What is COSHH?
COSHH is a set of regulations designed to protect employees from experiencing harm or ill health from any hazardous chemicals or substances they use at work. They do this by placing several responsibilities on employers and employees, which we will explore later in this article.
What does COSHH stand for?
COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
Which substances do COSHH regulations apply to?
Many substances are covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002. More specifically, the regulations state that a hazardous substance is any one of the following:
- Any substance that is classified as very toxic, toxic, harmful, corrosive or irritant by the GB CLP Regulation.
- Any substance that has been given an occupational exposure limit, known as a WEL or workplace exposure limit by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
- Substances have been linked to cancer and asthma, as well as lasting genetic changes. These compounds are classified as carcinogens, asthmagens, or mutagens.
- Any biological agent, which is a microorganism, cell culture, or human endoparasite that may pose a hazard to human health.
- Any airborne dust, present over a certain concentration.
- Any other substance that, because of its chemical or toxicological properties and the way it is used, poses a health risk.
Some common substances are chemical cleaning products, fumes, mists and vapours. In practice, almost any substance that could harm human health is considered to be a hazardous substance for the COSHH Regulations. However, asbestos, lead and radioactive substances have separate work regulations.
COSHH Regulations Summary: What does COSHH require of employers?
Regulations 6 to 13 of the COSHH Regulations outline several action points that employers must comply with to protect the health of their employees who work with hazardous substances. Keep reading to understand each regulation and the principles of good practice.
COSHH Regulation 6
Before a workforce carries out work with hazardous substances, regulation 6 of the COSHH Regulations requires that employers carry out a 'suitable and sufficient' risk assessment in the work environment. This can be conducted by employers or delegated to supervisors, safety professionals or another competent person.
As a first step, the assessment must identify the risks associated with the substances, and determine the measures needed to comply with the COSHH Regulations and protect those using them. Several things should be considered while completing this assessment, including:
- The hazardous properties of the substance.
- The level and duration of exposure to the substance.
- The health information provided by the substance's supplier. This can be found on a supplier's safety data sheets or the packaging and labelling of a substance.
If you would like to learn more, see our COSHH Risk Assessment Knowledge Bank article. This also contains a helpful free PDF COSHH Risk Assessment Template. If you would like to increase COSHH awareness for you or your team, consider our Online COSHH Awareness Course or our Online Risk Assessment Training Course.
COSHH Regulation 7
This regulation requires employers to prevent their employees from being exposed to hazardous substances. Where this is not possible, control the exposure to these substances as much as they can.
This is often referred to as 'as low as is reasonably practicable' (ALARP). This applies particularly to asthmagens, carcinogens, and mutagens. Employers must ensure that workplace exposure limits are not exceeded and exposure is minimised through good control practices. Compliance with these regulations is essential to protect the health and safety of workers.
There is a broad hierarchy of control that outlines the order in which control measures should be considered:
- Eliminate the hazardous substance to prevent exposure.
- Modify the substance, process or workplace.
- Apply controls to the process, such as the use of enclosures and ventilation systems, such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV).
- Use safe systems of work that minimise exposure, such as dictating a distance that an employee must maintain between themselves and the substance.
- Providing control equipment or devices worn by exposed individuals, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) or extraction systems.
COSHH Regulations 8 and 9
Regulations 8 and 9 are similar in function and require employers to ensure that control measures are used correctly, and are maintained, examined and tested as needed.
The steps an employer must take to act in accordance with these regulations will vary significantly. This is because there is a wide range of control measures that can be used to limit exposure to hazardous substances, which will all have different maintenance and testing needs.
Regulation 8 also requires employees to make full use of the control measures and any additional provisions that their employer has provided and report any issues or defects that they identify as soon as possible.
COSHH Regulation 10
Regulation 10 requires that, where necessary, employers provide exposure monitoring to assess the extent of their employees’ exposure to hazardous substances.
Specific information on what exposure monitoring looks like, and who is responsible for carrying it out, can be found in this HSE Guide.
COSHH Regulation 11
This regulation requires employers to provide health surveillance at regular intervals to their employees if necessary. For some organisations, health surveillance is a legal requirement. But, not all employees need to have their health monitored - it is usually reserved for those who use a substance that is likely to cause an identifiable disease or adverse health effect.
Health surveillance is an important process and can provide valuable information. It is used to:
- Detect, as early as possible, illnesses or changes that may be caused by exposure to hazardous substances.
- Collect data that can be used to identify other hazards to health, and determine the actions required to prevent them from causing harm.
- Check that a risk assessment is accurate and that the adequate control measures identified by it are working effectively.
COSHH Regulation 12
Anyone who works with hazardous substances must be provided with 'suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training'. This includes information on:
- The substances they will be using, and the health risks associated with them,
- The main findings of the risk assessment.
- What they must do to protect themselves and those around them from experiencing harm as a result of the substance.
COSHH Regulation 13
Regulation 13 requires employers to have appropriate arrangements in place to deal with any accidents, incidents or emergencies that may occur. The exact arrangements will vary between employers, but should include:
- Appropriate facilities, such as those required to provide first aid.
- Pre-arranged procedures, which are practised using regular safety drills.
- A warning or communication system that can be used in the event of an incident.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the COSHH regulations play a crucial role in ensuring the health and safety of UK employees working with hazardous substances. By adhering to these regulations, employers can create a safe working environment and prevent harm due to exposure to hazardous substances.
At Commodious, we offer a COSHH Awareness course that is designed to provide employees with the information they need to work safely with hazardous substances. To find out more about this course, use the link below:
