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COSHH Assessments
The basic assessment of hazardous substances should be reviewed yearly or whenever there is a significant change, e.g. in procedure or processes, or when new information about the effects of the substances used becomes available. The following should be taken into account:
- Is hazard
significant?
- ignore trivial risks
- Are satisfactory
precautions being taken to reduce the risk?
- involve employees who use the substances
- don't forget young workers & trainees who may not appreciate the problems
- Evaluate and rate
the risk - low, medium or high
- use information supplied manufacturers safety/hazard data sheets MSDS
- include risks posed by spillages, leaks or accidental release
- exposure may result from cleaning and maintenance work
- routes of entry into the body, e.g. can the substance be swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed though the skin
- Get rid of the
hazard or control the risk by;
- using a safer option
- preventing access
- reducing exposure
- using PPE
- local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
- providing welfare facilities (showers etc)
- current control measures should be compared to acceptable standards and 'Good Practice'.
- Record findings
for more than 5 employees, and show that;
- proper checks have been made
- workers have been consulted
- include obvious hazards
- account for numbers of people at risk
- take reasonable precautions to reduce risk
- refer to training documents, manuals, MSDS etc.
- Review &
revise the assessment on a regular basis;
- with new processes
- with new procedures
- with new chemicals
- with new job functions
Ref. HSE Guidance Note INDG163 '5 Steps to Risk Assessment'
