COSHH in a hurry

• What is COSHH?
• What are hazardous substances?
• 8 steps to COSHH

1. What is COSHH?

COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.

Using hazardous substances can put people's health at risk. COSHH requires employers to control exposures to hazardous substances to protect both employees and others who may be exposed from work activities.

2. What are hazardous substances?

Hazardous substances are anything that can harm your health when you work with them if they are not properly controlled eg by using adequate ventilation. They are found in nearly all work places eg factories, shops, mines, farms and offices. They can include:

• substances used directly in work activities
  eg glues, paints, cleaning agents
   
• substances generated during work activities
  eg fumes from soldering and welding
   
• naturally occurring substances
  eg grain dust, blood, bacteria

For the vast majority of commercial chemicals, the presence (or not) of a warning label will indicate whether COSHH is relevant. For example, household washing up liquid doesn't have a warning label but bleach does - so COSHH applies to bleach but not washing up liquid when used at work.

Remember that asbestos and lead are covered by separate laws.

3. Following the 8 steps to COSHH

Employers must....

• Step 1
  Work out what hazardous substances are used in your work place and find out the risks from using these substances to people's health.
   
• Step 2
  Decide what precautions are needed before starting work with hazardous substances.
   
• Step 3
  Prevent people being exposed to hazardous substances, but where this is not reasonably practicable, control the exposure.
   
• Step 4
  Make sure control measures are used and maintained properly and that safety procedures are followed.
   
• Step 5
  If required, monitor exposure of employees to hazardous substances.
   
• Step 6
  Carry out health surveillance where your assessment has shown that this is necessary or COSHH makes specific requirements.
   
• Step 7
  If required, prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies.

• Step 8
  Make sure employees are properly informed, trained and supervised.