Introduction to Fire Safety Management

➤ Where the substance is hazardous to health solely
by virtue of its radioactive, explosive or fl ammable
properties or because it is at high or low temperature
or a high pressure
➤ Where the substance posing the risk to health is
administered to a person in the course of their medical
treatment.
15.16.1 Duties under COSHH
With the exception of health surveillance, monitoring,
information and training, the duties on the employer
extend to other persons who may be affected by the
work activity, whether they are at work or not. This could
include visitors to the premises, suppliers/contractors
and their employees, self-employed persons and members
of the public.
15.16.2 Assessment of the risks to health –
regulation 6
Employers must not carry out work which is liable to
expose employees to any substance hazardous to health
unless the employer has:
➤ Made a suitable and suffi cient assessment of the
risks to the employees’ health and safety created
by that work and the steps that need to be taken to
comply with COSHH and
➤ Implemented the above steps.
The assessment must be reviewed regularly:
➤ If there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid
➤ If there has been a signifi cant change in the work to
which it relates
➤ If the results of any monitoring carried out in accordance
with regulation 10 show it to be necessary.
Where the review identifi es that changes to the risk
assessment are required, the employer must make these
changes.
Employers with fi ve or more employees must record
the signifi cant fi ndings of the assessment including
the preventive and control measures as detailed under
regulation 7.
In carrying out a suitable and suffi cient assessment,
the employer must consider the points detailed below:
Points to consider in a suitable and suffi cient COSHH
assessment
The hazardous properties of The effect of preventive and
the substance control measures which
have been or will be taken
Information from the supplier The results of relevant
on health effects – see the SDS health surveillance
Summary of key legal requirements
The level, type and duration of The results of monitoring of
exposure exposure
The circumstances of the work The risk presented by
including the amount of the substances in combination
substance involved where the work will involve
exposure to more than one
substance
Activities such as maintenance The approved classifi cation
where there is the potential for of any biological agent
a high level of exposure
Any relevant workplace Any additional information
exposure limits the employer may need to
complete the assessment
15.16.3 Prevention and control of exposure –
regulation 7
The employer is required to ensure that exposure of their
employees to hazardous substances is either prevented
or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately
controlled.
In determining adequate control, the employer
should give preference to avoiding the use of hazardous
substances by substituting them with a safer alternative
which either eliminates or reduces the risk to health and
safety, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Where prevention of exposure is not reasonably
practicable, the employer is required to apply the following
protection measures in order of priority:
➤ The design and use of appropriate work processes,
systems and engineering controls and the provision
and use of suitable work equipment and materials
➤ The control of exposure at source, including ventilation
systems and appropriate organisational
measures
➤ The provision of suitable personal protective equipment
(PPE), where adequate control cannot be
achieved. PPE should be provided in addition to the
above measures.
The protection measures should include:
➤ Arrangements for safe handling, storage and trans -
port
➤ The adoption of suitable maintenance procedures
➤ Reducing to the minimum required for the work:
➤ The number of employees subject to exposure
➤ The level and duration of exposure
➤ The quantity of substances present at the
workplace
➤ The control of the working environment including
general ventilation
➤ Appropriate hygiene measures including adequate
washing facilities.
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