HSE is inspecting manufacturing businesses that use metalworking fluids in their machining processes until March

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Quiz - test your knowledge

Exposure to metalworking fluids can cause harm to lungs and skin.

 

Work-related lung diseases have a devastating impact on workers’ lives, but when effective controls are in place, occupational lung diseases are preventable. Are you confident on how to protect your workers? 

 

There are 8 questions to complete and all answers are anonymous. 

Webinar - managing metalworking fluid hazards

This short webinar provides information that will help you manage the health hazards from metalworking fluids.  

 

It includes a case study of an HSE investigation, the control measures required to protect the health of workers and a summary of required fluid quality checks:

 

Watch the webinar - managing metalworking fluid hazards

 

Produced by HSE in conjunction with the United Kingdom Lubricants Association Product Stewardship Group.  

Three things to get right

Here's a reminder of the main reasons that businesses fail to demonstrate compliance:

 

Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) 

LEV should be fitted to CNC machines where operators are exposed to metalworking fluid mist. It is the key control measure to reduce inhalation exposure.

 

For more information, download HSE's guidance sheet COSHH MW1: CNC machining (.pdf).

 

Maintaining fluid quality 

Water-mix metalworking fluid deteriorates over time and can become contaminated with harmful bacteria and other contaminants. Monitoring and maintaining fluid quality is key to controlling risk.

 

For more information, download HSE's guidance sheet COSHH MW5: Managing fluid quality (.pdf). 

 

Health surveillance 

Health surveillance is a scheme of repeated health checks which are used to identify ill health caused by work as early as possible. Where there is exposure to fluid or mist, it is a legal requirement to carry out health surveillance even when preventative controls, such as fluid quality checks and LEV, are in place.

 

Find out more:  

Did you know?

HSE's latest statistics (2022 to 2023) show: 

  • an estimated 12,000 people died from lung diseases linked to exposure to hazardous substances at work
  • an estimated 19,000 new cases of breathing and lung problems thought to be caused or made worse by work
  • the manufacturing industry has a substantially higher rate than average for occupational asthma

View the statistics in full on HSE's website

More about the metalworking fluids inspection campaign

Visit our campaign website for more information and resources.

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