In order to complete the assessment I have referred to the COSHH booklet produced by the HMSO / Health and Safety Executive titled The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1998.
- Information
- Information has been gathered from the product safety data sheet, the product label and from the Chemical supplier.
- Evaluation of Health Risks
- Risks to health will be dealt with under the following headings:
- 1. Storage
- 2. Transportation whilst carrying out pest control duties
- 3. Working practices, including P.P.E.
- 4. Risks to Public Health
- 5. Disposal
- 6. Records
1. Storage
- The chemical store comprises of two areas, the outer store being a locked room made suitable for product storage and an inner store being a steel store cabinet suitable for the storage of all products including Phostek and concentrated insecticides.
- All products will be kept in their original containers or decanted into smaller containers that are also labeled.
- The store is waterproof, cool and dry within. It is inaccessible to children, animals and contains no foodstuffs or animal feed. It is well ventilated and constructed to provide adequate fire containment.
- Records of products stored and P.S.D.S. are kept in the store as well as in the office and in the vehicle. The chemical store and the records are marked with safety signs.
- 1. A First Aid Kit and Eye Wash are kept in the store.
- 2. A Fire Extinguisher is also kept in the store.
2. Transport
- The product will be transported in a labeled spill proof container separated from the drivers compartment. The vehicle carries a Hazard Warning sign fixed to the rear, a first aid kit, eyewash, a red triangle and a fire extinguisher..
- Product safety data sheets and a vehicle stock check list are kept in the front of the vehicle. When the vehicle is left unattended, it will be locked. Bags will be kept in the vehicle to collect waste for disposal or items spilled.
3. Working Practices
- Composition
- Klerat is an anticoagulant, formed as a wax block, 20g, and 1-inch square. It contains brodifacoum 0.005%m/m. It is very dark blue in color and contains bitrex, a human taste deterrent.
- The product will be stored in a spill proof container and labeled correctly. The product in terms of Hazard Identification is not classified and the PSDS states "practically non hazardous by skin contact"
- Public Health Risks
- Health hazards would mainly occur through accidental ingestion. Large quantities would have to be ingested to provide toxic effects. This has to be taken into account when laying the bait with children and non-target animals species being at highest risk.
- Tamper proof bait stations will be used where practical and customers advised to prevent access by children and pets. Advice to Householder sheets produced by Sorex Ltd will be issued or kept on file so that should a problem arise the product information is to hand.
- Operational Health Risks
- During normal pest control duties, a health risk would mainly occur whilst handling the product. Killgerm recommend that operators wear PVC / nitrile gloves and coveralls. Bait will be moved using bait spoons, where practical. Care must be taken when decanting the product to avoid dust being exposed to the face.
- Spillage's should be swept up or vacuumed and dealt with as waste product.
4. Risks to Public Health
- Prior to any treatment, a survey will be carried out. The survey will consider where a risk to public health may occur and what actions need to be taken to prevent or minimize the risk.
- In many cases, this will be without the need for a written appraisal. Survey and Treatment reports will be issued following each site visit and placed in the pest control report book or handed to the customer.
- Treatment sheets will contain details regarding the following:
- 1. The customer and premises address
- 2. A brief outline of the problem
- 3. A Description of the treatment carried out
- 4. Necessary precautions the customer needs to take
- 5. A full description of the products used
- a) The product trade name
- b) The chemical name
- c) Quantities or the rate of application
Additional advice sheets will be given where appropriate
5. Disposal
- We hold a current Waste Carriers License. No CB/ME565BXR
- All items requiring disposal under this scheme will be collected and stored in the outer store area, bagged and labeled and incinerated accordingly.
6. Records
- A daily diary is kept and records all site visits that result in rodenticides / insecticides being used. This corresponds to the survey and treatment sheets that are completed on site.
- This COSHH Assessment will be reviewed periodically or at any time, additional information becomes known.
Last reviewed 01/09/08
