Hazardous substances are chemicals or materials that can be harmful to you and your team.
They might hurt you if you touch them, breathe them in, or swallow them – in a matter of moments or after prolonged exposure. So, it’s important to keep track of what’s on your construction site and how much you have, so you can ensure you, your team and other trades health is not at risk, having a system like HazardCo can help you ensure health stays priority on the site.
Legal Stuff
If you have hazardous substances on your site, there are rules you have to follow. These rules are there to make sure these substances are stored, used, and thrown away safely. This helps to keep everyone safe from getting hurt and minimises their risk of long-term health issues from hazardous substance exposure.
Common Hazards on Building Sites
Here are some chemicals or materials you might find on a building site that can be dangerous:
- Paint
- Solvents (like paint thinner)
- Concrete
- Cement
- Glue
- Aerosols (like spray paint)
- Types of Hazards
- Asbestos
- Silica
These hazardous substances can cause different types of problems:
Physical hazards, like being flammable (can catch fire easily) or under pressure.
Health hazards, like being toxic if you touch them, corrosive (hurting your skin or eyes), causing breathing problems or long-term health affects that can shorten a person’s lifespan.
Checking Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Whenever you use a chemical or material, you should look at its Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for materials these can also be labelled as MSDS’s. These are a sheet tells you important things about the chemical, like what to do if something goes wrong. An SDS also tells you important info about a chemical, like what’s in it, who made it, and how to use it safely.
Hazardous Substance Register
What’s in a Hazardous Substance Register
Your register should have:
- The name of the substance
- When the safety data sheet was last updated
- How much you have
- Where it’s kept
- Any special instructions for storing it
- If it’s hazardous waste
Why You Need a Hazardous Substance Register
By law, you must keep a list of all the hazardous substances you use, handle, or keep at your workplace. This helps you know what’s around and what to do if there’s an emergency.
Keeping Your Register Up to Date
You should review your register whenever something changes. If you get more or less of a substance, update the register.
Making a Hazardous Substance Register
Hazardco makes this simple and have a template that makes it easy to create your register. HazardCo members can find it in the HazardCo Hub.
Getting Help
Safety can be a struggle, that’s why there are experts such as HazardCo If you need help or have questions, you can always reach out to HazardCo. They are here to help you and your team stay safe.
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