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Consumer
uipment
Flammable
Explosive
Gas under pressure
Oxidising
Dangerous to the
environment
Caution - used for less
serious health hazards
like skin irritation
Longer term health
hazards such as
carcinogenicity
Corrosive
Toxic
COSHH is the law that requires you to control substances that are hazardous to health.
Most businesses use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances, so it is
important that a COSHH assessment is carried out.
In an electrical workplace, COSHH risk assessments should be carried out to
understand the risk of common tasks, e.g inhalation of soldering fumes and aerosol
gases.
You can prevent or reduce workers’ exposure to hazardous substances by:
• Finding out what the health hazards are
• Deciding how to prevent harm to health (risk assessment)
• Providing control measures and making sure they are used effectively
• Providing information, instruction and training for employees and others
• Providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases
• Planning for emergencies
IP
RATINGS
The IP (International Protection) rating given to a piece of electrical apparatus is a two digit code
indicating the degree of protection its enclosure affords it. The first digit represents protection
against penetration by solid objects accessing hazardous parts, the second describing the
enclosures, protection against the ingress of water. An X in place of either digit means that
either the enclosure has not been tested or that the test is not applicable.
NOTE:
In the eve t of additional holes being drilled, pierced or knockouts removed, suitable measures should be taken to
restore the product to its original rating IEC 529, BS EN 60529 does not apply to protection against the risk of explosion or
conditions such as humidity, corrosive gases, fungi or vermin. In certain cases equipment designed to be mounted in an
enclosure will contribute towards the stated IP rating, (e.g. pushbuttons mounted in an enclosure). Different parts of
enclosures can have different degrees of protection and still conform to the standard.
1
ST
DIGIT
MECHANICAL
PROTECTION
WATER INGRESS
PROTECTION
2
ND
DIGIT
0
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
No protection.
No protection.
Protected against solid
objects over 50mm, e.g.
accidental touch by hands.
Protected against solid
objects over 12mm,
e.g. fingers.
Protected against solid
objects over 2.5mm,
e.g. tools & wires.
Protected against solid
objects over 1mm, e.g.
wires, nails etc.
Protected against dust
limited ingress, not
harmfull deposits.
Totally protected
against dust.
Protected against low pressure
jets of water from all directions,
limited ingress permitted
Protected against strong jets
of water e.g. on ships deck,
limited ingress permitted.
Protected against water
splashed from all directions,
linted ingress permitted.
Protected against direct
sprays of water up to 60
from the vertical.
Protected against vertically
falling drops of water e.g.
condensation.
Protected against direct
sprays of water up to 15
from the vertical.
o
o
12.5
50
2.5
1
C
OSHH