COSHH is a set of regulations designed to protect people from coming into contact with hazardous substances and experiencing ill health as a result. They cover all substances that are hazardous to health except asbestos, lead and radioactive substances, which are all covered by separate and specific legislation.
This comprehensive guide will explain the risks associated with these substances, ensuring a safe working environment. Let's begin by understanding the fundamentals of COSHH and its implications. To improve employee awareness, try our COSHH Training Course.
COSHH regulations exist to help control hazardous substances in the workplace. The term COSHH is an acronym. COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. When it comes to COSHH, prevention is key.
Hazardous substances are those substances that can cause harm to health, and may include:
Learn more about welding fumes and metalworking fluids by visiting our dedicated FAQ page on Welding Fumes and Metalworking Fluids.
Hazardous materials have several routes of entry into the body, where they can cause a lot of damage. The most common routes of entry for health hazards include:
Contact with a hazardous substance can have a range of effects that are classified as one of the following:
There are several ways to tell that a substance is hazardous. The packaging of substances may contain hazard information or COSHH hazard symbols.
The EU’s Globally Harmonised System (GHS) and the UK’s Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulations set out a series of hazard pictograms that must be present on a substance’s packaging if it poses a hazard to health.
These pictograms are black symbols inside a distinctive red border in the shape of a diamond. These are as follows:
Physical hazards are depicted by:
This symbol signifies a substance that can cause corrosion to the skin. Common substances with this label are drain cleaners, bleach, and pesticides.
Health hazards are symbolised by:
Substances that can cause harm to the environment show an image of a tree and fish.
Alongside pictograms, any hazardous substance that is being supplied for use at work must come with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS). This sheet will outline the hazards associated with a specific substance, making it easier to assess and control the risks that the substance poses in a specific workplace.
The COSHH Regulations impose duties on employers to protect employees (and others) who may be exposed to hazardous substances. It requires employers to control exposure to such substances. COSHH also offers a framework for employers to build a management system to assess the health risks associated with hazardous substances and implement effective control measures.
Employers need to protect workers from harmful substances. They should:
Assess:
Control:
Manage:
Monitor:
Plan:
Inform:
One of the main duties that the COSHH Regulations places on employers is to complete a COSHH risk assessment. This is used to identify any relevant hazardous substances that an employee may come into contact with, and establish how to adequately control exposure to them.
Not all hazardous substances are covered by the COSHH Regulations.
A COSHH assessment is very similar to a risk assessment, but it applies specifically to hazardous substances. The HSE suggests that a five-step process is used to complete a COSHH assessment.
The assessment should focus on:
For a step-by-step guide and to download a free risk assessment template see: Risk Assessment and COSHH - What You Need To Know in the Commodious Knowledge Bank.
In conclusion, understanding the importance of completing a COSHH assessment is vital in ensuring the safety and well-being of workers when dealing with hazardous substances. By following the recommended five-step process, organisations can effectively identify, evaluate, and control risks associated with such substances. Remember, regular review and updating of the assessment are key to maintaining a safe working environment. For further awareness for you and your team, take our COSHH Awareness Online Course.