Eco-friendly Products May Still Need CoSHH Assessment
Published Date: 14th December 2009
It might seem logical to assume that it would be sensible to use eco/environmentally friendly products as much as possible.
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.
It's often the case, that some companies claim to manufacture environmentally friendly organic products, but actually they may not. Body care products do not have the same specifications for what is considered 'organic' like food does. There are a handful of various standards and regulations companies look to but few actually follow the regulations for what is considered 'organic'.
In particular, eco friendly baby care products are adding more dangerous chemicals. Products that include chemicals such as BHA, tricolsan and parabens are all dangerous to the atmosphere and can even be hazardous to humans.
Terms such as 'natural' and 'eco friendly' on a product should not qualify them as being safe unless they are supported by specific ingredient information such as 'solvent free', 'no petroleum based ingredients' etc.
It is imperative then, that in order to comply with CoSHH regulations, a CoSHH assessment must be undertaken for all cleaning products regardless of any claims associated with the product that relate to being 'eco/environmentally friendly' or 'organic'.
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. The law requires employers to control exposure to hazardous substances to prevent ill health.