Many photochemical preparations (developers, bleaches, fixers,
activators and stabilisers) contain substances which are classified
as hazardous under the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging
for Supply) Regulations 2002 (CHIP3). The photo-manufacturing companies take great care during the design
of their products to minimise the use of hazardous substances,
and during manufacture to minimise the risk of exposure in their
factories. Nonetheless, many products contain sufficient amounts
of hazardous substances for themselves to be considered to be
hazardous under the CHIP3 regulations. One of the main objectives of this legislation is to provide a
framework within which a high level of protection to human health
is achieved by reducing the risk of exposure to hazardous substances.
It does this by imposing rigorous standards for the packaging,
labelling and supply of these preparations and ensures the provision
of adequate information for end users of preparations so that
they may themselves carry out risk assessments and implement risk
reduction measures. Although these are worthy aims, the reality is that the CHIP3
regulations are complex and require expert interpretation. The
resultant devices for communicating hazardous properties information
(supply labels and safety data sheets) retain some of this complexity.
The purpose of this page is to provide links to resources that
can aid the end users of photochemical preparations to achieve
a wider understanding of the content of supply labels and safety
data sheets, and through the more effective use of this information
to reduce the risk associated with the use of hazardous chemicals
and preparations in their laboratories and darkrooms to themselves
and their employees. In the UK the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are jointly responsible
with the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) for the regulation
of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work
activity in Britain, and are responsible for the enforcement of
the CHIP regulations. The HSE provide a wide range of resources
accessible from their web sites. For specific information on CHIP3;
The campaign theme changes each year and this year the theme will
be 'Dangerous Substances'. To facilitate participation in European Week for Safety & Health
at Work 2003, (which this year is the week beginning October 13th),
the PIC has produced a series of three leaflets. Two of these
are guides entitled 'How To Read A Product Label' and 'How To
Read A Safety Data Sheet'. The third is a light-hearted quiz designed
to test awareness and understanding of the basic principles of
hazardous substance supply labelling and safety data sheets. These three PDF documents (in A4 triple-folded leaflet format)
are available for free download by clicking on the links below:
European Week for Safety & Health at Work 2003
The European Week for Safety and Health is an information campaign
held every October. Promoted in the UK by the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE), it is co-ordinated by the Bilbao-based European
Agency for Safety and Health at Work and runs in all 15 EU member
states.
