HSE PUBLISHES REVISED GUIDANCE ON THE COSHH REGULATIONS

HSE press release E060:03 - 22 April 2003

A new edition of a popular guidance leaflet on the safe use in the workplace of substances hazardous to health was published by HSE today.

COSHH a brief guide to the regulations sets out in a simple step-by-step approach eight basic measures that employers must take to control exposure to hazardous substances to prevent ill health.

The guide has been revised following the introduction last November of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and the requirements of the Substances Hazardous to Health (Amendment) Regulations 2003, which will become law on 29 April 2003.

An estimated 1.3 million businesses in Great Britain are engaged in activities that involve the use, or production of substances hazardous to health, including chemicals, which bring those businesses within the scope of the COSHH Regulations.

As well as employers, the new brief guide to COSHH will be of interest to safety representatives, health and safety professionals and anyone interested in protecting the health of workers and others from exposure to hazardous substances.

• Significant new material in the revised guide includes advice on recording and reviewing the assessment;
• controlling exposure to hazardous substances by applying protection measures in an order of priority;
• preparing plans and procedures in certain circumstances to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies that involve hazardous substances;
• ensuring that information, instruction and training of employees covers a specific list of items, and that information is updated to take account of significant changes in the work.

COSHH a brief guide to the Regulations INDG136 can be viewed or purchased online at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.htm

Notes for editors

1. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) originally came into force in October 1989 but have been amended and replaced several times.

2. COSHH requires employers to prevent or adequately control the exposure of their employees and other persons who may be affected to hazardous substances. In addition, the Regulations require: the maintenance, examination and testing of control measures; the provision of information, instruction and training; emergency planning; and, in some cases, exposure monitoring and health surveillance of employees, and preparing procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances.

3. The Regulations are supported by an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) which gives detailed practical advice on compliance. The ACoP includes appendices dealing with carcinogens, biological agents and substances that cause occupational asthma.

4. COSHH transposes into law in Great Britain a number of EU directives. One of these, the 1998 Chemical Agents Directive (98/24/EC), sets out requirements to protect the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work. The health requirements of the Directive are mainly implemented in Great Britain by the COSHH Regulations 2002 which came into force on 21 November 2002. Implementing the Directive resulted in many changes to the earlier COSHH Regulations 1999, and the advice contained in the new edition of COSHH a brief guide to the regulations covers the more significant changes that COSHH 2002 introduced.

5. Each year, approximately 16,000 to 25,000 people become ill as a result of exposure to substances hazardous to health at work, e.g. respiratory disease, dermatitis etc. Included in this range is an estimated 3,000 to 12,000 cancer deaths mostly related to chemicals (including asbestos).

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office