A further consultative document on the proposed Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

Consultation ended: 28 May 2004

Summary

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) aims to protect people from the harmful health effects of substances used at work. It does this by requiring employers to carry out a risk assessment and as a result to take steps either to prevent exposure or to control the risks to their employees (or others who may be affected) from such substances. However, in a few cases, where risks are high or difficult to control, it imposes restrictions on the supply or use of the substances. Many of these supply and use restrictions stem from the EC's Marketing and Use Directive (76/769/EEC). COSHH is supported by an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) which gives practical advice on compliance.

In this Consultative Document the HSC proposes:

• restriction of the supply and use of high chromium VI cement;
• extension to all merchant ships of the existing disapplication of COSHH and of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW) to seagoing merchant ships; and
• clarification of the wording of regulation 9(1) of COSHH (and the equivalent regulation 8(1) in CLAW) in respect of the scope of the duty to maintain exposure control measures, together with some related changes to the COSHH and CLAW ACoPs.

The above changes would be introduced by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (COSHH 2004). These Regulations will also introduce a new occupational exposure limit framework for hazardous substances (for further details see CD 189).

• COSHH
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