COSHH

(Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health)
There are in excess of 100,000 different chemicals in use worldwide, the majority of which are capable of causing harm to the people using them or working with them if their manufacture, distribution and use is not properly monitored and controlled.

With so many different hazardous substances in existence it is clear they will be found in many varied working environments; offices, shops, factories, farms and even mobile work operations such as breakdown recovery trucks.

Many substances are used as part of the normal daily operations, such as paint, cleaning detergents, glue etc. but others may also be created as a result of the work activity e.g. welding fumes.

The effects of exposure to or contact with a chemical can vary from short term irritation and rashes, repeated symptoms from even short infrequent exposure (sensitisation), to dermatitis, occupational asthma or even cancer.

With so many substances in use in so many places the ability to cause harm to people is great if controls are not created, implemented and monitored for their effectiveness.

What is a Hazardous Substance?

• Substances or mixtures classified as dangerous to health under the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002 (CHIP)
• Any substance for which workplace exposure limits are listed in the publication EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits
• Biological agents (bacteria & other micro-organisms), if they are directly connected with the work
• Any kind of dust if its average concentration in the air exceeds the levels specified in COSHH
• Any other substance which creates a risk to health, but which may not be specifically covered by CHIP including:
asphyxiants (i.e. gases such as argon and helium)

For the vast majority of commercial chemicals, the presence (or not) of a warning label will indicate whether COSHH is relevant.