Substances Hazardous to Health

SUBSTANCE HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH As defined in Regulation 2 of tlie Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999,... 

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... 

Table 5.20 Prohibition of certain substances hazardous to health for certain purposes...

Approved Code of Practice. Control of substances hazardous to health in the production of pottery. 

Control of substances hazardous to health regulations. Ionizing Radiations Regulations 1999 Control of lead at Work Regulations 1998 MAFF/HSC Code of Practice for the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings. 

Simple asphyxiant. Some gases and vapours present at high concentrations act as asphyxiants by reducing the oxygen content of air. Many of these are odourless and colourless. Many also pose a fire or explosion risk, often at values below which asphyxiation can occur. (Although capable of asphyxiation, they are not considered to be substances hazardous to health under COSHH.)... 

COSHH m Agriculture. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (COSHH) Sheep Dipping COSHH m Eorestry... 

A guide to the integrity, workplace environment and miscellaneous aspects of the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc) Regulations 1996 Control of substances hazardous to health m fumigation operations... 

Other inspection services available include the examination of steel structures (new and existing), electrical wiring installations, containers (to meet Statutory Instm-ment No. 1890), dangerous substances (carriage by road in road tankers or tank containers) to meet Statutory Instmment No. 1059, examination of second-hand plant prior to purchase, plant undergoing repair or modification, the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazard Regulations (CIMAH) Statutory Instmment No. 1902 and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and Pressure Systems Regulations. 

There is a wide range of legislation laying down standards of safety and health. In the UK, the most notable and wide ranging are the Factories Act 1961, the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Act 1988, breach of any of which can result in liability to civil and/or criminal action against the offenders. 

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. 

Much legislation enacted by governments relating to such matters as pollution of the atmosphere and of rivers, the monitoring of foodstuffs, the control of substances hazardous to health, the misuse of drugs, and many others are dependent upon the work of analytical chemists for implementation. 

Substances hazardous to health include substances labelled as dangerous (i.e. very toxic, toxic, harmful, irritant or corrosive) under any other statutory requirements, agricultural pesticides and other chemicals used on farms, and substances with occupational exposure limits. They include harmful micro-organisms and substantial quantities of dust. Indeed any material, mixture or compound used at work, or arising from work activities, which can harm people s health is apparently covered. 

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