Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations COSHH

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1989 covers virtually all substances hazardous to health. Only asbestos, lead, materials producing ionizing radiation and substances below ground in mines (which all have their own legislation) are excluded. The Regulations set out measures that employers must implement. Failure to comply with COSHH, in addition to exposing employees and others to risk, constitutes an offence and is subject to penalties under the Health and Safety at Work Act, etc. 1974. 

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations... 

Before carrying out any of the following laboratory exercises, the appropriate safety audits should be performed. In particular, attention is drawn to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations. 

Coates, D. Hutchinson, D. N. (1994) How to produce a hospital disinfection policy. JHosp Infect, 26,57-68. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations (1999) (SI4371999) ISBN 0 11 082087 8. 

Act (1974) provides the main framework for health and safety, it is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations of 1994 and 1996 that impose strict legal requirements for risk assessment wherever chemicals are used. Within this context, the use of the terms hazard and risk are very important. A hazardous substance is one that has the ability to cause harm, whereas risk is about the likelihood that the substance may cause harm. Risk is often associated with the quantity of material being used. For example, a large volume of a flammable substance obviously poses a greater risk than a very small quantity. Your laboratory will operate its own safety scheme, so ensure that you are aware of what it is and follow it. 

In the UK the ACGIH list of TLVs was the basis for exposure limits until the 1980s when a UK provision of control limits and exposure standards was developed and incorporated into the regulatory approach encompassed by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations. Despite this British regulatory position however, the majority of the limits adopted remained ixnchanged from those of the ACGIH list of TLVs. 

Monitoring of the atmosphere and workplace for trace pollutants (substances) and compounds of environmental interest is now a common routine requirement to meet environmental legislation such as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations in the UK. Substances to be analysed are present at concentration levels down ppbv, pgm so that pre-concentration techniques are necessary. The most effective method is to collect the substances using an adsorbent tube, although trapping in an appropriate solvent may also be used. 

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations require exposure to metalworking fluids (or cutting fluids), by inhalation, ingestion or skin contact to be prevented where reasonably practicable, or, failing that, adequately controlled. 

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1988 is a comprehensive piece of legislation stemming from the above Act. It lays down a rational approach to the control of risks to health from potential exposure to chemicals in the workplace. The approach encapsulated by COSHH (and its supporting Codes of Practice) is based on the principles of good occupational hygiene practice and covers the following ... 

Experience with the implementation of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations in construction shows that there is little awareness of the principles of assessment, or significant appreciation of the risks to workers from substances brought onto the site -and especially from those created there. Also, there is said to be a disappointing response from the Industry to the noise controls (mostly managerial action and measurement... 

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations and the Controlled Waste Regulations 1998 have encouraged specialist companies to set up businesses dealing with the responsible disposal of toxic waste material. Specialist companies have systems and procedures which meet the relevant regulation, and they will usually give an electrical company a certificate to say that they have disposed of a particular waste material responsibly. The system is called Waste Transfer Notes . The notes will identify the type of waste, by whom it was taken and its final place of disposal. The person handing over the waste... 

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