COSHH Compliance FAQs
Navigating the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations is crucial for UK businesses. This section answers your key questions about COSHH, from identifying hazardous substances to conducting risk assessments and ensuring your workplace is safe and compliant.
What is COSHH?
COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. These regulations require employers to protect employees from exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.
What kind of substances are covered by COSHH?
COSHH covers a wide range of substances, including chemicals, fumes, dusts, vapours, mists, nanotechnology, gases and asphyxiating gases, and biological agents (germs) if they are hazardous to health.
As a business owner, what are my responsibilities under COSHH?
Your responsibilities include identifying hazardous substances, assessing the risks they pose, implementing control measures to reduce exposure, monitoring exposure where necessary, providing information, instruction, and training to employees, and ensuring proper maintenance of control measures.
How can your consultancy help me with COSHH compliance?
We can assist with conducting COSHH risk assessments, developing control strategies (e.g., ventilation, PPE, process changes), advising on safe handling and storage, conducting air monitoring, and providing COSHH training for your staff.
What is a COSHH risk assessment?
A COSHH risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazardous substances, evaluating the risks they pose to health, and determining the necessary control measures to prevent or adequately control exposure.
Why should I conduct a COSHH risk assessment?
- Legal Requirement: It’s a legal obligation under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended).
- Protecting Health: It identifies risks of ill health (e.g., skin irritation, asthma, lung damage, poisoning) to your employees from exposure to hazardous substances.
- Risk Management: It helps you understand and manage the risks, leading to effective control measures that prevent or minimise exposure.
- Emergency Preparedness: It outlines actions to take in case of emergencies like spills or accidental exposure.
- Improved Safety Culture: Demonstrates your commitment to employee well-being and helps foster a safer working environment.
- Financial Benefits: Reduces potential costs from absenteeism, compensation claims, and regulatory fines.
How often should a COSHH risk assessment be reviewed?
While there’s no fixed legal timeframe, COSHH assessments should be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain valid and up-to-date. As a general guide, an annual review is recommended.
When is an immediate COSHH risk assessment review required?
An immediate review is required if:
- There’s evidence that the original assessment is no longer valid.
- Significant changes occur in the workplace that could affect exposure (e.g., new substances, changes in how a substance is used, new equipment, changes in processes, new ventilation systems).
- An accident or near-miss involving a hazardous substance occurs.
- New information about a substance’s hazards becomes available (e.g., an updated Safety Data Sheet (SDS)).
- Health surveillance results indicate a potential problem.
- There are changes in relevant legislation or guidance from the HSE.
Do I need air monitoring for COSHH compliance?
Air monitoring is often required when there is a serious risk to health from inhaling hazardous substances, when assessing the effectiveness of control measures, or when there is uncertainty about the level of exposure. We can help determine if air monitoring is necessary for your specific situation.
