NEBOSH

Diploma Part 1

Unit 1E3
Prevention & control measures for occupational health risks

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 Hierarchy of control
• Elimination
• Substitution
• Isolate the person
• Enclose the process
• LEV
• Dilution ventilation
• Good housekeeping & personal hygiene
• Reduced exposure time
• PPE

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 Warning Signs

• An addition to the hierarchy

• May be required by legislation

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 Elimination/substitution
Examples of substitution include:

• Water based for a solvent based paint

• Trichlorethylene for carbon tetrachloride
• A welding process for a riveting process
• Use of glue rather than nails

• Any other examples?

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 Isolate the person

• Prevent contact with the hazard

• Isolated control rooms

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 Enclose the process
• Physical barriers
• Fume cupboards/glove systems
• Acoustic enclosures

• Any other examples?

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Local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
A typical system includes:

• A hood or nozzle
• Ducting
• A collection system
• A fan
• Maintenance essential
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Your LEV systems

Examples

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 Dilution ventilation
• Natural convection
• Fan assist
• Only suitable for low, constant emissions
of substances with low toxicity
• Can adversely affect heating requirements

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 Good housekeeping/personal
hygiene
• Prevent accidental spillages
• Procedures for dealing with spillages
• Control & disposal of waste
• Damp floors to reduce dust levels
• Prevention of contamination of food and
drink and clothing
• Medical surveillance for lead etc.
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 Reduced exposure time
• Not suitable in all cases e.g. toxic
substances

• Can only be considered for uniform

emission of substances

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 PPE
• Last resort after above controls have been
considered/implemented
• Competent persons to choose
• Nature of hazard, PPE performance data
and standards of required control to be
taken into account

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 LEV systems
• Parts of machine casings
• Vacuum cleaners connected to exhaust
systems
• Furnace or oven flues
• Fume cupboards
• Low/volume high velocity extraction
systems for cutting processes
• Other examples?

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 COSHH 1999

Regulation 9(2)(a):
• A thorough examination and test of all LEV
systems must be carried out at least every
14 months or as indicated in schedule 4

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 Schedule 4
• Blasting of metal castings – monthly
• Dry grinding, abrading or polishing of
certain metals – every six months
• Where fumes are produced from non-
ferrous metal casting – every six months
• Jute cloth manufacture – every month
• Old plant - increased frequency required
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 Keeping of records
1. Details of employer
2. Identification of LEV plant, process
3. Date of last examination and test
4. Conditions at time of test e.g. normal working
5. Information about specified & actual operating
performance
6. Methods used to make judgements e.g. visual, flow
measurements
7. The date of examination and test

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 Keeping of records
8. The name, designation & employer of
person carrying out the test
9. The signature or unique authentication of
person carrying out the test
10. Details of any repairs carried out

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 Enclosures/hoods
• Maximum number to be used at any one
time
• Location or position
• Static pressure behind each hood
• Face velocity

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 Ducting

• Dimensions
• Transport velocity
• Volume flow

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 Filter/collector

• Specification
• Volume flow
• Static pressure at inlet, outlet
and across filter

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 Fan/air mover

• Specification
• Volume flow
• Static pressure at the inlet
• Direction of rotation

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 Air return systems
If air is returned to the workplace details
must be recorded of:

• The filter efficiency

• Concentration of any contaminants in the
recycled air

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 Control of Lead at Work
Regulations 1998
• Control measures other than PPE required
• LEV systems to be inspected weekly by a
responsible person
• Annual tests required – not necessarily by a
competent person
• Health surveillance

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 Asbestos Regulations
• The Asbestos (Licensing) Regs. 1983
• The Control of Asbestos at Work
(Amendment) Regs. 1992
• The Asbestos(Prohibition)(Amendment)
Regs. 1999
• The Asbestos Products(Safety) Regs.1985
• The Control of Asbestos in the Air Regs.1990
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 Disposal of Asbestos

• The Environmental Protection Act 1990

• The Special Waste Regulations 1996

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 LEV Systems for Asbestos
• Details of inspection and testing given in
the ACoP for the Control of Asbestos at
Work Regulations.
• Weekly test by a responsible person
• Part I examination: new or modified plant
• Part II examination: six monthly by a
competent person
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Noise Control Techniques

• Source
• Path – air, structure, reflected
• Receiver
• Identify the above and the magnitude

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 Order of priority

• Engineer out the problem by change

of machinery etc.
• Use enclosures, silencers etc.
• Provide PPE

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 Noise control methods
• Orientation/location
• Enclosure – controls both direct and
reverberant components. Heavy outer wall
with inner acoustic lining
• Silencing – to control noise from flows in
pipes/ducts or gases exhausting to
atmosphere

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 Silencers
• Absorptive using acoustically absorbent
material for high frequencies
• Reactive using change of shape to reflect
noise for lower frequencies
• A combination of the two is sometimes
used

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 Noise control
• Lagging – on pipes using mineral wool with
an outer layer of metal. Only suitable for
frequencies above 500 Hz
• Damping – noise being radiated from large
panels can be reduced by fitting pads, ribs
or using double skinning

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 Noise control
• Screens – used for reducing direct noise.
Work best for high frequencies and have
little effect at low frequencies
• Absorption treatment to reduce high levels
of reflected noise
• Noise cancelling

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 Plant noise reduction practices
• Secure guards and
panels
• Use anti-vibration
mounts/flexible
couplings
• Planned maintenance
• Eliminated air/steam
leaks
• Fit silencers
• Use damped/rubber
bins for components
• Switch off plant
• Use rubber/plastic
bushes and gears
• Check condition of
noise control
equipment

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 Prevention of noise pollution
• Close doors/windows during unsocial hours
• Carry out loading during the day
• Turn off vehicle engines
• Position exhaust fans away from
neighbouring properties
• Carry out noise spot checks at perimeter

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Occupational Health
Departments

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 Health assessments
• Pre-employment and other medical
examinations
• Examination of employees exposed to
specific hazards
• Treatment of conditions in conjunction
with GPs etc. e.g. dermatitis
• Emergency treatments
• Immunology services e.g. vaccinations
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 Advisory services
• Study and prevention of disease
• Legislation and codes of practice
e.g. for health surveillance
• Medical aspects of new processes
• Drug, alcohol and stress
• Training of first aiders
• Retirement advice
• Contingency planning
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Employment Medical Advisory
Service (EMAS)
• Formed in 1972 replacing Appointed
Factory Doctor system
• Gives advice to any interested parties on
medical matters relating to work
• Authorised under HASAWA Section II

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