The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) as amended apply to substances and mixtures found in the workplace which are hazardous to health. COSHH covers the use of substances or mixtures that are hazardous to health. Substances are defined as individual chemical compounds. Mixtures are mixtures of two or more substances, e.g. paints, cleaning products and many pesticides.
Substances or mixtures hazardous to health are defined in five categories.
- Substances which have certain dangers: these will be classified under European Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP Regulation) as very toxic, toxic, harmful, corrosive, or irritant.
- Substances with a workplace exposure limit (WEL) assigned to them under COSHH are classified as hazardous to health.
- Substances which are biological agents, whether exposure results from a deliberate intention to work with a biological agent or exposure is incidental to the work activity.
- Dusts. This category covers all types of dusts that are not classified as very toxic, toxic, harmful, corrosive, or irritant under the CLP Regulation or have a WEL and are present at a concentration in air above:
- 10mg/m3 as a time-weighted average over an eight-hour period, of inhalable dust
- 4mg/m3 as a time-weighted average over an eight-hour period, of respirable dust.
- Substances which otherwise create a risk to health. Substances which are not covered by the other four groups but, because of their hazardous properties and the way they are used, create a comparable risk to health are also included in COSHH.
To comply with their duties under COSHH, employers must:
- ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the safe use, handling, storing and transporting of substances
- prevent employees being exposed to substances hazardous to health or, if prevention is not reasonably practicable, they must adequately control exposure
- provide personal protective equipment (e.g. face masks, respirators, protective clothing) only as a last resort and never as a replacement for other control measures which are required
- identify the hazardous substances present in the workplace
- assess the risks the hazardous substances pose to people’s health
- ensure control measures for dealing with hazardous substances are kept in efficient working order and good repair, and are properly used and maintained
- ensure local exhaust ventilation equipment is examined within the specific intervals set by COSHH (eg 14 monthly), and records of examinations and tests carried out are kept for at least five years
- measure the concentration of hazardous substances in the air breathed in by workers in any instance where:
- exposure limits might be exceeded
- failure or deterioration of control measures could lead to serious risks to health
- control measures may not operate correctly.
- keep a record of any exposure monitoring for at least five years
- where appropriate, carry out health surveillance for their employees and keep the records for 40 years after the date of the last entry
- prepare plans and procedures in the case of an accident or emergency caused by a work activity
- provide employees with suitable and sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision
- protect workers from the fire and explosion risks associated with dangerous substances under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.
Caroline can help you with;
- COSHH Assessments
- Training
