top of page
Dale Allen

Why Are COSHH Regulations Needed?

Updated: May 4, 2020

COSHH, or The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 is how the UK government ensure safe use and control of hazardous substances.

COSHH is a statutory body of regulations in the United Kingdom.

It places certain requirements on employers to ensure that employees and other visitors to a workplace are protected from hazardous substances.

It is important that anyone in proximity to hazardous substances recognise and know each COSHH symbol

These substances include:

  • Fumes,

  • Dust,

  • Fibres,

  • Biological agents,

  • Nano-particles,

  • Chemicals

  • Vapours.

Every business with a physical presence has hazardous substances.

Whether you work in a foundry or an office, there are various substances that you can encounter. It could be dust and fumes from the machinery you use at work, or it could be a particularly noxious gas that comes from melting down metals.


Or it may be chemicals in a laboratory. COSHH was brought into effect to protect people from exposure to these substances and to teach people how to deal with them.


Research over the years suggests that up to a quarter of all UK workers are exposed to hazardous substances while working.


Thousands of people, every year, are diagnosed with health issues that can be traced to exposure to hazardous substances.


Skin disease, lung disease and cancer are just a few of these health problems.

COSHH was brought into effect to protect people from exposure to these substances and to teach people how to deal with them.

COSHH Regulations

To effectively comply to these regulations all businesses and employers must conduct risk assessments throughout their whole site.

Which means, anything that could pose a risk to health arising from hazardous substances that could be created in each work environment.

Once a risk has been assessed, then must the employer decide and implement those precautions that will effectively prevent or sufficiently control potential exposure.

COSHH is a hierarchy of control measures that must be adhered to.

When possible, the employer must change the process or activity of the work so that hazardous substances will not be used or generated.

In simpler terms, if there is a safer alternative then it absolutely must be implemented.

If there is no way to prevent exposure then the latest methods of controlling those hazardous substances must be implemented.

This could be achieved through the use of proper ventilation, enclosure, or other method depending on the situation and substance.

PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment, is a requirement under COSHH and is the last control measure that will be used by employers.

All employees should be provided with adequate PPE for their work.

PPE is the last control measure that is used to protect employees

All visitors to the workplace must likewise be provided with the proper PPE for the area they will be visiting.

Employers must then ensure that all preventative and control measures are followed and maintained.

This includes the proper monitoring of exposure, surveillance of health and the instruction of employees.

Every employee must be informed the dangers and be properly trained and supervised in the use and control of hazard substances.

Likewise, any visitor to a workplace must strictly adhere to the same regulations.

An employer must provide the correct training.

Collecting all the data and filing it away is not sufficient to comply with COSHH regulations.

Worried that your business and workplace may not be fully COSHH compliant?

The International Association for Chemical Safety free COSHH accreditation course

228 views2 comments

Recent Posts

See All

2 Comments


sipagit649
Jan 29

COSHH regulations play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals in workplaces where hazardous substances are present. As JD Young Technologies has thrived for over 75 years by adapting to industry needs, the significance of these regulations resonates with the commitment to creating safe and compliant environments. Just as JD Young values customer relationships, adherence to COSHH regulations demonstrates a dedication to the health and safety of employees and the community. Here's to maintaining a secure work environment that stands the test of time.

Like

Sayem Ahmed kosru
Sayem Ahmed kosru
Aug 31, 2022

As I read through this post on Coshh Stand, It will be amazed at all the fascinating details I'm learning. Each new fact makes me even more excited to learn more about this topic. You've written so well that I feel like I could actually understand Coshh Stand now! <a href="https://lead-academy.org/blog/what-does-coshh-stand-for/">Coshh</a>

There are other great resources out there for learning reheat prawns, so I'm going to check them out now. But before I go, I just want to say thank you for sharing all of this information with us. It's really helped me understand math in a whole new way.


Like
bottom of page