Are you aware of the hazards associated with the substances in use in your workplace?
Or are used/created during your work activities?
There are a number of harmful substances that can be found within our working environments. It is knowing how to control these safely that protects us from harm.
What is COSHH?
All employers, the self-employed people AND all employees have legal duties placed upon them by health and safety legislation.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) or COSHH for short, requires all duty holders to manage the risk of using hazardous substances i.e., there needs to be a pro-active approach to identify, assess, and control substances, which will ensure safety for all AND comply with legal requirement.
This involves conducting appropriate risk assessments where the substance is assessed “as per its use or creation,” with the hazard(s) identified and the appropriate control measures put in place, including training, with an ongoing monitoring and review process also put in place.
The employee has their own responsibility. In all cases, to understand the risk(s) and how to control them by following their training and using the provided safe working procedures, which could well include the use of provided PPE. How is this done?
- Produce an inventory of stock and a listing of what substances are created (wood dust, welding fume, fume from soldering, exhaust gases, waste oils, mists or vapours, etc.) by work activities, and understand which activities use and which create hazardous substances.
- Gather all relevant SDSs (Safety Data Sheets) from the supplier/manufacturer of the substances and determine which are hazardous to use and why.
- Conduct COSHH assessments (Kingfisher PS Ltd guidance and document templates are available) and determine the potential for harm, deciding upon the safe systems of work for the substance, when accounting for the determined routes of exposure (i.e., inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, eye contact) most associated with the work activity.
Following the Hierarchy
When looking to control substances, there is a hierarchy that must be followed:
- Elimination: Remove the hazardous substance or process from the workplace. This is the most effective control method, as the hazard is removed.
- Substitution: Replace the hazardous substance with a less hazardous alternative.
- Engineering Controls: These are physical changes to the workplace or process to reduce exposure. Examples include local exhaust ventilation, enclosures, or automation to minimise human contact with the hazardous substance.
- Administrative Controls: These involve changing work procedures and practices to reduce exposure. This can include implementing safe work procedures, limiting exposure time, or providing proper training and labelling.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): This is the last resort and should only be used when other control measures are not sufficient. PPE provides a barrier between the worker and the hazard, but it is not a complete solution and often requires equipment that requires maintenance and training to use. Also, it is personal, it only protects one person, the wearer.
Recording COSHH
Where there are five or more employees, record the COSHH assessment. This is a legal requirement to ensure that all employees, regardless of the number involved, can be presented with the same information in the same format.
- Provide Training. Regardless of whether it is how to conduct the activity, how to use the substance, how to use the work equipment/machinery, or how to use the PPE, making sure all relevant workers and their supervisors/managers understand how to work safely.
- Review the process. Whether it is to check if there is now a safer alternative substance, a safer machine or a safer procedure, review the risk assessment on a regular (annual) basis, unless there is an incident which requires an earlier review, such as an injury or notification of an occupational illness being diagnosed;
- Record inventories and their subsequent audits;
- Record when SDS are originally collected and then as checked for updates.
- Record COSHH assessments and when reviews of assessments occur.
- Record associated Safe Systems of Work / Safe Working Procedures;
- Record training provision/refresher training provision;
- Record PPE provision and reprovision.
Training
We can provide COSHH Awareness Training if you or your business needs further support with this topic. You can view our training brochure here for more information.
To avoid accidents, causing harm and facing prosecution, ensure your business complies with health and safety law in 2025, by
- Conducting risk assessments as and when required (prior to undertaking activities).
- Providing training regarding the risks involved and how to manage them.
- Supervising risk management, as necessary, until competence is demonstrated.
- Formally reviewing risk assessments and associated safe systems of work regularly.
- Updating training provided (toolbox talks, in-house or external formal training).
- Keeping/updating records of all the above processes.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions on the matters raised in this newsletter.