Principles of good control practice

The COSHH Regulations define good control practice in schedule 2a as follows:

1. Design and operate processes and activities to minimise emission, release and spread of substances hazardous to health.
2. Take into account all relevant routes of exposure – inhalation, skin absorption and ingestion – when developing control measures.
3. Control exposure by measures that are proportionate to the health risk.
4. Choose the most effective and reliable control options which minimise the escape and spread of substances hazardous to health.
5. Where adequate control of exposure cannot be achieved by other means, provide, in combination with other control measures, suitable personal protective equipment.
6. Check and review regularly all elements of control measures for their continuing effectiveness.
7. Inform and train all employees on the hazards and risks from the substances they work with and the use of control measures developed to minimise the risks.
8. Ensure that the introduction of control measures does not increase the overall risk to health and safety.