Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002

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This requires employers to control such substances and prevent or reduce their workers exposure to them.

Some key requirements for the employer are to:
• Carry out an assessment of the risk to health of employees (Regulation 6).
• Regularly review the risk assessment (Regulation 6).
• Record significant findings (Regulation 6).
• Prevent or control exposure to hazardous substances (Regulation 7).
• Ensure control measures are applied and used; the employee is to make full and proper use of the control measures (Regulation 8).
• Ensure control measures are maintained in good order (Regulation 9).
• Monitor exposure of employees in the workplace (Regulation 10).
• Carry out health surveillance of employees (Regulation 11).
• Provide employees with information, instruction and training in awareness of the hazardous substance, risk assessment findings and appropriate working practices (Regulation 12).
• Make arrangements for dealing with accidents, incidents and emergencies (Regulation 13).

Duties of employees under COSHH Regulations include:
• Co-operate with their employer.
• Make full and proper use of control measures.
• Return equipment to their store and report any defects.
• Attend medical examinations, as appropriate.
• Report any accident or incident involving a biological agent.

COSHH applies not just to pesticides and insecticides but also to a wide range of substances, including adhesives, paints, biological agents, metals and cleaning materials.

Substances can occur in many forms, including:
• Dusts
• Fibres.
• Fumes.
• Gases.
• Liquids.
• Mist.
• Smoke.
• Solids.
• Vapours.

Information about hazardous substances is available from:
• HSE web site.
• Manufacturers labels and safety data sheets (e.g. Material Safety Data Sheet - MSDS).
• The annual UK Pesticide Guide.

What are the effects of hazardous substances?
Depending upon the type of substance this could be:
• Asthma as a result of developing allergy to substances used at work.
• Cancer, which may appear long after the exposure to the chemical that caused it.
• Infection from bacteria and other micro-organisms (biological agents).
• Losing consciousness as a result of being overcome by toxic fumes.
• Skin irritation or dermatitis as a result of skin contact.

What is a 'Control measure'?
A control measure means an action taken to reduce exposure to a substance hazardous to health (including the provision of systems of work and supervision, the cleaning of workplaces, premises, plant and equipment, the provision and use of engineering controls and personal protective equipment).