory and eye protection.
How to act in case of injury: It is also important that a worker is familiar with the actions he should take in case of exposure to hazards. Not taking preventive measures can cause further harm to the worker.
Assessing the hazards: The worker must know the dangers at work. Assessing the danger will allow them to avoid actions leading to risk exposure.
Safety data sheets (SDSs): SDSs contain essential data about what materials in a workplace are dangerous. All the cleaners in a workplace must know the harmful substances available.
Health surveillance: Mandatory medical check-ups on cleaners who work with hazardous substances should be mandatory every week. Diseases might build up from exposure to hazards that affect a person over time. Ongoing surveillance will help to detect signs early on and allow the medical experts to take cure of the person affected.

COSHH training benefits employers

Compliance with regulations: As in many states, such as the UK, it is a legal requirement for a firm to train its employees. Firms can train their employees and show their compliance with the government and its laws.
Improved productivity: COSHH training helps reduce workplace accidents and illnesses. Lower accidents mean fewer employees will be injured, resulting in less absenteeism and increased productivity.
Reduced costs: Workplace injuries brings unnecessary costs for the firm. By preventing accidents and illnesses, employers can save on expenses related to compensation and insurance.
Positive workplace culture: Investing in the safety and well-being of the employees will create a positive workplace environment. A positive workplace environment improves employee morale, as they feel more respected and cared about.
Improved reputation: Customers and stakeholders will be more interested in those firms that care about their employees.

COSHH training benefits employees

Improved safety: COSHH training will help employees to identify and manage workplace hazards, which reduces the risk of injury and illnesses.
Increased confidence: Employees who have received COSHH training are more confident in their ability to work. They feel more prepared, hence performing their task efficiently.
Better health: COSHH training will teach the employees to save themselves from exposure to hazards. This can have long-term benefits for the employees.
Reduced stress: Employees feel more secure when performing their tasks if adequately trained. Feeling secure would reduce the stress and anxiety of the workers.
Improved career prospects: An adequately trained employee will be considered a skilled worker. Thus, he would be more attractive in the eyes of a firm seeking talented workers.

Failure to comply with COSHH regulations

Failing to comply with COSHH regulations can have severe consequences for employers and employees. Here are some of the potential outcomes of non-compliance:

Legal consequences: Government can take legal actions against corporations that do not focus on training their employees. Such legal actions are fines, penalties, restrictions, and sanctions.
Workplace accidents and illnesses: The probability of accidents occurring in those workplaces where COSHH are not taken seriously is relatively high. Workplace accidents can cause both physical and mental harm to the workers, which can cause downtime and loss of productivity for the employers.
Damage to reputation: A firm not complying with COSHH regulations will negatively harm its reputation. Impacting the ability to attract and retain customers for the firm.
Financial costs: Fines, legal fees, compensation payments, and increased insurance are some additional costs a firm would have to bear in case of non-compliant to COSHH.

Employees responsibilities

Employees must ensure they implement what they have learned in their daily tasks. Ensuring that no or minimal harm comes to them or others. Here are some of the responsibilities of employees related to COSHH and its training.

Assisting their colleagues in creating a safer workplace, abiding by the regulations set by the employer, and ensuring that others follow too.
Following the proper procedures taught to them and not doing something extraordinarily of their own.
Wearing the proper and correct personal protective equipment.
Reporting the supervisors or the employers in case of any faults or accidents in the workplace.
Attending medical check-ups- some workplaces provide medical check-ups for their employees. An employee is responsible for attending these check-ups and analyzing his health.

Employers responsibilities

As the seniors of a workplace, employers also have some duties placed upon them. It can range from educating their staff to providing them with safety equipment. Here are some responsibilities an employer is expected to take care of.

Checking and observing the tasks performed by the workers.
Providing their staff with health care and check-ups should be mandatory, especially if the exposure to hazards is long.
Providing their employees with proper safety equipment.
Supervising to check whether the employees carry out their tasks as they should.
Installing preventive and control measures to limit exposure to hazardous substances.
Providing adequate training
Providing plans in case of emergencies
Providing COSHH risk assessments.

Conclusion

This blog has summed up the importance of COSHH regulations and the need for COSHH training. The example of COSHH training for cleaners supports the argument for the importance of COSHH training. As cleaning is the type of job that always carries a threat of exposure to hazards. Thus, there comes the need for COSHH training so that the workers can be aware of the possible dangers and protect themselves from them. By prioritizing the COSHH training, employers of a firm can benefit themselves in various ways and save themselves from harmful consequences.

From improved productivity to legal compliance and reduced cost, complying with COSHH regulations can be very beneficial. COSHH training benefits both employees and employers. By investing in COSHH training, employers can create a positive workplace culture, improve employee morale, and build a strong reputation for the firm. Thus, COSHH training is a crucial workplace safety component that can benefit the firm and its workers.

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