COSHH Assessments

COSHH assessments are a legal requirement for any workplace where employees may be exposed to hazardous substances. These assessments help to identify the risks associated with hazardous substances and to put in place controls to protect employees' health. COSHH's definition is that requires employees to control and reduce the risk of substances hazardous to health.

Muniriyathse (Safety Zone) brought to you a COSHH assessment that has to be "adequate and sufficient" and includes tasks such as:

• Identification of health hazards
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous chemicals
• Provide measures to reduce the risk of damage and keep these measures in place.
• Make sure emergency information is up to date
• Provide training and instruction on hazardous materials. 

COSHH Assessmens1999 regulation

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 (COSHH 99) are the main regulations in the UK that protect workers from exposure to hazardous substances. These regulations place duties on employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees by controlling the risks from hazardous substances. The full text of the COSHH 1999 Regulations: 

Additional responsibilities for employers under COSHH 1999 include:

• Providing employees with information, instruction, and training on the risks of hazardous substances and the control measures in place.
• Consulting with employees and their representatives on COSHH matters.
• Keeping records of COSHH assessments and control measures.
• Reporting accidents and incidents involving hazardous substances to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The legal regulations for the prevention of risk due to exposure to chemical agents in the United Kingdom are called COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health). The qualitative methodology initially designed to provide support to small and medium-sized businesses and also to prevention technicians for compliance with such regulations is called COSHH Essentials.

COSHH Essentials

COSHH Essentials is  COSHH Assessments methodology developed by the UK Health and Safety Executive to help businesses comply with Control of Hazardous Substances (COSHH) regulations. It is used primarily to determine the most appropriate control measure for the task being assessed and not specifically to determine the existing level of risk. However, it can be used to compare alternatives, by determining the risk levels of different substances or products.

COSHH Risk Assessments

COSHH Assessments provides a guide to the risks associated with a given task and offers suggestions on how to mitigate that risk. When you use a hazardous substance in different ways, the risk involved is determined by your exposure to the hazard, rather than the substance itself. 

For example, there is very little risk associated with applying super glue to materials like wood or ceramics, while using it on edible substances or dentures increases your exposure to the dangerous glue, dramatically increasing the risk involved.

Let's imagine that a company manufactures paints and has a small warehouse where it stores the chemicals used in production. The company decided to apply the COSHH Assessments model to evaluate and control the risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances in the warehouse.

Identify hazardous substances: The Company identifies hazardous substances used in paint production, including organic solvents, resins and dyes.

1. Classified as hazardous to health under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation
2. Not classified but are known to be hazardous to health
3. Generated as a result of work activities

Assess the risks: Assess the risks to the health and safety of workers exposed to hazardous substances. They must include:

1. Hazards of the substances
2. Routes of exposure (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, skin contact)
3. Number of employees exposed
4. Duration and frequency of exposure

Select-control measures: The Company selects control measures to minimize the identified risks, such as the

1. Use of personal protective equipment,
2. Adequate ventilation of the warehouse,
3. Signage hazards and limiting workers' exposure to hazardous substances.

Controlling the risks: Employers must put in place appropriate control measures to reduce the risks to health from exposure to hazardous substances. This should involve the hierarchy of control, starting with:

1. Elimination: Eliminating the use of the hazardous substance.
2. Substitution: Substituting the hazardous substance with a less hazardous one.
3. Engineering controls: Using engineering controls to control the exposure to hazardous substances, such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV).
4. Administrative controls: Implementing administrative controls to reduce exposure, such as restricting access to the area where the hazardous substance is used.
5. Personal protective equipment (PPE): Providing employees with suitable PPE, such as gloves, masks, and respirators.

Implement control measures: Including training workers on safety measures and the correct use of PPE.

Monitor and review: The company monitors and reviews control measures to ensure that they are working correctly and to update them if necessary.

Inform and train workers: The company informs and trains workers about risks and control measures

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Dust COSHH Assessment

Dust in the workplace is currently one of the biggest health and safety issues and can be a problem in any industry. Exposure to dust can cause several serious health problems, including COPD, lung and skin cancer, asthma, and other respiratory problems.

The dangers of dust in the workplace are well recognized, and the HSE produces specific guidance on how to deal with hazardous dust such as silica, wood, asbestos and other hazardous substances.

It is important to note that different forms of the same substance can present other dangers. For example, a large portion of a solid may present a negligible hazard but may become dangerous when ground into a powder.

What work activities can generate dust?

• Weigh loose powders
• Fill bags or empty them into bins/bins
• Cut (e.g., paving stones)
• Crushing and classification
• Spill Cleanup

Who is most at risk?

Workers exposed to dusty environments, such as quarrying and quarrying, are at increased risk of developing respiratory diseases, such as asthma and pneumonia, and visual disturbances, which can affect their quality of life.

Other workers at risk include those in fire rescue services, where inhalation of asbestos is a hazard, people working in catering functions where flour dust is airborne, and woodworkers who are exposed to fine particles of wood dust, among many other functions.

What does the law say?

Dust is classified as a substance hazardous to health according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations(2002).

The definition of a substance hazardous to health includes dust of any type present at a concentration in air greater than 10 mg/m3 (as a time-weighted average over 8 hours) of total inhalable dust. The respirable dust limit is 4 mg/m3 (as a time-weighted average over 8 hours).

COSHH regulations require employers to assess the risk to their employees and appropriately prevent or control employee exposure to these substances.

Employers should carry out an appropriate and sufficient assessment of the health risks arising from the dust in question and the measures that must be taken to comply with the requirements and should provide employees and other persons on the premises with appropriate information, instruction and training.

Prevention and Control

Preventing dust exposure should be an employer's first goal, as many forms of dust can be eliminated from the workplace. Where it is not reasonably practicable to prevent dust exposure, a combination of engineering and process controls may be appropriate, but ensuring you are using the correct combination is crucial.

Some of these control methods include:

• Segregate or enclose dusty processes to reduce the number of people exposed
• Provide extraction where total enclosure is not possible
• Cushioning of materials where the process allows
• Minimize the height at which material is allowed to fall
• Encourage workers to work carefully and instruct them on how to control dust produced by their activities.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), including protective clothing and respiratory protective equipment (RPE), can be provided for wellness purposes, but its use as part of your organization's strategy to control exposure should only be considered when all other reasonably practical elements.

What does the COSHH symbol represent?

Chemical products are very present in the daily lives of consumers. Detergents, cleaning products, paints and insecticides are just some of the many commonly purchased products that contain dangerous substances.

Chemical substances are very present in everything that surrounds us and in the products we buy. But, while most chemicals are not dangerous, others are, which is why it is so important to know how to interpret the information on their labels.

For a clearer identification of this type of product and the different dangers associated with their consumption, the European Union approved in 2008 the CLP Regulation, which implemented the mandatory nature of including danger pictograms on the labels of these products.

COSHH symbols, also known as hazard pictograms, are a quick and easy way to identify the potential hazards associated with a particular chemical. These symbols are displayed on the labels of chemicals and safety data sheets (SDS).

There are nine main COSHH symbols, each with its own distinctive design and meaning:

1. Oxidizer: If you find this pictogram on the label it means that you are in the presence of oxidative gases, solids or liquids that can cause or intensify a fire or explosion.
2. Corrosive: Whenever you use a chemical product with this pictogram, do not forget that it is corrosive and can cause severe skin burns and eye damage. It is also corrosive to metals.
3. Explosion: This pictogram refers to explosive, self-reactive substances and organic peroxides that can cause an explosion when heated.
4. Pressurized gas: Chemicals with this pictogram may contain gas under pressure, which may explode when heated; refrigerated gas, which can cause burns or cryogenic injuries; or dissolved gases.  This is the case with insecticides or homemade air fresheners, as well as spray deodorants, shaving foams or hairsprays.
5. Flammable: This pictogram warns about flammable gases, aerosols, liquids and solids, which can catch fire in contact with air or that emit flammable gases when in contact with water.
6. Serious health hazard: A substance having this pictogram means it is carcinogenic; affects fertility and the unborn; causes mutations; It is a respiratory sensitizer, it can cause allergies, asthma or breathing difficulties if inhaled, It is toxic in certain organs; danger due to aspiration, which can be fatal or very harmful if ingested or penetrated by any means. This is the case of burning alcohol or gasoline. Difficulties if inhaled; it is toxic in certain organs; danger due to aspiration, which can be fatal or very harmful if ingested or penetrated by any means. This is the case of burning alcohol or gasoline.
7. Danger for the environment: This pictogram warns that the substance is toxic or harmful to aquatic organisms. This is the case with many insecticides or diesel.
8. Health Hazard: This pictogram may refer to one or more of the following hazards: acute toxicity; causes skin sensitization, skin and eye irritation Irritant to breathe; is narcotic, causes drowsiness or dizziness, dangerous for the ozone layer. This is the case with many detergents and floor cleaners.
9. Acute toxicity: It is the presence of a chemical that is extremely toxic in contact with the skin if inhaled or ingested, and that can be fatal. This is the case with many biocides or chlorine.

Conclusion

It is important to note that the specific requirements of the COSHH regulations will vary depending on the nature of the hazardous substances and the risks involved. Employers should seek expert advice if they are unsure of how to comply with the regulations.

Helpful resources:

A step-by-step guide to COSHH assessments - HSG97 - HSE: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg97.htm

Example COSHH assessments - HSE: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/assessment.htm

COSHH frequently asked questions - HSE: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/faq.htm