United_Digital1_8:Activist issue 7 12/06/2009 13:25 Page 26
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united digital health and safety
Spraying it like it is – Larry Little zaps with safety
Mark Thomas
Falling like flies?
Just because you use fly spray at home doesn’t make it safe to use at work.
Unite safety man Larry Little explains
When Unite member Larry Little conducted in the workplace if they are labelled as protected when open food or preparation and
a safety review in his employer’s offices, his potentially hazardous.” eating equipment is present.”
colleagues did not expect to find fly spray,
Tippex, solvents, glues, paints and air fresheners Larry, who has been involved with health and But Larry believes it is possible to eliminate
on the list of hazardous items. safety since the first formal conference in 1976, many hazardous products by speaking to
believes the most effective way to guard against suppliers and ordering brands that are not
But after completing the review it was potential hazards is to spend time with listed as a CoSHH.
discovered control of substances to hazardous employees providing education on how to use
health (CoSHH) items, that display orange products correctly. “Our aim is to eliminate the number of
warning labels, were as common at work as in CoSHH products we use. In many cases an
the home. “There will always be certain aspects of alternative product is available which could do
accident categories that won’t reduce because the same job without a CoSHH assessment,”
As part of the assessment every office was of the nature of some jobs, but it is important Larry says.
audited and managers were informed of the to identify avoidable accidents and do our part
requirements of the regulations so they to prevent them.” “When you go into different suppliers you can
understood the need for CoSHH related buy alternatives that do not conform to
products to be assessed. Larry urges anybody who uses products CoSHH. We have a division that is responsible
featuring an orange hazard label to for putting posters in schools using a spray
“Most staff were generally surprised and had ensure an assessment is carried out. Staff adhesive and we discovered this is also available
no idea as to what the contents of many expected to use these items must be trained in a non-flammable variety.”
household products can do if used incorrectly,” to use them, fully informed of any dangers and
Larry says. advised whether they require protective Newham currently have 2,000 employees and
clothing or have exposure limitations. are meticulous in recording accidents in case
Larry, a health and safety adviser with Newham injuries recur in the future. In the past eight
in London since 1997, says CoSHH products “Fly spray should only be used in short sharp years reportable accidents have reduced from
have information on how to correctly use the bursts and the room should be vacated 145 to just 20.
item printed on the packaging. immediately so the spray is not inhaled, rather
than chasing the fly around the room. “By monitoring health and safety on a continual
“Many products that are used commonly in the “Sprays should be kept at least one metre away basis we show that we care and that we are
home must be recorded on a CoSHH register from all surfaces and surfaces should be doing the right thing,” Larry says.
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