COSHH Regulations

In Great Britain the COSHH Regulations cover virtually all substances hazardous to health. (Excluded are asbestos, lead, materials dangerous solely due to their radioactive, explosive, or flammable properties, or solely because of high or low temperatures or pressures, or where risk... 

What precautions need to be taken to comply with the rest of the COSHH Regulations Having regard to... 

Simpson, D., and Simpson, W.G. (ed.) (1991) The COSHH Regulations A Practical Guide, The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge. 

Once a system is installed, no specific regular testing of day-to-day ventilation systems is required unless they are installed to comply with COSHH Regulations. This testing would normally be carried out in conjunction with annual maintenance. 

Is the work environment monitored, as required under the COSHH Regulations, to ensure that there is no hazard from, for example, toxic contaminants ... 

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. 

MEL, MAXIMUM EXPOSURE LIMIT (uk) The maximum concentration of an airborne substance (averaged over a reference period) to which employees may be exposed by inhalation under any circumstances. (Listed in Schedule 1 of COSHH Regulations.)... 

From the Control of Substances Hazardous toHealth (COSHH) Regulations (1988). OES, occupational exposure standard QAC, quaternary ammonium compound. 

In the United Kingdom the use of substances likely to be harmful to employees is covered by regulations issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), under the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 (HSAWA). The principal set of regulations in force is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations, 2002 known under the acronym the COSHH regulations. The COSHH regulations apply to any hazardous substance in use in any place of work. 

A thorough explanation of the regulations is not within the scope of this book, as they will apply more to plant operation and maintenance than to process design. The HSE has published a series of booklets giving details of the regulations and their application (see www.hse.gov.uk/pubns). A comprehensive guide to the COSHH regulations has also been published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, Simpson and Simpson (1991). 

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

Additional relevant information. Including other hazards not covered by COSHH regulations e.g. Flammability, explosion, asphyxiant, high or low pressure, noise, heat, cold, radiation. Arrival into department, handling and (secure ) storage. 

Of importance is the OSHA Laboratory Standard, 29 CER 1910.1450, which is similar to the UK COSHH regulations (see below), and deals with occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories. Information on various aspects of this Laboratory Standard is found at ... 

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. 

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