Control approach 4

Control approach 4 (special) means you have a situation where you need more specific and specialist advice than provided by COSHH essentials: easy steps to control chemicals. The advice may come from a more detailed HSE guidance document, or you may need to involve an expert, such as a qualified occupational hygienist. An occupational hygienist can give you site-specific advice on your risk assessment, the possibility of substituting the substance you are using for a less hazardous one, and control measures. It is important that you seek further advice.

G4

G400: General principles

This guidance sheet is aimed at employers to help them comply with the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), by controlling exposure to substances and protecting workers' health.

G401: Health monitoring for COPD

The sheet describes specialist advice on health monitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by work. It does not apply to asthma, to lung cancer, or to specific diseases such as silicosis.

G402: Health surveillance for asthma

The sheet describes specialist advice on health health surveillance for occupational asthma. It sets out what you should expect from a health surveillance provider.

G403: Health surveillance for dermatitis

The sheet describes specialist advice on health surveillance for occupational skin disease, which includes dermatitis. It applies to certain processes, and whenever a product is labelled R43 'May cause sensitisation by skin contact'. It sets out what you should expect from a health surveillance provider.

G404: Health surveillance for those exposed to RCS

This sheet describes specialist advice on health surveillance for silicosis caused by respirable crystalline silica (RCS). It sets out what you should expect from a health provider.

G406: New and existing engineering control systems

The sheet describes good practice on designing, installing, commissioning, maintaining and testing engineering controls such as extraction equipment to control airborne contaminants. It covers the points you need to have clear in any contract concerning new or existing engineering controls. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

G408: Urine sampling for isocyanates exposure measurement

This sheet covers the points you need to have clear when using urine tests to measure isocyanate exposure. Urine sampling indicates the success or failure of control, it does not replace air sampling.

G409: Exposure measurement: air sampling

This sheet explains what exposure measurement (air sampling) entails and what level of service you should expect of a consultant.