Everyone knows that COSHH relates to chemicals, but do you know its purpose and what you need to do to comply with the regulations?
‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health’ is the law that requires employers to control hazardous substances and prevent or reduce the risk to workers using them.
A variety of substances, which could be harmful, are found in our everyday working environments, and knowing how to handle these safely is key to protecting your workforce and others from injury. Some chemicals are easily recognised as harmful and there are some common substances such as cement, paint, or dust from natural materials, which may be less recognisable.
Thousands of workers are made ill by hazardous substances every year, contracting lung diseases such as occupational asthma, cancer, and skin disease like dermatitis. These diseases cost millions each year to:
- Industries – replacing trained workers
- Societies – in disability allowances and medications
- Individuals – who may lose their jobs
As an employer, you are responsible for taking effective measures to control exposure and protect the health of your workers. These measures can improve production and cut waste.
You can prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous substances by:
- Finding out what the health hazards are – Found on the ‘Material Safety Data Sheet’
- Deciding how to prevent harm by conducting a ‘COSHH Risk Assessment’
- Providing control measures and ensuring they are used
- Providing information, instruction, and training for employees and others
- Providing and monitoring health surveillance in appropriate cases, and
- Planning for emergencies
What is the difference between a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and a COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Risk Assessment?
Material Safety Data Sheets provide information about the hazardous product to help users of those chemicals to make a risk assessment. They describe the hazards the chemical presents and gives a variety of information on handling, storage, and emergency measures in case of an accident, but these have to allow for use in every possible environment so are very generic and provide advice to cover all scenarios, so should only be used for information towards your risk assessment.
A COSHH Risk Assessment is an assessment of the chemical but must take into consideration, who will be using it, what task it is being used for, the environment it will be used in and whether there are any other substances it could mix with, with the ultimate aim of producing control measures that are suitable to protect all persons exposed to eliminate or reduce risk.
Whether it is dust, liquid, powder, or gas, any chemical can present a risk then a COSHH Risk Assessment is required. Even everyday chemicals such as paint need to be handled correctly; if oil-based and used in a windowless room the fumes could easily make you pass out. If used incorrectly, cement used every day on every building project could cause severe burns.
Remember these are a legal requirement. For more information or assistance with your COSHH Risk Assessments, please contact me on 07809 214512.
