5.5 COSHH (Control of substances hazardous to health)

Question 1

What does COSHH stand for?

Answer 1

Control of substances hazardous to health

Question 2

What is COSHH?

Answer 2

COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health.

Question 3

What is the first step of COSHH?

Answer 3

1. Identify the hazards. Here you work out which substances are harmful from reading the label.

Question 4

What is the second step of COSHH?

Answer 4

2. Decide who might be harmed and how: how might workers be exposed. Think about the root into the body(breathed in, swallowed).

Question 5

What is the third step of COSHH?

Answer 5

3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions: is it a safe alternative? Can you change the process? Can you restrict access, check labels are right, plan storage/waste.

Question 6

What does COSHH not cover?

Answer 6

Lead or radioactive substances due to the fact that they have their own legislation.

Question 7

What are the key requirements of COSHH?

Answer 7

• All chemicals and substances must be labelled.
• Employees must have personal protective equipment.
• Regular risk assessments for chemicals/ substances.
• Staff need to be trained to use the chemicals/ substances.

Question 8

Why do employees need to make a COSHH document?

Answer 8

The need to identify and assess in what way substances are hazardous to health.

Question 9

What does COSHH not cover?

Answer 9

Lead or radio active substances because they have their own legislation.

Question 10

Why do employers need to make a COSHH document?

Answer 10

They need to identify and assess in what way substances are hazardous to health.