subject: Cossh - The Potential Hazards Associated With Eco Friendly Products [print this page] Using eco/environmentally products in the work place may seem like the logical step to take to protect the environment.
However, it is not necessarily the case that products which are essentially safe for the environment are safe and non hazardous for human beings.
It is still very much a necessity to complete a CoSHH risk assessment for all eco/environmentally friendly products. Natural, after all, does not equate to non-toxic.
Indeed, an example of a potentially hazardous environmentally friendly product is the reusable shopping bag which could be dangerous for our health. A micro-biological study in America of earth friendly shopping bags discovered that although these bags are better for the environment than plastic bags, they may be a source of an alarming amount of bacteria, yeast and mould which could make us ill.
The possible dangers of reusable bags include food poising, provoking asthma attacks, allergic reactions, and ear infections.
Adversely, plastic carrier bags may be bad for the environment, but they are actually much more hygienic than reusable ones. This is very much down to the fact that reusable carrier bags are used repeatedly.
The biggest cause of bacteria can come from leaks into the bags from produce bought in supermarkets, and then this bacteria being spread, inadvertently, by staff who are transferring bacteria from one reusable bag to another.
Some companies, do actually claim to produce eco friendly products, but actually they do not. Body care products do not have the same specifications for what is considered 'organic' like food does. There are a small number of differing rules and regulations that manufacturers look at when considering a product to be classed as 'organic', but on the whole, few follow these.
In particular, eco friendly baby care products are adding more dangerous chemicals. Chemicals containing BHA, tricolsan and parabens, are not only to the atmosphere but to humans aswell.
A product should not necessarily be deemed safe just because they are labelled as 'natural' or 'eco friendly'. The specific ingredient information should also include titles such as 'solvent free' or 'no petroleum based ingredients' etc.
All products being utilised within the workplace, regardless of whether they are 'eco/environmentally friendly' or 'organic', are still required to have a CoSHH assessment according to CoSHH regulations.
A CoSHH assessment will clearly identify any hazards and dangers associated with the use of a substance and help in the process of risk management for the health and safety of workers. In order to prevent ill health, it is a legal requirement that employers control exposure to dangerous substances within their working environment.
by: Dale Allen
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