This COSHH Compliance Health Check evaluates companies on 4 key areas to ensure that best practice is implemented in your COSHH programs
- Chemical Inventory
- Safety Data Sheets
- COSHH Assessments
- Employee Communication
The term COSHH stands for 'Control of Substances Hazardous to Health'. COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous. In particular, the COSHH identifies chemicals that are hazardous to health. Although most companies will also identify chemicals which have physical or environmental hazards associated with them as well. COSHH is applicable to the UK market and comes from the following Regulation:
COSHH Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, 2002.
An employer has the following responsibilities under COSHH:
- Implement control measures to protect workers from hazardous substances.
- Prevent or adequately controlling exposure to hazardous substances.
- Provide employees with suitable and sufficient information, instruction, training and appropriate protective equipment where necessary.
- Ensure that control measures are maintained, kept in full working order and in a clean condition where appropriate.
- Drawing up plans and procedures to deal with accidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances.
- Ensure that any employees exposed to hazardous substances whilst at work are under suitable health surveillance.
- Ensure that substances do not exceed the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL).
- Carrying out a COSHH Risk Assessment.
An employee also has responsibilities they must adhere to:
- Make use of control measures and facilities provided by the employer.
- Ensure equipment is returned and stored properly.
- Reporting defects/insufficiencies in control measures
- Wearing and storing personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Removing PPE that could cause contamination before eating or drinking
- Making proper use of washing, showering and bathing facilities when required
- Maintaining a high level of personal hygiene
- Complying with any information, instruction or training that is provided
From over 20 years’ experience working with over 6,000 clients, EcoOnline have learned that many different organisations and its staff have varying levels of knowledge on COSHH legislation and best practices and often there is areas of improvement in processes and moving from manual to more efficient digital methods..
Chemical safety is often perceived by health and safety teams as intimidating and complex and is often the last area to receive attention due to the nature of other tasks. Assumptions can often be made that members of certain departments have a high level of competency on chemical safety for instance, if they work in laboratories. Don’t make any assumptions. Regulations have changed over the years and constantly evolve.
Take the 60 second COSHH compliance health check to evaluate your current process and identify any gaps.
All who complete the chemical health check will get a FREE COSHH best practice ultimate guide.
