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UK chemical-control guide

Bottle washing chemical safety and COSHH.

Wash chemistry can be essential to residue removal, but concentration and temperature must be developed within a documented chemical-safety, material-compatibility and site-risk-assessment boundary.

A safety data sheet is an input, not the complete assessment.

The UK Health and Safety Executive explains that safety data sheets provide information for handling chemicals safely but are not themselves COSHH assessments. The employer must assess exposure and control the actual task. See HSE’s current safety data sheet guidance and COSHH assessment guidance.

Project stageChemical-safety questionEvidence/owner
Chemistry selectionIs the product effective on the residue and compatible with bottle and machine materials?Chemical supplier data, controlled trial and machine-material review
Delivery and storageHow are incompatible materials separated, contained and identified?Site chemical inventory, storage assessment and current SDS
Transfer and dosingCan exposure, splash, over-concentration or wrong-chemical addition occur?Engineered dosing, connection design, operating procedure and training
OperationWhich normal and abnormal tasks expose operators?COSHH assessment, controls, PPE, ventilation and supervision
Cleaning and maintenanceCan retained chemical, pressure, heat or unexpected movement remain?Isolation, drain/flush verification, permit/procedure and competent maintenance
Spill or emergencyHow is release contained and how are people protected?Emergency plan, first aid, spill equipment, drainage isolation and reporting
Waste and dischargeWhere can spent liquor, rinse water and contaminated solids legally go?Trade-effluent/environmental assessment and disposal documentation

Process-development controls

  • Identify residue and bottle material before selecting chemistry
  • Use controlled concentration and temperature measurement
  • Record contact time, mechanical action and rinse sequence
  • Check bottle, seal, hose and metal compatibility
  • Define a residual-chemistry acceptance method
  • Keep test and production records traceable

Engineering controls to review

  • Closed transfer or dosing where reasonably practicable
  • Bunds, drip trays and segregated storage
  • Level, temperature and concentration alarms as justified
  • Safe sample points and drain/flush arrangements
  • Guarding and access around hot or pressurised areas
  • Clear labels, compatible connections and error prevention

Do not publish or transfer generic recipes.

There is no safe universal caustic concentration, detergent concentration or wash temperature for every bottle, residue and machine. Those parameters should be supplied or approved by the competent chemical/process specialist and then verified on representative samples within the machine’s documented operating limits.

HSE also provides specific information on COSHH and cleaning chemicals. Where disinfectants are used in food and drink operations, confirm legal status, intended use, contact conditions and rinse requirements with the supplier and competent site team.

This page is general engineering guidance and does not replace a COSHH assessment, safety data sheet review, machinery risk assessment or chemical supplier instructions.

Include chemical and residue evidence in the machine brief.

Provide the residue, proposed chemistry, current SDS, wash conditions and site controls so compatibility and access questions can be reviewed.

Discuss the washing duty