The Workplace Action Safety Protection Sheet (Wasp sheet) is a cost-effective communications tool for Reach, because it plugs the gap between the scientifically expressed SDS and most of the workforce
As many will know, the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals Regulations (Reach) are coming into force in 2007.
These require all manufacturers and suppliers who deal with chemicals to share all important safety information with their customers and chemical users right down the supply chain to the user.
Environmental Science has started a new initiative to assist in this process with the introduction of a Workplace Action Safety Protection Sheet (Wasp sheet).
Properly written, Safety Data Sheets (SDS) effectively communicate chemical hazards to most chemical industry professionals.
However, the SDS becomes woefully inadequate to most people who actually use, ship or otherwise handle chemicals.
This is because the SDS is necessarily written in technical language, and so cannot easily be understood by the majority of workers in industries where chemicals are used.
Benefits of Wasps.
The Wasp sheet is a cost-effective communications tool for Reach, because it plugs the gap between the scientifically expressed SDS and most of the workforce.
It works by using software to extract key information from the SDS (Chip Classification, Risk Phrases, and other important data).
It then presents this on a single-page Wasps document, in a simple and highly-visual graphical form that has been specifically designed to be easily assimilated and understood.
The Wasp sheet shows individual linear bar charts for each route of exposure, through mouth, nose, skin etc., as well as flammability, environmental-impact and waste considerations.
Individual Wasps sheets can be produced in less than five minutes, and these can be printed directly, or saved as PDF files.
Wasp sheets written in English can be automatically reproduced by the software in four other European languages.
The package also contains a full implementation of the Coshh Essentials risk assessment method introduced by the HSE.
Subsequent Coshh assessment reports are created in HTML which contain dynamic links direct to the control-measure guidance sheets on the HSE website.
In addition, provision has also been made on the Wasp Sheet to place reminders of control measures and PPE assigned of any prior Coshh Assessment.
Tested acceptance.
Current usage has clearly shown Wasps to be readily understood and welcomed by users across the board, from those with diverse educational backgrounds, to migrant workers even if they cannot speak English.
Existing organisations using the system include Kellogg's, Coca Cola, Rentokil, Initial UK and Bosch, alongside organisations such as councils, universities, construction and breweries.
Availability.
Wasps software comes with a pre-written library of over 1300 Wasp sheets including many generic and proprietary products.
It is available now as a low-cost subscription service on annual basis from Environmental Science.
