COSHH-Control of substances hazardous to health is a legal requirement and one of the key regulations that employers must adhere to under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Why does an employer need to know about COSHH?
Every year, thousands of workers are made ill by hazardous substances which lead to many respiratory ilnesses including lung disease and asthma.
Many more suffer skin disorders such as dermatitis, and sadly others suffer and die from various forms of cancer.
A common myth
A common misconception among many people is they don’t work with harmful substances. The reality is that most businesses and workplaces use substances that can be hazardous to health. Even in a small office which would normally be regarded as a low hazard environment there are cleaning products and other chemicals which need to be evaluated and treated with appropriate care.
What is a safety data sheet?
Safety data sheets, often referred to as a chemical’s SDS are information sheets made available with products you use that may be classed as ‘dangerous for supply’. If this is the case, by law the supplier must provide you with a safety data sheet. (Exceptions to this are products that have their own legislation such as medicines, pesticides, and cosmetics)
Unfortunately, safety data sheets can be hard to understand. When reading one, it’s best to focus on the areas of health risks and emergency situations, which can be found in the following sections:
- Sections 2 and 16 of the sheet. These explain the dangers.
- Sections 4-8 which give information on safe storage and handling.
Remember, as an employer you have a legal duty under COSHH
Download the helpful guide from the HSE and also the ‘Safe handlingof Chemicals’ information poster
