COSHH

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 is a law that requires the employer to take responsibility and control of the usage and exposure of hazardous substance to prevent ill health.

Hazardous substances include:

  • substances used directly in work activities (e.g. adhesives, paints, cleaning agents);
  • substances generated during work activities (e.g. fumes from soldering and welding);
  • naturally occurring substances (e.g. grain dust);
  • Biological agents such as bacteria and other micro-organisms.

COSHH sets eight basic measures that the employers must comply with to protect the employees and publics who are exposed to these hazardous substances i.e.:-

Step 1 - Assess the risks
Step 2 - Decide what precautions are needed
Step 3 - Prevent or adequately control exposure
Step 4 - Ensure that control measures are used and maintained
Step 5 - Monitor the exposure
Step 6 - Carry out appropriate health surveillance
Step 7 - Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies
Step 8 - Ensure employees are properly informed, trained and supervised

Legislative Documents

The COSHH Regulations 2002 Statutory Document

Government Guidance Notes

A brief guide to COSHH

Table 1: List of approved workplace exposure limits (as consolidated with amendments October 2007)