COSHH Essentials

Any exposure to hazardous substances needs to be adequately controlled and requires all employers to:

• Follow the recommended 8 steps of complying with the COSHH regulations. (as above)
• Ensure that employees’ exposure to substances that can cause disease or adverse health effects, such as occupational asthma or cancer is reduced as low as is reasonably practicable.
• Personal protective equipment must be suitable for the hazard and user. It must be looked after and maintained at all times and used by trained workers only. If your job involves the use of personal protective equipment, then it should be WORN AT ALL TIMES.
• Ensure employees follow safe systems of work and use safety control measures provided.
• Ensure employees co-operate with management during a risk assessment.
• Make sure employees are actively involved with any health surveillance monitoring.
• Ensure employees are aware of procedures to report any problems and how to work in a safe and responsible way.

In Summary —

The COSHH regulations have been designed to protect people from hazardous substances by…

• Assessing the risk of harm
• Controlling the exposure
• Ensuring adequate control measures are suitably in place
• Introducing health surveillance as necessary
• Providing information; instruction; training and supervision to all employees