Page 35 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

Chapter 1 Health and safety practices and systems

● arrange to measure the level of lead in your body; this is done by a simple
blood test administered by a doctor at your place of work; you must be told
the results of your tests.
There are ways you can help yourself too, which include the following.

● Make sure you have all the information and training you need to work safely
with lead, including knowing what to do in an emergency such as the sudden
uncontrolled release of lead dust or fume into the atmosphere.
● Use all the equipment provided by your employer and follow its instructions
for use.
● Follow good work practices, keeping your immediate work area as clean and KEY TERMS
tidy as possible and taking care not to take home any PPE such as overalls or Wetting: the process of
protective footwear. using a flux and solder to
● Wear any necessary PPE clothing and respiratory protection. join copper components
● Report any damaged or defective equipment to your employer. is often referred to in the
● Eat and drink only in designated areas that are free from lead contamination. plumbing trade as wetting.
● Practise a high standard of personal hygiene, washing your hands, face and Rosin: a natural solid,
nails regularly and showering before leaving the site when necessary. resin-type material obtained
● Do not miss medical appointments with the doctor at your place of work. from pine trees, which,
when heated, forms acidic
Working with fluxes particles that can irritate the
breathing. This could lead
Flux is a paste compound that helps solder to adhere to copper tubes and to occupational asthma.
copper-based fittings. The term we use for this process is wetting. There are two Zinc chloride: a corrosive
basic types of flux used today in the plumbing industry: substance that can cause
skin irritation, burns and eye
1 Traditional fluxes: these grease-based fluxes often contain a chemical damage if it gets in the eye.
called rosin (also known as colophony) or zinc chloride. Caution should be
exercised when using this kind of flux. It is recommended that you check
COSHH data sheets for further information regarding these products.
2 Self-cleaning fluxes: this type of flux is also known as ‘active’ flux because
of its aggressive nature. Most are based on zinc chloride or hydrochloric acid,
both of which can cause burns and severe skin irritation, so careful handling
and use is very important. Other self-cleaning fluxes may use natural
enzymes as cleaning agents but these are also known to irritate the skin.

All flux should be handled with care. Use a brush to apply the paste and always
wash your hands thoroughly after use. p Figure 1.10 Typical self-cleaning
flux
Working with solvents

A variety of solvents with differing degrees of toxicity are used in construction. INDUSTRY TIP
They are in paints, adhesives, epoxy resins and other products.
Generally, exposure to excessive amounts of solvent vapour is greater when Again, it is recommended that
solvents are handled in enclosed or confined spaces. Care should be taken when you check COSHH data sheets
for further specific health and
using solvent adhesives to solvent weld PVCu pipes and fittings in confined safety information regarding
spaces. Solvents can: these products.

● irritate your eyes, nose or throat
● make you dizzy, sleepy, give you a headache or cause you to pass out
● affect your judgement or co-ordination
● cause internal damage to your body
● dry out or irritate your skin. 23

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