The Requirements of COSHH
Widespread Solutions offers consultative services to help you comply with COSHH requirements.
The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) suggests eight key requirements of the COSHH Regulations. These are to:
- Assess the risks to health from hazardous substances used in or created by your workplace activities.
- Decide what precautions are needed
You must not carry out work which could expose your employees to hazardous substances without first considering the risks and the necessary precautions, and what else you need to do to comply with COSHH. - Prevent or adequately control exposure
You must prevent your employees being exposed to hazardous substances. Where preventing exposure is not reasonably practicable, then you must adequately control it. - Ensure that control measures are used and maintained properly and that safety procedures are followed.
- Monitor the exposure of employees to hazardous substances, if necessary.
- Carry out appropriate health surveillance where your assessment has shown this is necessary or where COSHH sets specific requirements.
- Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances, where necessary.
- Ensure employees are properly informed, trained and supervised. You should provide your employees with suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training.
If carried out systematically, these steps of the COSHH assessment will ensure that an employer will comply with the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). A brief guide to the Regulations regarding COSHH assessments can be found in the HSE's guidance booklets on COSHH assessments and other publications.
For more information about COSHH requirements and assessments please contact us or call the team directly on 01423 522836.
