Control of hazardous substances
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
The COSHH regulations are the main piece of legislation covering control of risk to employee and public health through the exposure of hazardous substances in the workplace.
Examples of hazardous substances covered by the regulations include:
- Adhesives, paints and cleaning agents
- Substances generated during work activities such as soldering fumes and sawdust
- Naturally occurring substances such as flour, grain dust and biological agents that cause disease
For more information about the regulations, please contact our Customer Services team at the Civic Centre on (0115) 901 3974 or email foodsafety@gedling.gov.uk. Alternatively, please visit the Health and Safety Executive Control of Hazardous Substances page for more information. (External site)
How do the regulations affect my business?
The regulations aim to reduce occupational ill health by establishing a framework for controlling hazardous substances in the workplace. To comply with the regulations, employers must follow the eight steps below:
- Assess the risks to health arising from hazardous substances used, created or encountered in the workplace
- Decide what precautions are needed to prevent employee exposure to hazardous substances
- Ideally prevent or adequately control exposure to hazardous substances.
- Ensure that any control measures introduced are followed and enforced
- Monitor the exposure of employees to hazardous substances
- Carry out appropriate health surveillance where your risk assessment has shown that this is needed or where COSHH sets out specific requirements
- Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies
- Ensure employees are informed, trained and supervised when working with or before being exposed to hazardous substances
For more information, please contact the Health and Safety Executive's Nottingham office on (0115) 971 2800.
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