Health and safety legislation

United Kingdom
The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and HSC (Health and Safety Commission) are the government bodies responsible for the Regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.

They propose Health and Safety legislation, for parliament to pass, and then the HSE police and enforce the laws.

Inspectors, approximately 1500, are employed by the HSE to make factory visits, amongst their other duties. As far as soldering is concerned they will check to see that you comply with the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations 2002.

COSHH regulations require a risk assessment to be carried out where substances hazardous to health are used, and exposure to these substances to be prevented, or adequately controlled.

The HSE sets Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL's) for hazardous substances at work and publishes these limits in EH40 which is up dated annually.

The Workplace Exposure Limits are concentrations of the hazardous substance in the air, averaged over a specified period of time referred to as a time weighted average (TWA). Two time periods are used: long term (8hours) and short term (15 minutes). Short term exposure limits (STEL) are set to prevent effects, such as eye irritation, which may occur following exposure for a few minutes.

Rosin based solder flux fume is listed in EH40 as a WEL and the exposure limits are set at 0.05 mg/m3 long term and 0.15mg/m3 short term. This fume is one of the most significant causes of occupational asthma in the UK. Once asthma has developed , even small exposure to fume can lead to asthma attacks which may occur immediately or may be delayed for several hours. When fully developed the condition is irreversible. The fumes can also act as an irritant to the upper respiratory tract and eyes.

Applying WEL's: to comply with COSHH, exposure should be reduced as far below the WEL as is reasonably practicable and should not exceed the WEL when averaged over the specified reference period. For substances given a short term WEL (15 minute reference period) this level of exposure , averaged over the period , should never be exceeded.

In practical terms for most soldering activities this will mean control of the substance, Regulation 7, at source, which will usually take the form of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV). For more detailed information see the Control of substances hazardous to health (Fourth edition) Approved Code of Practice and Guidance issued by the HSE.

Once you have installed a control system, LEV, there is then a duty to maintain it in good working order, Regulation 9, which will include an annual thorough examination and test. Click here (Link to Service and Maintenance page) for information on BOFA's annual COSHH and maintenance programme.

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