Chemical safety in the workplace isn’t exclusive to science labs and doctor’s clinics. Staying safe with substances extends to each and every kind of workplace practice involving potentially harmful substances, right down to using simple cleaning products around the office.
This is where COSHH comes in. If you’re a business owner wanting to protect your employees and keep your working conditions safe, keep reading for a full rundown of understanding COSHH at work.
What Does COSHH Mean?
COSHH: the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. Or, in other words, the regulations set out in the UK to keep employees safe from the risks posed by certain hazardous substances in the workplace.
These regulations require employers to conduct sufficient risk assessments, provide control measures in the workplace, and offer the training and information necessary for their team to stay as safe as possible.
What Does COSHH Cover?
COSHH in the workplace covers a range of everyday substances that pose certain health risks, including:
- Chemicals. Anything from cleaning products to paints, chemical exposure has the potential to cause significant damage to health if left unmonitored.
- Fumes. This is specific to workplaces that might generate harmful fumes during their day-to-day processes, eg. welding or soldering.
- Dusts. Dust from materials like wood and metal can significantly impact health over time.
- Gases. This could look like toxic gases produced in laboratories.
- Biological agents. This includes any bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
- Nanomaterials. These are tiny particles that can be produced within the workplace in various industries.
COSHH Symbols & Meanings
Also known as hazard symbols, COSHH symbols are health and safety symbols and warnings used internationally to signify the specific dangers and risks involved with certain chemicals and substances.
Flammable
This is used to signify that a substance could easily ignite under exposure to heat, sparks, or flames.
Corrosive
This is used to show that a substance is corrosive and could damage skin, eyes, or even other materials upon contact.
Toxic
This is used to show when a substance can cause harm if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin.
Hazardous To The Environment
This indicates when a substance could cause harm to the environment, or even long-term damage if released in the improper way.
Health Hazard
This is used to signify when a substance could cause significant long term health hazards caused by long term exposure to, for example, carcinogens.
Explosive
This is used to show when a substance has the potential to explode under certain conditions.
Serious Health Hazards
This indicates that contact with this particular substance could have serious or long-term damaging effects on a person’s health.
Gases Under Pressure
This symbol is used to show that there is a gas being contained under pressure which may explode when exposed to heat.
Oxidising
This shows that a substance has the potential to cause an exothermic reaction with another chemical.
COSHH Assessment
Whatever the nature of the work, it’s a requirement for the workplace to conduct COSHH assessments in order to sufficiently identify and evaluate any significant risks posed and maximise the safety and protection of their team.
A standard COSHH assessment will follow these four key steps:
1. Identify Hazardous Substances
Before anything else, employers will first have to identify hazardous substances in or around the workplace that are harmful to health. This includes not only the chemicals that might be used day-to-day, but also the chemicals that are produced as a result of that work.
2. Assess Risks
With each hazard identified, employers can then assess each risk associated with the hazardous substance. This will take into account the degree of toxicity, exposure levels, and routes of exposure (ie. ingestion or inhalation).
3. Determine & Implement Control Measures
These two steps will give all the information necessary to implement the control measures required. This could be anything from PPE (personal protective equipment) and storage procedures to engineering controls.
4. Monitor & Review
Regular assessment of control measures is essential in order to ensure they remain effective and are keeping up with the evolving demands of the workplace, the industry.
What Are My Responsibilities Under COSHH as an Employer?
Assessment of Risks
As an employer, identifying workplace risks is crucial in order to remain aware and reduce the risk of damage to an employees’ health. Sufficient assessment should encompass each of the four steps outlined above.
Control Measures
Implementing the appropriate safety measures is crucial in order to minimise a team’s exposure to hazardous substances. Everything from providing proper equipment, to upholding administration controls such as safe work practices and procedures, to introducing new equipment such as ventilation systems or other necessary controls is key to keeping a workforce protected.
Training & Information
This is a big one – employers must provide their team with all the necessary information regarding the hazardous substances involved in their work, encompassing all risks involved and control measures in place. Lots of businesses will opt for specialist support in this area to ensure their employees receive the correct training, helping them to stay safe and remain on the right side of the law. At the H&S Dept, we offer professional support and guidance in all things COSHH, with bespoke risk assessments and expert training on how to stay safe at work with chemical substances.
Health Surveillance & Monitoring
Regular monitoring of all hazardous substances and workplace risks is required under COSHH in order to stay safe, which could look like checking both the exposure levels in a workplace as well as the health of a workforce in order to identify any adverse effects substances may have had on a team.
Emergency Planning
Employers must implement appropriate strategies in order to deal with emergencies should they arrive. This could be spills of hazardous substances, leaks to the outside world, or accidental exposure to an employee. This should also encompass appropriate employee training in order to ensure employees know how to respond in an emergency.
What Are My Responsibilities Under COSHH as an Employee?
Attend Training Initiatives
If an employer has set out training initiatives to inform a team of the hazards and risks involved with their work, it is a requirement under COSHH for each and every employee to attend.
Use Control Measures
Proper use of the protective measures put in place by an employer is crucial, and employees are also expected to take appropriate care of safety equipment and systems. This is also where proper training of how to handle equipment is necessary.
Report Hazards
Any hazards of incidents involving chemical exposure and hazardous substances must be reported as soon as possible. This includes spills, leaks, and accidents.
Cooperate With Health Surveillance
If an employer conducts health surveillance as part of their COSHH assessment, employers must cooperate with any requests for health checks or medical exams in order to properly monitor and detect any early signs of adverse effects as a result of substance exposure.
What Happens if I Don’t Comply With COSHH?
Non-compliance with COSHH can result in serious consequences for the workforce as a whole, including:
Legal Action
Of course, failure to comply with laws and regulations can result in legal action taking place against the employer by authorities such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This can lead to fines, prosecution, and even imprisonment down the line
Health Risks
One of the most significant risks posed by non-compliance with COSHH is the damage caused to employees’ health. Health risks from hazardous substances have the potential to lead to occupational illnesses, injuries, and long-term health effects.
Damage to Reputation
Any damage caused to an employee’s health has the risk of also damaging the reputation of an employer and business as a whole, leading to loss of trust from both the public and any future prospects.
How We Can Help
If you’re looking for a way to stay on the right side of COSHH regulations while ensuring your team’s safety, we’re here to help. Our helpful team at the H&S Dept is dedicated to providing you with professional support designed to guide you through the intricacies of COSHH laws and regulations, with advice that’s tailored to you and your unique business. Keep your team safe while staying compliant, with bespoke COSHH risk assessments, guidance on protective equipment, and help with the creation of emergency plans. Get in touch today to find out more about how we can support you and your people with chemical safety in the workplace.