COSHH Cupboard

The law requires us to adequately control exposure to materials that cause ill health - this is referred to as Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).

To comply with these regulations, we have a locked metal cabinet in the dock that stores hazardous materials (flammables, chemicals, paints etc) alongside their datasheets. The contents of this is logged each month by the WAC Head of Workshop.

Images before and after a COSHH cupboard cleanout. Note how the bottom shelf must be clear!

Guidance

• The key to the COSHH cupboard is kept in a lockbox mounted on the wall to the right. The code for this can be obtained from Tech Crew exec if required.
• Everything in the COSHH cupboard should have a proper datasheet listing its content.
• The bottom of the cupboard is a drip tray and cannot have things stored there. It must be kept clear.
• A hazardous material will have a red diamond with a pictogram of the hazard inside.
• Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Stock

We stock the following items in the cupboard. If any stock is low, please inform Tech Crew Exec.

Item	Purpose/Notes
Air Duster spray can	For dusting, and clearing out mics when sweated out.
Label Remover	Good for removing tape residue from cables
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)	Removing sharpie from case labels (be aware this is flammable with an invisible flame).
Paints	Tech Crew stock white and black coats, other paints are bought for shows specifically and should be labelled with which show and dates of purchase. Where possible, water-based, non-aerosolised paints should be chosen. When mixed, some paints will never dry – ask before you buy if unsure. Some paints are designed to be watered down – again, ask if unsure. White paint is often used as an undercoat, with the final colour being applied as a second layer. If you mix colours, remember to keep track of what ratio you used, in case you need more of that colour later!
N5 Flamebar	Fire retardant used for wood and wood products (paper, cardboard, etc.).
PE6 Flamebar	Fire retardant used for natural and synthetic materials (cotton, linen, muslin, wool, etc.).
Paint Brushes, Rollers, Trays, Spray Bottles	Tech Crew stock of painting and Flamebar supplies. The contents are for everyone to use, so clean them once you’re finished. If there are issues, contact Tech Crew Exec

Please note that the consumables in the COSHH cupboard are not free. Some contents of the cupboard might be for other shows, so check with Tech Crew Exec before you use something that’s already in there (and label what is for your show). We don’t make profit on consumables; the cost is passed onto the show as transparently as we can.

Flambar

Flamebar is a fire retardant liquid that you must apply to any flammable materials in a show. It can be applied by dipping, spraying, padding, or brushing. Use the solution as supplied or dilute with water according to data sheet or preferably by test. Flame retardancy is long-lasting, but if you wash what you flamebared, you should reapply another layer.

Hazard Pictograms (symbols)