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COSHH ( Control Of Substance Hazardous To Health.

Coshh

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8 views19 pages

COSHH ( Control Of Substance Hazardous To Health.

Coshh

Uploaded by

mohammadsahiransari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Control of Substances

Hazardous to Health
Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
What is a substance hazardous to health
under COSHH?

• Substances or mixtures of substances,


classified as dangerous to health under
the Chemicals (Hazard Information and
Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002
(CHIP)

• These can be identified by their warning


label and the supplier must provide a
‘safety data sheet’ for them.
Many commonly used dangerous
substances are listed in the HSE
publication “Approved Supply List”

Suppliers must decide if preparations and


substances that are not on the list are
dangerous, and if so, label them
accordingly.

Substances with occupational exposure


limits.
• Biological agents (bacteria and other micro-
organisms) if they are directly connected
with the work such as health / personal
care, farming sewage work etc.

• Any kind of dust if it’s average


concentration in the air exceeds the levels
specified in COSHH.

• Certain asphyxiant gases, paints, pesticides


etc.
Control of Substances Hazardous to
Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

• What is not a substance hazardous to


health under COSHH?
• COSHH applies to virtually all substances
hazardous to health except:
• Asbestos and lead which have their own
regulations.
• Radioactive substances (other regulations
apply)

• Biological agents that are outside the


employers control eg. catching an infection
from a workmate.

• For the vast majority of commercial


chemicals the presence (or not) of a
warning label will indicate whether
COSHH is relevant.
• Examples:

• Washing up liquid has no label so you do


not have to worry about COSHH.

• Bleach does have a label so COSHH does


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

• Step 1: Assess the risks

• Identify hazardous substances in the


workplace. Consider the risks to people’s
health.

• Step 2: Decide what precautions are


needed
• Step 3: Prevent or adequately control
exposure

• Eliminate / substitute hazardous substances


for less hazardous ones.

• Reduce exposure to hazardous substances.

• Isolate work processes eg prevent access


to pupils etc.
• Control exposure at source eg ventilation.

• Provide personal protective clothing.

• Step 4: Ensure control measures are used


and maintained.

• Step 5: Monitor and review.


• Step 6: Arrange appropriate health
surveillance where required (exposure
limits set)

• Step 7: Prepare plans and procedures to


deal with accidents, incidents and
emergencies

• Step 8: Ensure that employees involved in


the work or affected by it are informed /
trained and supervised
COSHH
COSHH
INTRODUCTION
COSHH

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations


(COSHH) (as amended) restrict the presence and use of substances in the
workplace that are ‘hazardous to health’.

Employees must be given information, instruction and training on the


use of such substances.
COSHH
What should you know?

If you work with hazardous substances then you should be familiar with:

• the risks to health caused by exposure

• precautions which need to be taken

• use and purpose of control measures

• use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

• emergency procedures

• results of any workplace monitoring

• your occupational health record.


COSHH
Action to take

Both employers and employees have responsibilities under COSHH.


Employees must:

• co-operate with their employer eg, by attending training courses

• participate in the risk assessment process

• wear the PPE provided

• report any problems with PPE


or other equipment

• report non-compliance with safe


systems of work

• attend occupational health checks

• always use control measures designed to reduce exposure.


COSHH
How to identify a substance that is hazardous to health

• read the product label - hazardous substances are (generally) marked with one
or more hazard symbols

• refer to information (safety data sheets) provided by suppliers

• ask for advice.

Irritant Flammable Toxic Corrosive

If you have any questions or concerns about substances in use at


work, then you should speak to your supervisor or safety representative.
COSHH
Legislation and resources

• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as


amended)

• INDG136(rev4): Working with Substances Hazardous to Health. What You Need to


Know About COSHH.
COSHH
Questions and Answers

Q: What is PPE?

A: Personal Protective Equipment.

Q: What is the information sheet called that holds information from


suppliers?

A: Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Disclaimer
Toolbox Ta lks are provided by Barbou r for gen eral guidan ce on matte rs of inte rest. In ma king these documents available to a genera l an d d iver se aud ience it is not possib le to anticipate the
req uirements or the hazards of an y particular subscrib er's business. Use rs are there for e a dvised to car efu lly evaluate th e cont ents a nd adapt the Toolbo x Talks to suit the req uirements of each
situ atio n o r a ctivity. Barb our does not accept a ny liability whatsoever fo r in jury, damage or other losses which ma y arise from relia nce on this in for ma tion an d the use of these documents.
Copyright of these documents remains with Barb our and whilst su bscribe rs are pe rmitted to make use of them for their own purposes, per mission is not granted for resale of the intellectu al
pro perty to thir d p arties.

Revised : 2010
Reference

RMBC COSHH guidance available from


RMBC Intranet / RGFL.
Model COSHH risk assessment.
Product data sheets.

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