Spillages, exposure and reporting

When a spillage or exposure occurs, acting quickly reduces harm. That may mean following the local spill procedure, rinsing the eye or skin as directed, getting medical help and keeping children out of the area. Which action is needed depends on the product and the situation, which is why local COSHH information must be accessible.

Reporting incidents is part of managing risk. A splash, strong fumes, a child nearly reaching a cleaning product or repeated storage failures should be logged so the home can correct the underlying problem before a more serious incident happens.

If the substance is unknown, fumes are present, or the spill is beyond your training, do not investigate alone or improvise a clean-up. Make the area safe, keep children away and follow the local procedure to get appropriate help.

Good first steps

• Make the area safer.
• Follow the local exposure or spill procedure.
• Get medical help or first aid if needed.
• Tell the right manager or lead quickly.
• Record the incident clearly.

Manager focus: repeated workarounds

The safest spill or exposure response is prompt, follows the local procedure and records what happened honestly.