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COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous To Health

Definition

The Control of Substances Hazardous To Health (COSHH) regulations were issued in 2002 and are administered the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) of the United Kingdom. The regulations require employers to control exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace to prevent ill health.
Note: Do not confuse this with CCOHS, which is the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Additional Info

Employer compliance with COSHH requires eight steps: Assess the risks from hazardous substances in your workplace. Determine what precautions are needed. Prevent or "adequately" control exposure. Ensure that control measures are used and maintained. Monitor employee exposure to hazardous substances. Carry out appropriate health surveillance. Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies Ensure employees are properly informed, trained, and supervised.

These regulations not only prevent injuries to employees, but can also improve productivity, reduce accidents, and lessen legal/regulatory liabilities. Like most workplace safety regulations, they benefit employers and employees alike.

Under the regulations, a Substance Hazardous to Health is any of the following:

• Any substance classifed as dangerous to health under CHIP regulations. These will have ratings of T+ (very toxic), T (toxic), X (harmful), C (corrosive), or XI (irritant) under CHIP.
• Substances with workplace exposure limits listed in the HSE publication EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits.
• Biological agents that are directly connected with or incidental to the work. Examples include exposures from sewage treatment or air conditioning systems.
• Any kind of dust if it exceeds COSHH concentration limits.
• Any other substance which creates a risk to health but isn't specifically covered by CHIP. Examples include asphyxiants, pesticides, cosmetics, and medicines.

Substances not "hazardous to health" under COSHH include:

• Substances with their own regulations, such as asbestos and lead.
• Substances which are hazardous only because they are radioactive, at high pressure, at extreme temperature, have explosive or flammable properties, or are biological agents outside the employer's control (infectious diseases, for example).

Books Available

• "Safety at Work, Seventh Edition", Hardcover, 1,056 pages, 2007. Estimated price $140.00. Info and/or order.
• "Risk Assessment of Chemicals: An Introduction, 2nd Edition", Hardcover, 688 pages, 2007. Estimated price $199.00. Info and/or order.
• "Introduction to Health and Safety at Work, Third Edition: The Handbook for the NEBOSH National General Certificate", Paperback, 458 pages, 2007. Estimated price $67.40. Info and/or order.
• "Managing Health and Safety: Learning Made Simple", Paperback, 128 pages, 2007. Estimated price $16.95. Info and/or order.

MSDS Relevance

Substances to which COSHH applies will require an appropriate warning label and MSDS per CHIP regulations. Much of the informatio that employers require for COSHH compliance can be found in the MSDS's.

Further Reading

The full text of The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. The HSE's Control of Substances Hazardous to Health - COSHH web site has all kinds of useful information. COSHH: A Brief Guide to the Regulations (PDF, 190 Kb). COSHH Essentials provides advice on controlling the use of chemicals for a range of common tasks, e.g, mixing, or drying. Training course for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations at the Health & Safety Laboratory, a unit of the HSE. Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

See also: CHIP, REACH, risk phrases, safety phrases, and the International Section of the MSDS FAQ.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.