Hazardous substances

It is of the utmost importance that security guards have knowledge of hazardous substances and how to handle them. After all, during their work they may find themselves in situations where they come into contact with such substances. In addition to keeping themselves safe, security guards are also responsible for the safety of others and the surrounding area. Hazardous substances can be released through leaks, accidents, and fires, among other causes. These are all situations in which the security guard plays a crucial role. This includes identifying the hazard, taking the appropriate protective measures, alerting the right people and services, and initiating the necessary actions.

Security guards must therefore be aware of:

•  laws and regulations governing hazardous substances
•  the characteristics of substances and how to identify them based on labeling and numbering
•  the procedures they must follow in the event of incidents involving these substances.

They must also know how to communicate with relevant parties, such as the fire department, emergency medical personnel, and environmental authorities. In addition, they must know what information is important for these services to respond effectively. To ensure that security guards have the necessary knowledge, they must be trained and receive regular refresher training.

Knowledge of hazardous substances is, of course, mandatory at any location where hazardous substances are handled. SERIS does not make any distinctions regarding who does or does not receive training. All employees, including office staff, are given the opportunity to take the Basic Knowledge of Hazardous Substances (BGS) training. By passing an online exam, participants can then obtain the BGS certificate. The BGS training covers virtually all hazardous substances that a security guard may encounter in their work, regardless of whether they work at a Brzo site (Major Accidents Risks Decree) or in a hospital. This is not surprising, as the definition of hazardous substances is broad.

ADVISORY BOARD

The Advisory Council on Hazardous Substances uses the following definition:

Hazardous substances are substances or mixtures of substances that, due to their intrinsic properties or the conditions under which they occur, pose a danger to humans or the environment, potentially causing harm to health or loss of life.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATION

The Working Conditions Decree (Article 4.1) defines hazardous substances as:

substances, mixtures, or solutions to which employees are or may be exposed during work and which, due to their properties or the conditions under which they are present, may pose a risk to safety or health.

BGS TRAINING SYLLABUS

The BGS training briefly covers the various legal regulations. It then addresses the issues that are truly important to security guards, such as identifying hazardous substances based on labeling and substance numbers.

As if that weren’t enough, the security guard must also be able to read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or (Material) Safety Data Sheet ((M)SDS). This is a structured document containing information about the risks associated with a hazardous substance or preparation and recommendations for its safe use in the workplace. It contains all the product’s properties, the hazards, and the chemical composition, including information on protective equipment, safe use, transport, and disposal. Because the VIB provides a great deal of information and is often too extensive for the work situation—and certainly for emergency situations where the relevant information must be found quickly—the VIB is often “translated” into concrete instructions on how to handle the product in the workplace. This can take the form of a workplace instruction card (WIK). This information (VIB, (M)SDS, and WIK) is also part of the exam material.

For employees working in hospitals and laboratories, the topics of cytostatic drugs, ionizing radiation, and biological agents are also covered.