The Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations are
designed to protect people at work, and others who may be
affected, against health risks from hazardous substances.
COSHH requires employers to identify hazardous substances, make
an assessment of risks, decide what precautions must be taken,
and provide their employees with the necessary information and
training.
Failure to comply with COSHH is an offence under the Health and
Safety at Work Act.
Responsibilities
All employers, and the self-employed, are responsible for implementing COSHH.
All employees must be protected, whether employed on or off site.
Other people on the premises, such as contractors, maintenance
staff, customers and visitors must also be protected so far as is
reasonably practicable.
The general public must also be protected so far as is reasonably practicable.
COSHH does not apply below ground in any mine nor to the master
or crew of ships at sea.
What does COSHH cover
COSHH covers ...
hazardous materials classified as very toxic, toxic,
harmful, corrosive or irritant under the CHIP Regulations
substances assigned an occupational exposure standard (OES)
substances assigned a maximum exposure limit (MEL)
pathogenic micro-organisms
substantial concentrations of nuisance dust
and any substance having a comparable hazard to the above.
Hazard and Risk
The hazard of a substance is its potential to harm you. It could damage your liver, burn
your skin, damage your lungs or irritate your eyes.
Risk is the likelihood that it will harm you or the environment
in the actual circumstances of use.
Poor control measures in the workplace can increase the risk from
a substance with only a small hazard.
The risk from a very hazardous substance can be reduced to a safe
level by the application of appropriate control measures.
A substance can be perfectly safe in one form but very hazardous in another.
Toxic Effects
The severity of effects from hazardous substances include headaches,
dizziness, illness, cancer and death.
The severity of effects can be affected by the type of substance,
its form, the quantity used, the level of exposure, the length of
exposure and the route of entry.
There are four possible routes of entry: inhalation, ingestion,
skin absorption and skin contact.
For substances where the risk to health is by inhalation,
occupational exposure limits have been set. There are two types:
maximum exposure limit (MEL) and occupational exposure standard (OES).
Exposure to small amounts of a substance over a long period of time
is described as chronic; exposure to a large concentration over a
short time is described as acute.
Assessment
Employers must carry out an assessment of the risks created by any
work which exposes employees to a hazardous substance.
The assessment comprises three stages; recognising the hazard,
evaluating the risk, and applying control measures.
The employer must ensure that exposure of employees to substances hazardous to health is
prevented or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled.
Where hazardous substances are used, employees must not eat, drink,
smoke, chew, siphon or pipette by mouth or suck pencils or pens.
If circumstances alter, the assessment may be rendered invalid and should be reviewed.
Engineering controls must be examined and tested every 14 months.
RPE should be checked monthly (but not disposable RPE).
Information and Training
The COSHH Regulations require that all employees who might
be exposed to substances hazardous to health are provided
with suitable information, instruction and training.
Any person who carries out a risk assessment on behalf
of an employer should possess sufficient knowledge, skill
and experience to be able to perform their duties effectively.
Monitoring and Health Surveillance
Exposure monitoring should be undertaken when:
there could be a serious health risk if control measures fail, or
you cannot be sure that exposure limits are not being exceeded, or
you cannot be sure that control measures are working properly, or
when changed conditions indicate that adequate control of exposure
is no longer being maintained.
Health surveillance is required when:
an employee is engaged in one of the processes listed in Schedule
6 of COSHH and is likely to receive a significant exposure to the
substance involved, or
employees are exposed to a substance linked to an identifiable
disease/adverse health effect, there is a reasonable likelihood of
the disease/effect occurring and it is possible to detect the
disease/effect without risk to the employees health.
Health surveillance records must be kept for 40 years.