COSHH – How to Make Chemical Safety In The Workplace Simpler
The C-word of workplace safety. COSHH.
Feel a headache coming on? You’re not alone. With so many elements involved, COSHH can seem both intimidating and overwhelming for many of us. However, it’s vital to workplace safety and gives everyone in your business peace of mind that you’re doing your part.
In this blog, we help make COSHH easier to understand.
What Is COSHH?
Let’s start at the beginning… What is COSHH?
The acronym stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. COSHH is a set of UK regulations designed to protect workers from the health risks of working with or around hazardous substances.
And it’s not just limited to those who work directly with chemicals. COSHH also covers byproducts and substances like dust, fumes, mists, vapours and even biological agents such as viruses and bacteria.
Why COSHH Matters
There are several reasons why COSHH is important…
Legalities
Put simply, it’s the law. UK law dictates that it’s your job as a business owner to assess and control risks from hazardous substances in your workplace. COSHH regulations help to keep you, your people and your business safe from harm.
Protecting Your People
Working with hazardous substances can pose serious health risks to your staff members. There is an endless list of potential short-term and long-term health effects, ranging from minor issues like skin irritation to more serious occurrences of respiratory problems, neurological disorders and even cancer.
Business Risks
Failure to comply with COSHH regulations can affect your business by fines, penalties and potential legal action due to staff health issues. Your reputation could also take a hit; who wants to work for a business that doesn’t look after its people, anyway?
These costs can kill a business.
Here’s a real-life example of failure to comply with COSHH. A Bristolian company was fined £60,000 for six separate breaches of COSHH regulations where workers were exposed to hazardous chemicals over four years leading to allergic contact dermatitis.
Making COSHH Simple: A Step-by-Step Guide
Navigating COSHH can be stressful, but we’re here to make it easy. Follow these steps for COSHH success…
Identify Hazardous Substances
The first step to ensuring COSHH compliance is to create an inventory of all hazardous substances in the workplace. You can use each substance’s Safety Data Sheet, or SDS, as a source of information.
Risk Assessments
For each substance, evaluate the risks. Think about things like:
- What harm can the substance do?
- How do workers become exposed;? Inhalation, contact, ingestion?
- How long must an individual be exposed before there’s a risk?
- How frequently are workers exposed?
Control
Next is determining how best to control the substances to minimise the risks. Measures might include substituting the substance for a safer alternative, introducing ventilation, improving work safety procedures, and using personal protective equipment (PPE).
Record
You must then document all of your findings and control measures in a COSHH assessment. This is a key document that should be up-to-date and readily available for inspection by regulatory authorities.
Review
Make sure you regularly review and update your COSHH assessment to account for any operational changes and ensure its effectiveness.
Common COSHH Challenges
Businesses of all types can often find themselves stuck at common COSHH roadblocks. We’ve made a list to help you work out how to tackle them. Let’s go!
Lack Of Information
If you don’t have enough information about the substances you work with, how can you carry out a COSHH risk assessment and control risks effectively?
Here’s how to access reliable sources of information so that you can remain COSHH compliant…
- Use the SDS. Suppliers are legally obliged to provide safety data sheets for the substances they sell to you. If you haven’t been given a hard copy, you should be able to find it online.
- Browse HSE guidance. The Health and Safety Executive is a valuable online resource that has plenty of guidance.
- Work with a health and safety consultant like Envesca! As health and safety experts, we know the ins and outs of COSHH in the workplace.
Complexity
COSHH is complicated, and with the threat of legal implications hanging over your head, it’s a lot of pressure on you to get it all right.
The fix? Simplify it where possible. Use templates or checklists for each part of the process.
Costs
Chemical safety in your workplace is worth spending out on. Preventing incidents and accidents is much cheaper than dealing with potential health issues and legal action later down the line.
Time
Its complex nature means that going through the motions of COSHH takes up a fair chunk of your valuable time. Break down the assessment into smaller, manageable tasks so that it feels less overwhelming.
Getting Professional Help
For some businesses, bringing in experts like us might be a good idea. We can guide you through the process and ensure you’re following COSHH regulations effectively.
Complex Risks
If your business risks are difficult to assess or control, or if this is your first time creating a COSHH plan of attack in your workplace, you could probably use a helping hand.
High-Risk Substances
Does your business use substances that could deliver serious health ill-effects? High-risk substances require expert advice to ensure your business and your people are kept safe.
Peace Of Mind
Getting expert support means it’s not all on you if things go wrong. Envesca can work with you to ensure thoroughness and compliance, taking the stress out of COSHH.
COSHH Doesn’t Have To Be A Headache
Failure to understand and implement effective COSHH measures can not only affect your staff members but your business, too. From fines to reputation damage, it’s crucial that you take COSHH seriously.
Want us to walk you through it? Envesca has worked with hundreds of businesses to develop and implement a COSHH plan so that they could focus their attention on core business activities. Get in touch today.
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Training Available
Envesca offer a number of different training courses, which offer advice and guidance on these topics.
Highfield Level 1 Award in Health and Safety
This half-day Level 1 Health and Safety course will provide you with a basic introduction to all aspects of health and safety practices.Highfield Level 2 Award in Risk Assessment
This one-day Level 2 Risk Assessment course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to carry out risk assessments.Highfield Level 2 Award in COSHH
This half-day COSHH course will give you the knowledge of the health risks surrounding work with hazardous substances.
Health and Safety for Directors and Senior Managers
This one-day comprehensive course highlights the human, economic and financial implications of non-compliance with health and safety legislation.Share this article with your social Community.
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