COSHH

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) Regulations require employers to prevent worker exposure to hazardous substances or, where this is not reasonably practicable, to ensure adequate control.

COSHH covers chemicals, products containing chemicals, fumes, dusts, vapours, mists and gases, and biological agents (germs).

If the packaging has any of the hazard symbols then it is classed as a hazardous substance.

COSHH also covers asphyxiating gases.

COSHH covers germs that cause diseases such as leptospirosis or legionnaires' disease: and germs used in laboratories.

COSHH doesn’t cover lead, asbestos or radioactive substances because these have their own specific regulations.

Top tip!

Although Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is considered as one of the last resorts it is often used in the workplace and it requires careful consideration in determining the most appropriate type.

Some MSDSs are very good in providing guidance and will, for example, state that nitrile rubber gloves should be worn if there is a chance of skin contact. Other suppliers though may simply recommend ‘gloves when required’.

You should seek advice from your Health and Safety Adviser when choosing any PPE but especially when choosing respiratory protective equipment. The wrong mask will offer little if any protection.

When considering if there is a risk, it is useful to think about the route that the substance will take to enter the body. This will either be by inhalation, ingestion or absorption (through the skin). Many substances can enter by all three routes. Think about what protection you are trying to provide.

Remember though that the best solutions are elimination (do you need to use the substance at all?), modifying or changing the substance (is there a safer alternative?), engineering controls to remove substance fume/dust, make the method of work safer (wet cutting instead of dry cutting), and finally PPE.

Free Download - How to find out if a Substance is Hazardous - INDG352 - courtesy of HSE

How can RSP Safety help?

We can carry out CoSHH Risk Assessments (sometimes referred to as hazardous substances risk asessment) for you - we will work with you to come up with the best way to display the assessments so that your staff are aware of the dangers and the protective equipment that they should use.

Something to think about - is English the first language in your company? Talk to us about pictoral or translated risk assessments.

Training for employees working with substances hazardous to health.

Provide information, training and instruction for employees who work with substances hazardous to health. This includes cleaning and maintenance staff.

Download our course schedule here

Download our CoSHH awareness course outline here

DSEAR

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) require employers to control the risks to safety from fire and explosions

Flammable gases and liquids include a wide range of chemical substances that, as well as being flammable, may also have other hazardous properties. All of these substances can easily ignite, explode or cause fire, and special care is required.

The use of flammable liquids represents a significantly greater risk of fire compared to the use of gases and solids. Incidents involving flammable liquids also tended to lead to more serious injuries because of the speed at which fire develops, and the close proximity of the workers to the seat of fire – often their contaminated clothing.

If there are hazardous substances on your premises, they must be identified, and the risks to health under the 'Control of Substances Hazardous To Health Regulations' (COSHH) assessed. In addition, these types of substance are categorised by the ‘Dangerous Substances And Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002’ (DSEAR) as requiring a specific type of risk assessment to make allowance for their special fire or explosive hazards. Note that DSEAR does not deal with substances defined in explosives legislation – only ‘unintentional’ explosives.

Identification of hazardous or flammable gases and liquids

These are chemicals that have an extremely low flash point and boiling point, and gases that catch fire in contact with air, OR chemicals that:

1. may catch fire in contact with air
2. only need brief contact with an ignition source
3. have a very low flash point
4. evolve highly flammable gases in contact with water.

The CHIP regulations indicate three levels of flammability, but all are identified by the same hazard symbol – a flame on an orange background.

Other information on the product label includes:

1. the full name, address and telephone number of the supplier in the EU
2. the name of the substance, or the trade name if it is a preparation
3. risk phrases setting out the hazards
4. safety phrases indicating hazard control methods.

A safety datasheet must be supplied with any hazardous substance to inform the user of the hazards and properties of the substance, and the precautions required when using it. The datasheet should be examined to determine the correct and safest methods of storage and use. Specific training on all aspects of working with these substances must support this. Many flammable gases are stored in portable cylinders, and are used for a variety of purposes in the workplace: for example, vehicle propulsion, cutting/welding, purging, cooling, and medical purposes.

Free Download - INGD370 about the basic requirements of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 – usually known as DSEAR - courtesy of the HSE.