COSHH Assessments

Hazardous substances in the workplace are potentially dangerous to staff and to the environment. To manage these substances most organisations develop, issue and implement the controls as described in a COSHH Assessment. The assessment is simply a description of the main hazards to health with a description of the controls to be implemented to reduce the risk of these hazards harming people.

Before you even think of writing an assessment you should consider:

• Do you really need the hazardous substance? You may be able to change activities or processes to remove the need of using such a substance

• Can you replace it with something less hazardous of that poses no danger? For example, using water-based rather than solvent-based products

• Can you use the substance in a different form – for example as a solid rather than liquid so that there is less risk of spillage or exposure to skin?

These first questions will ensure that you are using the substances that are of least harm and of the least amount. You then must consider what controls are to be in place to reduce risk. Controls should include instruction on how to reduce the volumes required, the engineering required to keep harmful substances away from people (exposure to skin, respiratory system or through ingestion), storage requirements and disposal routes. If personal protective equipment is required (and it should be the last resort and final barrier between person and substance after other controls are implemented) make sure that you stipulate exactly what this is and if it needs to conform to any particular standards.

COSHH assessments also give instructions on what should be done should there be exposure to the substance – such as what to do if it touches someone’s skin.

Pay particular attention to implementing and checking the effectiveness of the controls in place should a substance be carcinogenic, causes asthma or genetic damage. Exposure to such substances must be kept to an absolute minimum. Levels of exposure are normally given in material safety data sheets that must be made available by the manufacturer/supplier of the substance.