Hazardous substances safety: eight top tips
Checklist of steps you can take to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations.
There are key steps you need to follow to make sure that you're dealing with hazardous substances safely. Make sure you:
- Identify the hazardous substances in your workplace and the risks they pose to people's health or the environment.
- Decide what precautions are needed to eliminate the risks, or reduce them to a level which will protect the environment and people's health.
- Eliminate the hazardous substances wherever possible - if this isn't possible, control exposure to a level which will protect the health of the environment or people who could be affected.
- Implement control measures and ensure that they are used and maintained - make sure that everyone is consistently carrying out these procedures to avoid any risks to health.
- Monitor exposure - if the substances are airborne, you may need to monitor workers' exposure to ensure you .
- Carry out appropriate health surveillance - in certain circumstances, to ensure their health is not being damaged.
- Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies - see how to set up a health and safety management system.
- Inform, train and supervise employees to help ensure their health is not damaged when using or in contact with hazardous substances.
The Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland (HSENI) has .
Help
Also on this site
Content category