Some substances (carcinogens) may cause cancer. They need special consideration because of that property – they have no special effect on young people.
Exposure to these substances must be reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. Special precautions are set out in the COSHH Approved Code of Practice.
You can identify many of these substances from the ‘risk phrase’ on the label or safety data sheet for the substance, which will say ‘R45 May cause cancer’ or ‘R49 May cause cancer by inhalation’. Other carcinogenic substances and processes are listed in Schedule 1 of the COSHH Regulations (see the COSHH Approved Code of Practice).
