COSHH Regulations assessment

HMSO (1989b) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (COSHH)—Introductory Assessment COSHH (HMSO). 

In the UK the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 oblige laboratory managers and supervisors (and employers in general) to assess the risks to health from hazardous substances used in or created by workplace activities. 

Flammable substances used and stored in the laboratory are also subject to further risk assessment and control in UK law under the the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the COSHH Regulations 2002, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 

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. 

Risk Assessment, Occupational Exposure Limits and the UK COSHH Regulations... 

The COSHH regulations require assessment and control of toxic substances (see Chapter 7). The NIHHS and CIMAH regulations implement European Community (EC) directives in the UK, controlling sites which pose a particularly serious risk to people or the environment. 

TTie COSHH Regulations control people s exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. Regulation 6 requires employers to assess the risks to health from working with hazardous substances, to train employees in techniques... 

The risk assessments carried out under the MHSW and COSHH regulations should show whether there any specific risks in the workplace. The following should be considered ... 

The COSHH Regulations offer a framework for employers to build a management system to assess health risks and to implement and monitor effective controls. Adherence to these Regulations will provide the following benefits to the employer and employee ... 

One of the main purposes of a COSHH assessment is to control adequately the exposure of employees and others to hazardous substances. This means that such substances should be reduced to levels which do not pose a health threat to those exposed to them day after day at work. Under the 2005 amendments to the COSHH Regulations 2002, the Health and Safety Commission has assigned workplace exposure limits (WELs) to a large number of hazardous substances and publishes... 

The 2002 COSHH Regulations have updated the 1999 Regulations with a few changes which include additional definitions like inhalable dust and health surveillance clarifying and extending the steps required under risk assessment introducing a duty to deal with accidents and emergencies. 

Risk assessment is the basis of the Regulations which came into operation on 1 January 1993. However, this duty is not new. Health risk assessments are required under the COSHH Regulations 1988 and hearing risk assessments under the Noise at Work Regulations 1989. The duties under the 1992 six jCm pack legislation are outlined below. 

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... 

Before starting any work with asbestos, CAWR requires a specific assessment to be made of likely exposure of employees to asbestos. This need not be repeated for repetitive work, but where there is significant variance between jobs, as in demolition, a new assessment will be required. There may also be a need for other assessments under the COSHH Regulations. The Approved Code of Practice for CAWR gives details of the scope of the assessment as ... 

The main aim of the COSHH regulations is to ensure that any risks due to working with hazardous substances or being exposed to them are assessed. Action must then be taken to eliminate or control the risks. 

The EU issued a Directive in 1998 covering the protection of health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical substances [11]. In the UK there is a legal requirement based on this Directive, namely Statutory Instrument 2002/2677 [12]. The UK Health and Safety Executive issues guidance on implementing COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations. Each laboratory is required to assess the risk associated with each chemical (or generic families of chemicals) in use in that laboratory. This risk is assessed according... 

All methods should be carried out only by competent persons and with adequate supervision when necessary. All obligations under The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 (COSHH), should be observed, and risk-assessment documentation completed. Appropriate personal protective equipment should be provided and worn whenever recommended. Persons carrying out the procedures in this manual do so entirely at their own risk, and neither the author, publishers, or anyone mentioned in, or connected with this publication can be held in any way responsible for any accidents no matter how caused. 

---