In your industry employees may be exposed to UV-curable inks, isocyanates and other chemicals which have the potential to cause respiratory and skin problems. These products labelled R42 ‘May cause sensitisation by inhalation’, R42/43 ‘May cause sensitisation by inhalation and skin contact’ or R43 ‘May cause sensitisation by skin contact’.

Health surveillance for workers using isocyanates or other respiratory sensitisers may include:

• assessing workers respiratory health before a worker starts a relevant job;
• introducing annual surveillance, or as advised by your competent occupational health professional. This may involve further questionnaires and lung function tests;
• keeping a health record;
• monitoring sickness absence.

Health surveillance for skin problems may include:

• assessing workers skin condition as soon as possible after starting work,
• examining the skin (usually hands and forearms) regularly,
• asking workers about their skin condition;
• keeping a record.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

It is an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for any person knowingly to permit the production, supply or use of controlled substances on their premises except in specified circumstances (e.g. when they have been prescribed by a doctor).

You should also be aware of duties under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Transport and Works Act 1992. Drivers of road vehicles must not be under the influence of drugs while driving, attempting to drive or when they are in charge of a vehicle. Certain rail, tram and other guided transport system workers must not be unfit through drugs while working on the system. The operator of such a system must exercise all due diligence to avoid those workers being unfit.

Key messages

Drug and other substance (e.g. solvent) misuse is everyone’s concern. In the context of work, not only does it damage the misuser’s health, but it can cost employers through absenteeism and reduced productivity. It may also increase the risk of accidents. Employers should adopt a substance misuse policy, in consultation with their staff. This policy should aim to support affected employees rather than punish them, though your policy must say that possession or dealing in drugs at work will be reported immediately to the Police. If an employee admits to being a drug user, your policy should seek to help them rather than lead simply to dismissing them.

Having an adequate drug and alcohol policy is the first step in protecting both you and your employees.  Call us now for advice and assistance.

⇒ OSHS Partners in Travel

The British quarry industry has traditionally had a poor health and safety record. However, through an effective partnership approach with all key stakeholders including HSE, this is no longer the case.

The Quarries National Joint Advisory Committee (QNJAC) is a tripartite committee (HSE, employers and employees) at which stakeholders in the British quarry industry are able to discuss priorities and develop solutions. The HSE’s definition of a quarry includes all surface mining: i.e. opencast coal, industrial minerals, kaolin, ball clay, brick clay, barytes, gypsum, silica sands, fluorspar, china stone, slate, fullers’ earth, limestone, dolomite, basalt, and aggregates. Thus defined, the industry consists of some 20,000 direct employees, 20,000 contractors and daily 20,000 lorry drivers.

OSHS provides both Occupational Health and Drug and Alcohol Services to the Quarry Industry throughout the UK.

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for the quality management of businesses.

ISO 9001 – What is it?•

• applies to the processes that create and control the products and services an organisation supplies
• prescribes systematic control of activities to ensure that the needs and expectations of customers are met
• is designed and intended to apply to virtually any product or service, made by any process anywhere in the world

We  were delighted to be given a platform at Ayrshire Business Week  to  give other companies the insight into how our business started and how we came about.

You can read  more about the The Story Behind On Site Health Systems  .