BESA Cymru/Wales Health and Safety Forum

February 21 2019

BSS Industrial - TP Contract Merchanting Division - Cardiff

BESA Cymru/Wales Regional Health and Safety Forum

8.30-9.00am 

Arrival and registration

• Introduction, and welcome from David Frise
• Brief overview of the safety forum moving forward

9.00am-10.30am   

Rebecca Crosland BESA Health and Safety Advisor

ASBESTOS AWARENESS TRAINING

Asbestos is an incredibly hazardous substance that causes serious ill-health to anyone who disturbs it. For this reason, anyone who is likely to disturb asbestos in their work must have an awareness of the correct health and safety procedures to follow.

Asbestos Awareness training helps people to understand the risks associated with the material so that they can avoid work that may disturb asbestos.

PROGRAMME

• The properties of asbestos and its effects on health, including the increased risk of developing lung cancer for asbestos workers who smoke
• The types, uses and likely occurrence of asbestos and asbestos materials in buildings and plant
• The general procedures to deal with an emergency, e.g. an uncontrolled release of asbestos dust into the workplace
• How to avoid the risk of exposure to asbestos
• Asbestos Video clip
• Questions

Attendance certificates will be issued to all candidates that attend.

10.30am-11.00am 

 COFFEE

11.00am-12.15  

GUEST SPEAKER -Paul Chamberlin-We Fit RPE Ltd (Fit to fit accredited)

FACE FIT PRESENTATION

PROGRAMME

The presentation will focus on the importance of face fit testing.

The supporting guidance for COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), CLaW (Control of Lead at Work), CAR (Control of Asbestos Regulations) and the Ionising Radiation Regulations, stipulate that fit testing should be carried out as part of the initial mask selection process.  

• Why RPE must be able to provide adequate protection for individual wearers.
• Why RPE can't protect the wearer if it leaks.
• A major cause of leaks is poor fit – Why tight-fitting face pieces need to fit the wearer’s face to be effective.
• The daily shave and employment contracts
• Why fit testing will ensure that the equipment selected is suitable for the wearer.
• Delegates will be able to try the masks and find out why face fit testing is vitally important.
• A practical face fit session

Which masks need to be tested?

Face fit testing is required for all of the following types of masks:

• Disposable half masks
• Re-usable filter or cartridge half masks
• Powered respirators
• Full face filter or cartridge masks
• Escape set masks
• Full breathing apparatus masks

There are two types of test.

The qualitative test can only be carried out on half masks.  The test takes around 20 minutes and involves wearing a hood over the head and shoulders.  The tester sprays a bitter tasting solution into the hood whilst the delegate carries out a series of exercises, i.e. turning head from side to side.  If the wearer can taste the solution then the mask does not fit correctly.

The quantitative test can be carried out on any type of mask.  There are several different methods for this test.  The most common method involves attaching the mask to a machine (a Portacount), which can detect whether airborne particles are passing into the mask through the seal.  Again the test takes around 20 minutes and at the end of the test the machine gives a 'pass' or 'fail'.

12.15-1.00pm  

BSS Construction Dusts and Dust Extraction-Close

PROGRAMME

How the BSS organisation has increased the focus on dust and dust extraction within the industry.

• Some of the most common construction jobs create high dust levels.
• These jobs often involve the use of power tools like cut-off saws, grinders, breakers and sanders.
• There is a legal duty for employers to prevent or adequately control worker exposure to construction dust.
• On-tool extraction is an effective control for this dust and will reduce the risk of ill health.
• The hazards posed by construction dusts
• The risks linked to the dusts involved
• Working at height with the equipment
• Practical session to allow delegates to view dust extraction systems provided by BSS