Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations are a major part of workplace safety. They are designed to protect the workforce from exposure to harmful substances like hazardous chemicals and to maintain a safe environment in the workplace.
But what is a COSHH risk assessment? In this helpful guide, we’ll walk you through the process, define it, and give you a better idea of your and your employer’s rights and responsibilities under the regulations.
What is COSHH and why does it matter for workplace safety?
COSHH regulations are vital for industries like manufacturing, healthcare and construction, as it protects employees against hazardous substances when present. These substances include chemicals, fumes, dust, vapours, mists and biological agents.
- Chemicals — This could be cleaning agents or solvents.
- Dust — This could be silica dust from construction work or wood dust in carpentry.
- Biological agents — This could be bacteria and viruses in healthcare settings.
If you are exposed to any of these substances, you could be impacted by severe health issues like respiratory illnesses, skin conditions or long-term diseases like cancer. Without COSHH regulations, you may be at risk in the workplace. Employers have a legal duty to manage these risks, so understanding COSHH is essential for holding them accountable.
Understanding a COSHH risk assessment
A COSHH risk assessment is a specific kind of evaluation that your employer has to do to manage the risk of hazardous substances in their workplace. The assessment involves identifying all potential hazards and the likelihood of these risks becoming reality if things go wrong. Once evaluated, they should implement safety measures to eliminate or contain these hazards.
By properly and regularly doing a COSHH risk assessment, your employer will help to:
- Protect employee health
- Prevent future accidents
- Comply with the law
Key elements of a COSHH risk assessment and what to look for
The COSHH risk assessment follows a structured process that ensures all hazards are addressed and adequately managed. This is how it works.
1.Identifying hazardous substances
Your employer should start by identifying all substances in the workplace that could pose a health risk. These include:
- Materials brought into the workplace like chemicals and cleaning agents
- Substances produced in the workplace like fumes, dust and vapours
- Biological hazards like blood or infection materials
2.Evaluating risks and exposure
For each substance found in the workplace that might pose a risk, your employer should assess:
- How their employees might be exposed — this could be through inhalation, skin contact or ingestion
- The frequency and duration of potential exposure
- The potential side effects of exposure
3.Implementing control measures
Once the risks have been identified, your employer must now take appropriate steps to reduce or eliminate exposure. This usually involves:
- Swapping hazardous substances with safer alternatives
- Introducing engineering controls, like ventilation systems
- Providing personal protective equipment (PPE), like gloves, masks or goggles
4.Documenting the assessment
The entire COSHH risk assessment must be documented by your employer, including the details of:
- The substances assessed
- The identified risks
- The control measures implemented
- The introduced emergency procedures in case of spills or exposure
5.Regularly reviewing and updating
Once the COSHH risk assessment is completed, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t have to be done again. Another risk assessment should be done when:
- New substances are introduced to the workplace
- Work processes change
- Incidents or near-misses occur
Employee rights and employer responsibilities under COSHH
In order to properly understand how instrumental COSHH is to workplace safety and stability, you must first understand the rights of employees and the responsibilities of employers under the regulations.
Employee rights under COSHH
As an employee, you have the right to:
- Work in a safe environment free from unnecessary risks
- Information about hazardous substances in the workplace
- Proper training and equipment to protect against exposure
Employer requirements under COSHH
Under COSHH, employers are legally required to:
- Conduct regular risk assessments
- Implement and maintain control measures
- Provide appropriate PPE and training
- Monitor employee health when necessary
- Keep records of all COSHH assessments and procedures
What to do if your employer has not carried out a COSHH assessment
If your employer has neglected COSHH regulations, it can have some devastating consequences. This can include workplace accidents, a breakout of illness or even fatalities. Common signs that your employer hasn’t been keeping up with COSHH standards might be:
- Lack of PPE or training
- Insufficient emergency procedures
- Lack of documented assessments
If you believe your employer has failed to meet their COSHH obligations, you could be entitled to take legal action, especially if you’ve suffered a personal injury as a result.
How Injury Lawyers 4U can help
COSHH risk assessments are incredibly important for workplace safety — employers must adhere to these strict regulations to protect all in their duty of care. However, when these standards are neglected, workers can suffer serious harm and personal injury.
At Injury Lawyers 4U, we’ve been helping employees who’ve been impacted by workplace negligence for over 20 years. And when you approach us with a claim, we’ll even offer you our no win, no fee guarantee — meaning you won’t pay a penny unless we get you the justice you deserve.
Contact us to find out more and to arrange for a free consultation with one of our expert lawyers.