Research and consultancy from HSE can help you solve problems and reduce workplace harm.
Controlling major accident hazards
The Control of Major Accident Hazards regulations (COMAH) apply mainly to the chemical and petrochemical industries, but also affect other businesses which store certain quantities of substances with hazardous classifications.
HSE is one of the world's leading providers of health and safety solutions to industry, government and professional bodies. Our research and consultancy can help your site or business comply with COMAH and:
- determine whether you are in the scope of the regulations
- take all necessary measures to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances
- limit the consequences to people and the environment of any major accidents which do occur
Services to help you comply with COMAH
We have created a set of services to help your business ensure it is fully compliant with the COMAH regulations:
Standard classification service
Our experts can assist you in determining the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures regulations (CLP) categories of your substances and mixtures for human health, physical and environmental hazards (all 3 areas or individually).
Our service is unique in covering all types of classification, and applies the expertise we have gained in supporting HSE. For substances without an EU harmonized classification, we will search and select the most appropriate data, taking account of the need for peer-reviewed toxicity studies.
We will also apply the appropriate mixture rules to obtain classifications for mixtures. We will give you a full report, including your COMAH aggregation calculation which determines whether your site is within scope of COMAH 2015 and whether at lower tier or upper tier.
Bespoke classification service
This is likely to be for businesses with more complex needs, such as classification of a sub-set of your substances or advice on aggregation sensitivity.
It could also include the effect of your inventories on whether you are in scope of COMAH 2015 and whether at lower or upper tier.
As with the Standard service, you will receive a full and detailed report.
Checking service
We know that many COMAH organisations have the resource and expertise to carry out the required classifications in-house.
However, HSE can:
- check that your classification methodology is correct
- validate any classifications to which the results of the aggregation calculation are sensitive, for example if it is borderline whether you are in or out of scope
Consultancy service
We can conduct an initial assessment of your organisation. This service is likely to be used by businesses new to COMAH or newly becoming upper tier.
Our consultancy service enables us to advise you in a way that is tailored to your business. We will provide advice on specific aspects of compliance for new or existing sites.
Aggregation service
We will use your classifications and inventories to obtain your COMAH aggregation calculation. This determines whether your site is within the scope of COMAH and whether at lower tier or upper tier.
Get in touch
For more information or to make an enquiry about HSE’s research and consultancy services get in touch on GOV.UK.
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