CARCINOGENS and MUTAGENS

CARCINOGENS and MUTAGENS
Carcinogens are substances which may cause cancer. In the Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended), a
“carcinogen” is defined as:
• A substance or preparation which is, or would be, classified as carcinogenic
under the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging) Regulations (CHIP
Regulations). Chemical suppliers must provide hazard information with their
products. Look for the following on labels and safety data sheets:
Carcinogenic category 1 or category 2
R45 - May cause cancer
R49 - May cause cancer by inhalation
• A substance or preparation listed in Schedule 1 of the COSHH 2002
Regulations (as amended):
Aflatoxins; arsenic; auramine manufacture; calcining, sintering or smelting of nickel
copper matte or acid leaching or electrorefining of roasted matte; coal soots, coal
tar, pitch and coal tar fumes; hardwood dusts; isopropyl alcohol manufacture
(strong acid process); leather dust in boot and shoe manufacture, arising during
preparation and finishing, magenta manufacture, mustard gas (beta, beta' -
dichlorodiethyl sulphide); rubber manufacturing and processing giving rise to
rubber process dust and rubber fume; used engine oils; certain
polychlorodibenzodioxines and polychlorodibenzofurans.
Mutagens are defined by the COSHH Regulations 2002 (as amended) as:
• A substance or preparation which is or would be classified as mutagenic
category 1 or 2 carrying the risk phrase R46 – May cause heritable genetic
damage.
A comprehensive list of substances defined as carcinogens and mutagens for the
purposes of COSHH is provided in ‘Table 1’ of the Health and Safety Executive
publication ‘EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits’, ‘Table 1’ was updated in 2007
as a separate document. See References at the end of this briefing.
COSHH Regulations prohibit the importing, manufacture and use of the following
carcinogens: 2-naphthylamine; benzidine; 4-aminodiphenyl; 4-nitrodiphenyl and
their salts and any substance containing any of these compounds in a total
concentration equal to or greater than 0.1 per cent by mass; benzene and any
substance containing benzene in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.1 per
cent by mass, except for purposes of research, development and analysis.
safetyunit@gre.ac.uk
November 2009 Page 1 of 4

Risk Assessment
Assessment of risk is required for all hazardous substances and is especially vital
in the case of carcinogens. Cancer may take years to develop, with no early
symptoms. Full assessment and prevention or control of exposure is essential.
Where possible, safer substitutes should be used.
The University policy for compliance with COSHH Regulations must be followed,
including the completing of risk assessment forms for all carcinogenic or mutagenic
substances to which staff, students, contractors or visitors are exposed at work.
Hazardous chemicals or biological agents risk assessment forms are
downloadable from the University Intranet under ‘Health and Safety Policy’.
The risk assessment should:
• Identify whether any carcinogenic or mutagenic substances covered by COSHH
are present in the workplace; if so
• Identify the likely level of exposure and the extent of the risk; and
• Use the information obtained to plan effective control measures and other
precautions.
The risk assessment should include details of:
a) Whether the work can be done in some other way so that it is not necessary to
use a substance hazardous to health, or whether substitution by a nonhazardous
or less hazardous substance is reasonable practicable. Also avoid if
possible the formation of by-products, intermediates, wastes or residual
contaminants consisting of or containing carcinogens or mutagens.
b) The type of hazard (gas, fume, dust etc)
c) The type and level of exposure
d) The identification of any workers who may be at particular risk
e) The control measures to be used to prevent or reduce exposure, and evidence
that the employer has considered not employing workers at particular risk in
areas where they may be exposed to carcinogenic or mutagenic substances,
e.g. pregnant women working with a transplacental carcinogen. See also
advice on risks to pregnant and nursing mothers on the University Intranet
under Health and Safety Policy)
f) Operating and maintenance instructions and procedures, where relevant, to
ensure that exposure is reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable
g) Precautions when conditions are not routine, e.g. maintenance activities and
emergencies
h) Use of personal protective equipment
i) Monitoring procedures
j) Health surveillance procedures
k) Arrangements for consultation, training and instruction of workers involved,
including procedures for reporting defects in plant or precautions
Record the risk assessment. Where employees are likely to be exposed to
carcinogens or mutagens, it is particularly important to ensure accuracy and
continuity of knowledge and action. Review the assessment annually and when
there are significant changes in substances, work method, equipment or workers,
or other reason to think a review is needed (e.g. accident). Revise the assessment
and working instructions if necessary.
Page 2 of 4

Monitoring of Exposure
Monitoring of exposure to carcinogens or mutagens is required by the COSHH
Regulations to ensure that exposures are kept as low as possible and below any
Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) assigned to that substance. WELs have
replaced Maximum Exposure Limits (MEL) and Occupational Exposure Standards
(OES). Exposure limits should be given in chemical suppliers’ safety data sheets.
See also EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits – see References at end of this
briefing.
Health Surveillance
Health surveillance may be required unless the risk assessment shows that
exposure to carcinogen(s) is so slight that it is insignificant. The type of health
surveillance needed depends on the risk assessment.
a) Substances known to, or suspected of, causing skin cancer (for example,
non-solvent refined mineral oils, contaminated used mineral oils, arsenic, coal
soots, coal tar): any University employee who has significant exposure to these
substances must be trained to carry out self-examination of their skin at regular
intervals and to report any symptoms to the University Safety Unit (Ext. 9001)
and Occupational Health Adviser (Ext. 9618).
b) For employees who are significantly exposed to other carcinogens or
mutagens, the University Medical Officer must keep individual health records
containing the following information: surname, forenames, sex, date of birth,
permanent address, post code, National Insurance Number, date of
commencement of present employment and a historical record of jobs involving
exposure to substances requiring health surveillance in this employment. Each
record must be kept for at least 40 years from the date of the last entry made in
it.
Information, Instruction and Training
Information, instruction and training are especially important for people who
may be exposed to carcinogenic substances. It must ensure they are aware of the
risks, including the additional risks of smoking and the need for control of exposure
to be maintained. They should have received sufficient instruction and training to
follow the required measures to control exposure and emergency procedures for
uncontrolled releases of carcinogens or mutagens.
Page 3 of 4

References
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and COSHH
(Amendment) Regulations 2004. Full text on the Internet at
www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/uk.htm
• COSHH Regulations 2002 (as amended) Approved Code of Practice and
guidance (Fifth edition) L5 ISBN 0 7176 2981 3 available from HSE Books,
PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA (Tel: 01787 881165). Price
£12.50.
• Text of Approved Codes is not available on the Internet, but free leaflets,
including COSHH: A brief guide to the Regulations, is available on the
Health and Safety Executive website at www.hse.gov.uk
• COSHH Essentials: Easy steps to control chemicals HSG 193 ISBN 07176
2421 8 available from HSE Books. An electronic version is available on
www.coshh-essentials.org.uk
• A list of workplace exposure limits for use with the COSHH Regulations
2002 (as amended) is contained in Table 1 of EH40/2005 Workplace
exposure limits; Table 1 is available at the HSE web site as a separate
downloadable document. EH40/2005 ISBN 0 7176 2977 5 available from
HSE Books (address as above), Price £11.50. This publication will be
updated from time to time. See also www.hse.gov.uk/coshh
Page 4 of 4