Control of Hazardous Substances

Every year exposure to hazardous substances at work effects the health of many thousands of people. Common examples include lung disease (e.g. dusty conditions), skin irritation, dermatitis or skin cancer (e.g. frequent contact with oils, contact with corrosive liquids), occupational asthma (e.g. sensitisation to isocyanates in paints or adhesives), toxic fumes, occupational cancer etc. The high costs of ill-health arise from loss of earnings, loss of productivity, prosecution and civil action amongst others.

Introduction

Definitions

• hazard - is the potential to cause harm
• risk - is the likelihood that it will harm you in the actual circumstances of use

• assessment of the risks
• deciding what precautions are needed
• prevention or control of the risks
• ensuring that control measures are used and maintained
• monitoring exposure and health surveillance, where necessary
• Informing, instructing and training employees about the risks and precautions needed.

• identify what hazards there are
• evaluate the risks to people
• for significant risks, decide on the action needed to remove or reduce them to insignificant levels.

• have access to, and understand, COSHH, related legislation, codes of practice and published guidance
• be competent to carry through the work of assessment
• consult widely within the workforce and inform them of results accordingly
• consider peripatetic workers (who work for you on other premises)

• Substances classified as dangerous to health under the Chemicals Hazard Information and Packing for Supply) (CHIP3) Regulations 2002. Many are listed in "The Approved Supply List" which is part of the "CHIP 3" regulations.
• substances with occupational exposure limits (these are specified in Guidance Note EH40 which is revised annually)
• biological agents
• dusts of any kind in substantial concentrations

• hazard data sheets, labels etc. from suppliers (required by law) from which you must draw conclusions relevant to the way the substance is used in the workplace
• knowledge from within your business or industry; trade literature
• published guidance/documents
• part V of the Approved Supply List (HSE)

• use, handling, generation, release etc. of hazardous substances
• who might be affected and likely exposure level/extent
• Nature of exposure (breathing in, swallowing, skin absorption etc.)
• Current measures to prevent or control exposure - effectiveness and use?
• accidental leakage, spillage or release
• Cleaning and maintenance operations.

Further Action

• No likelihood or insignificant risk - no further action until review of assessment.
  • prevention
  • change process/activity so that the hazardous substance is not required or generated
  • replace with safer alternative (see HS(G)110 in Ref/Further Details section) substitution
  • use it in safer form
• personal protective equipment (eg respirators, protective clothing) only as a last resort when you cannot adequately control exposure by any combination of the measures above.

• monitoring exposure is required in certain circumstances, e.g. where there could be serious risks to health if control measures were to fail or deteriorate or where you cannot be sure that exposure limits are not being exceeded. Records of monitoring should be kept.
• health surveillance is required
• where an employee is engaged in one of the processes listed in Schedule 5 of COSHH and is likely to receive significant exposure to the substance involved.
• where employees are exposed to a substance linked to a particular disease or adverse health effect and there is reasonable likelihood under the conditions of the work of that disease or adverse health effect occurring and it is possible to detect the disease or adverse health effect. Suitable records must be kept for 40 years.

Recording and Reviewing the Assessment

Informing, Instructing and Training Employees

The Steps in Making an Assessment

Checklist - COSHH

1	Have you a complete inventory of substances used/generated in the workplace?	Yes/No
2	Have you identified any substances hazardous to health?	Yes/No
3	Have you gathered information about the substances, the work and working processes?	Yes/No
	- i.e. what hazards are involved?	Yes/No
	- i.e. what hazards are involved?	Yes/No
4	Have you evaluated the risks to health (either on an individual or group basis)?	Yes/No
	- i.e. the chance of exposure occurring?	Yes/No
	- what level of exposure could happen?	Yes/No
	- the duration of the exposure	Yes/No
	- the frequency of the exposure?	Yes/No
5	Have you decided what needs to be done in terms of:
	- preventing or controlling exposure?	Yes/No
	- maintaining control measures?	Yes/No
	- using control measures?	Yes/No
	- any monitoring/surveillance?	Yes/No
	- information, instruction and training?	Yes/No
6	Have you decided to record the assessment?	Yes/No
7	If "yes" to (6), have you decided on the extent, presentation and format of record?	Yes/No
8	Have you decided when each assessment should be reviewed?	Yes/No
9	Have you established a system or procedure to manage and record the above elements?	Yes/No

References/Further Details

• booklet L5-General COSSH ACOP, Carcinogens ACOP and Biological Agents ACOP(HSE) ISBN 0 7176 1670 3
• a step by step guide to COSHH assessment - HS(G) 97 (HSE) ISBN 0 7176 1446 8.
• cOSHH - a brief guide for employers IND(G) 136L (HSE). - (see "Offsite Links" to the right of this page).
• 7 steps to successful substitution of hazardous substances HS(G) 110 (HSE) ISBN 0 7176 0695 3.
• health surveillance under COSHH (HSE) ISBN 9 780118 854474
• booklet HS(G)54: Maintenance, examination and testing of local exhaust ventilation (HSE). ISBN 0-7176-1485-9