INTRODUCTION

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.

THE COSHH REGULATIONS 2002

These provide a framework to help protect people in the workplace against health risks from hazardous substances. The substances may be used directly in the work (e.g. cleaning chemicals, chemical reagents) or may arise from the work (e.g. dusts, fumes and waste products).

COSHH lays down a sensible step-by-step approach to the necessary precautions and is therefore a useful tool of good management. The potential for identifiable cost benefits (e.g. tighter control over the use and storage of materials), improved morale and industrial relations have been widely realised.

COSHH applies to virtually all substances hazardous to health. Exceptions include asbestos and lead (which have their own regulations) and substances which are hazardous only because they are radioactive, asphyxiants, at high pressure/temperature or have explosive/flammable properties.

DEFINITIONS

Hazard-is t-is the potential to cause harm

Risk-is the likelihood that it will harm you in the actual circumstances of use

The risk will depend on a number of factors, such as the hazard presented by the substance, how it is used, how exposure is controlled, the degree and extent of exposure etc.

COSHH requires the following:-

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.

ASSESSMENT is a step-by-step approach:-

(i) Identify what hazards there are.

(ii) Evaluate the risks to people

(iii) For significant risks, decide on the action needed to remove or reduce them to insignificant levels.

Assessment is the responsibility of the employer. Persons preparing the assessment will need to:-

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)

HAZARDS Substances hazardous to health include:-

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

IDENTIFICATION of hazardous substances can be sought from:

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)

RISKS Risk assessment involves looking at:-

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

(a)	No likelihood or insignificant risk - no further action until review of assessment.
(b)	Risks identified - ensure appropriate control measures, in the following order of priority:
	(i)Prevention	change process/activity so that the hazardous substance is not required or generated
		replace with safer alternative (see HS(G)110 in Reference/Further Details section)
		use it in safer form
	(ii)Control may include any of the following:-	total enclosure of the process
		partial enclosure and extraction equipment
		general ventilation
		using systems of work and handling procedures which minimise chances of spills, leaks etc. or exposure to the substance(s)
	(iii)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.

EMPLOYEES are required to make proper use of control measures and to report defects.

EMPLOYERS are required to keep controls in efficient working order and good repair. Engineering controls and respiratory protective equipment have to be examined and, where appropriate, tested at suitable intervals. Suitable records of all such actions taken must be kept.

(c)

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.

(d)

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

Unless the assessment is so simple that it can be easily recalled and its conclusions explained, it should be put in writing. Reviews should take place regularly, at not less than five-yearly intervals, and in any case where it is no longer valid or there have been significant changes in the work.

INFORMING, INSTRUCTING AND TRAINING EMPLOYEES

Must be carried out by employers regarding the substances and their associated risks and precautions. Sufficient information and instruction should be given on control measures, personal protective equipment, results of any exposure monitoring or health surveillance and emergency procedures.

The Steps in Making an Assessment

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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
	who could be exposed and how?	Yes	No
4.	Have you evaluated the risks to health (either on an individual or group basis)?	Yes	No
	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;	Yes	No
	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

*1.Booklet L5-General COSSH ACOP, Carcinogens ACOP and Biological Agents ACOP(HSE) ISBN 0 7176 1670 3

*2.A step by step guide to COSHH assessment - HS(G) 97 (HSE)

ISBN 0 7176 1446 8.

**3.COSHH - a brief guide for employers IND(G) 136L (HSE). www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf

*4.7 steps to successful substitution of hazardous substances HS(G) 110 (HSE) ISBN 0 7176 0695 3.

*5.Health surveillance under COSHH (HSE) ISBN 9 780118 854474

*6.Booklet HS(G)54: Maintenance, examination and testing of local exhaust ventilation (HSE). ISBN 0-7176-1485-9

*7. Booklet HSG187: Control of Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions in the Workplace. (HSE) ISBN 0-7176 1662 2

*Available to view by prior arrangement at North Devon District Council, Environmental Health Unit, Civic Centre, Barnstaple, EX31 1EA

**Free copy available from North Devon District Council at the above address.