People come into contact with a wide range of hazardous substances at work that may arise from a number of sources, for example. Cleaning chemicals used in the day to day cleaning services.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations have been structured to ensure that employers take reasonable steps to reduce the risk to employees from exposure to hazardous substances in their working environment.

RISK ASSESSMENT

The Company will assess the risks associated with the use of a substance before they allow employees to be exposed to it.

Similar to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations risk assessments, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health assessments are carried out to determine whether the exposure of a person to certain substances is acceptable. There are a number of information sources that we should refer to to find out if the substances being used are potentially hazardous:

The label on the container

Labels and data sheets provided by the supplier of the substance (suppliers and manufacturers are required to give us this information by law)

The COSHH Regulations and the HSE Guidance EH40 which is revised annually

The HSE publication – The Approved Supply

List Information from trade associations and similar businesses

LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE

The COSHH assessment is a systematic review of the use of the substance present:

its form and quantity

possible harmful effects

how it is stored

handled

used

transported, the people who may be affected by it and the controls that are appropriate

The first aim of the assessment should be to eliminate the use of a hazardous substance or, if this is not possible, ensure that exposure is adequately controlled.

CONTROL MEASURES

In certain circumstances it may be necessary to put control measures in place to ensure that exposure to a substance is minimised. In deciding on the control measure to be taken the following order will be followed:

Eliminate the hazard altogether

Use a safer substance (substitution)

Enclose the process Use engineering systems e.g. extraction or ventilation

Safe systems of work

Personal protective equipment (this is the last resort)

When using control measures and / or personal protective equipment it is necessary to meet certain requirements of the COSHH Regulations:

Employers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that employees are using the control measures and the personal protective equipment (PPE) provided.

Employers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the control system or PPE are being maintained and are working efficiently. This includes keeping suitable maintenance records.

PPE must be suitable for the purpose for which it is provided.

PPE must comply with any design standards laid down.

Employees have a duty to make full and proper use of any control measures and the PPE provided.

MONITORING EXPOSURE

In addition to the initial assessment and provision of controls it may be necessary to monitor the exposure of employees to certain substances. Monitoring would be required where:

There could be serious risks to health if control measures should deteriorate

It cannot be guaranteed without measurement that exposure limits are not being exceeded, or control measures are working properly

INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING

If employees are, or may be exposed to, substances hazardous to health the Company must provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training for employees to know the health risks created by the exposure and the precautions which should be taken. The information must include the results of any monitoring and the collective (non – personalised) results of health surveillance.