Health and Safety Executive

OCE Soldering

Offshore COSHH Control approach 2 essentials Engineering control

This information will help offshore What this sheet covers dutyholders (owners, operators and This sheet describes good practice for soldering with rosin-based contractors) to comply with the Control solders, and for desoldering. It covers the key points you need to follow of Substances Hazardous to Health to help reduce exposure to an acceptable level, as part of your COSHH Regulations 2002 (COSHH), as amended, to assessment. protect workers’ health.

This guidance consolidates good control practice and reinforces existing knowledge with additional information.

It will help you carry out COSHH assessments, review existing assessments, deliver training and in supervising activities involving substances hazardous to health. Hazards It is aimed at staff whose responsibilities 3 Fume from rosin-based solder may cause asthma. include the management of substances 3 The workplace exposure limits (WELs) for rosin-based solder fume are as low as reasonably practicable below 0.05 mg/m3 (8-hour time- hazardous to health on offshore weighted average (TWA)) and 0.15 mg/m3 (15-minute TWA). installations (eg occupational health specialists, COSHH assessors, supervisors Access etc). It is also useful for trade union and employee safety representatives. 3 So far as possible, solder and desolder in the workshop. 3 Locate the work away from doors and walkways: stop draughts interfering with fume extraction. Following this guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But Equipment and procedures if you do follow this guidance, you will normally be doing enough to comply with 3 Where possible, use rosin-free or rosin-reduced solder. the law. Health and safety inspectors seek Control equipment to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating good 3 Provide an extracted enclosure, or high-velocity low-volume (HVLV) tip extraction for the soldering iron. practice. 3 An extracted booth needs an inward air speed between 0.3 and 0.5 metre/second. Also see essential information on the back of the sheet. 3 If you use a capture hood, always keep it close to the soldering point. 3 If you use tip extraction, provide extraction tubes with a diameter greater than 5 mm. The manufacturer’s instructions should give the extraction speed. 3 Fit an airflow indicator to show that extraction is working properly. 3 Discharge extracted air to a safe place.

Soldering OCE4 Engineering control

3 Use soldering irons at the lowest temperature possible for acceptable jointing or desoldering.

Caution: Don’t use bench-mounted filtration units that return air to the workroom unless they are fitted with HEPA filters.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) – see OCM3 3 Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) should not be needed. Other protective equipment 3 Provide and ensure that workers use protective gloves. Single-use nitrile gloves are acceptable. If you must use latex gloves, use only ‘low-protein, dust-free’ gloves. 3 Throw away single-use gloves every time they are taken off. Maintenance, examination and testing Checking and maintenance 3 Keep equipment in effective and efficient working order. Follow the instructions in the manual. 3 Check for signs of damage at start of every shift. If any equipment is faulty, repair it straight away. 3 When using tip extraction, keep extraction tubes free of condensed fume. Clear the fumes at least once an hour, and wash them out thoroughly at the end of each shift. 3 At least once a week, check that the extraction system and gauges work properly.

Examination and testing 3 Extraction systems require statutory ‘thorough examination and testing’ (TExT). 3 Get a competent ventilation engineer to perform the TExT at least once every 14 months (see HSE publication HSG258). 3 Carry out all actions arising from the TExT. Records 3 Keep records of all examinations and tests for at least five years. Exposure monitoring 3 Monitoring is not normally necessary. Cleaning and housekeeping 3 Clean the workshop once a week. 3 Dispose of hazardous wastes safely. Personal decontamination and skin care 3 Provide warm water, mild skin cleansers, nailbrushes, and soft paper, fabric towels or hot air for drying. Avoid abrasive cleansers. 3 Tell workers to wash hands before every break. 3 Provide pre-work skin creams, which will make it easier to wash dirt from the skin, and after-work creams to replace skin oils.

Soldering OCE4 Engineering control

Health surveillance Employee checklist 3 Conduct low-level health surveillance for asthma using a respiratory Do you know how to use questionnaire administered by a suitably trained responsible person. the control equipment properly? Training and supervision 3 Provide supervision – ensure that safe work procedures are followed. Is the extraction working? 3 Explain the early signs of asthma. Look for signs of wear 3 Training includes toolbox talks on: and damage to n how to use equipment properly; equipment. n how to check that extraction is working properly; and

n what to do if something goes wrong. If you find any problem, 3 Involve managers and supervisors in health and safety training. get it fixed. Don’t just carry on working. Essential information Co-operate with health OCE0 Advice for managers surveillance. OCM2 Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) OCM7 Health surveillance Wash hands before eating, drinking or using the lavatory.

Other hazards n Electrical (PAT tests needed)

Further information Controlling airborne contaminants at work: A guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV) HSG258 HSE Books 2008 ISBN 978 0 7176 6298 2 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ hsg258.htm

Exposure measurement: Air sampling G409 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ guidance/g409.pdf

Workplace exposure limits EH40 www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/table1.pdf

You can find the full Offshore COSHH essentials series at www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm

This guidance was developed by representatives from the UK offshore oil and gas industry and trade unions, with HSE.

© Crown copyright 2011 Published by the Health and Safety Executive 03/11