Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

What is a hazardous substance under COSHH?Substances/mixtures classified as

dangerous to health under CHIPSubstances with OELsBiological agentsAny kind of dust in a concentration

specified in COSHHAny other substance which has

comparable hazards, but which for technical reasons may not be covered by CHIP

What is not a hazardous substance under COSHH? Asbestos & lead (own regulations) Substances hazardous only because they

are: Radioactive;Simple asphyxiants;At high

pressure;At extreme temperatures; or Explosive or flammable (own regulations)

Biological agents not connected with work e.g. catching cold

Normally, the presence of a label (or not) will indicate whether COSHH is relevant

Risk Assessment Identify the hazardous substances in

the workplaceDecide who is at risk and howEvaluate the risk – are further controls

necessary?Record the findingsReview & revise when necessary

Prevention/Control of Exposure Eliminate Substitute Engineering Controls

Isolation Enclosure Ventilation (including LEV)

Change work methods Reduce time exposure PPE Housekeeping Instruction, Information, Training

Use of Control MeasuresEmployees should make proper use of

controls and report defectsThey must be trained in how to do so

Maintenance of ControlsKeep in efficient working order and

good repairEngineering controls & RPE examined

and tested at regular intervalsLEV – 14 monthsRetain records for 5 years

Monitoring ExposureMeasure concentrations where

assessment concludes that: Serious risks if controls fail; Exposure limits may be exceeded; Control measures may not be working

properly Employees are exposed to certain

substances/process in Schedule 5Records should be kept for 5 years

Health Surveillance Health surveillance in the following

circumstances: Employees significantly exposed to process in

Schedule 6 Employees exposed to substance linked to

particular disease or adverse health effect and reasonable likelihood of disease/effect occurring and possible to detect disease/effect

May be by professional, trained supervisor or self-check

Records kept for 40 years

Information, Instruction & Training About:

Nature of substances and associated risks Precautions staff should take Control measures – purpose and how to use

them How to use PPE & clothing Results of monitoring and health surveillance

(without giving names) Emergency procedures

Controls will not be effective if staff do not know how to use them properly, or the importance of reporting faults

Defence

“In any proceedings for an offence consisting of a contravention of these Regulations it shall be a defence for any person to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of that offence”