COSHH E-Learning Course

The Health & Safety
Team Providing
Information, Instruction
& Training
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
(COSHH) Awareness Course
This Health and Safety module on COSHH Assessment will
help you understand
• Key Health and Safety Legislation
• What is a COSHH Assessment
• Control measures to limit or prevent exposure to hazardous
substances
• What are Substances Hazardous to Health
• Factors to consider in a COSHH assessment
• What COSHH symbols mean
Legislation Overview
• The Health and Safety at work act etc 1974 (HASWA).

• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR).
• The Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR) 2013.
• The RCH Group Health and Safety Policy.
Introduction to the Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations 2002.
Information, Instruction, Training and
Supervision
The COSHH Regulations 2002 (Regulation 12) states that ‘every employer who
undertakes work which is liable to expose an employee to a substance hazardous to
health shall provide that employee with sufficient information, instruction and
training’.
The RCH Group must provide employees with information, instruction, training and
supervision regarding the following:
• risk to health created by exposure
• precautions which should be taken
• results of monitoring
• results of health surveillance
Introduction
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 requires the RCH Group to control
substances that are hazardous to health and to prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous
substances by:
• finding out what the health hazards are
• deciding how to prevent harm to health (risk assessment)
• providing control measures to reduce harm to health
• making sure they are used
• keeping all control measures in good working order
• providing information, instruction and training for employees and others
• providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases
• planning for emergencies
The RCH Group use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances. Some processes create
substances. These could cause harm to employees, contractors and other people.
Sometimes substances are easily recognised as harmful. Common substances such as paint, bleach or dust
from natural materials may also be harmful.
Substances Hazardous to Health
• These are listed as being very toxic, harmful, irritant or corrosive, explosive,
sensitising, carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction, flammable.
• for which the HSE has approved a workplace exposure limit (WEL).
• biological agent.
• dust of any kind (substantial concentration).
• a substance, not mentioned which creates a comparable hazard.
Types of Substances that are Hazardous to Health
• Solids – latex, cleaning chemicals.
• Liquids – solvents, paints, blood, urine, cleaning chemicals.
• Gases – asphyxiating gases.
• Aerosols/airborne particles – cauterising particles.
• Biological agents – bacteria, viruses, fungi.
• Mist – paint and epoxy sprays.
• Dust – wood, cement, metal, stone.
Routes of Exposure
• Ingestion
• Inhalation
• Skin absorption, contact, puncture
• Mucous membranes
• Infection
COSHH Regulations do not apply to:
• Radiation
• High pressures systems
• Extreme temperatures
• Explosive or flammable properties
• Lead
• Asbestos
NB. Other regulations apply to these risks.

RCH Group to comply with the COSHH Regulations must:
• Assess and undertake a suitable & sufficient risk assessment and:
• Prevent exposure.
• If unable to prevent, identify and implement controls to minimise exposure.
• Maintain, examine and test control measures.
• Monitor exposure (where required).
• Health surveillance (where appropriate).
• Provide information, instruction, training and supervision to RCH Group employees.
Regulation 7 (7) of COSHH requires you to consider a hierarchy of control
measures to ensure that exposure to substances hazardous to health is
adequately controlled.
Control measures to limit or prevent exposure
to hazardous substances
• Eliminate the use of a harmful product or substance by using one less harmful e.g. water
based rather than solvent based products.
• Substitute and use whenever possible a safer form of the product, e.g. an irritant cleaning
product for something milder.
• Review the frequency of the process to emit less of the substance.
• Enclose the process so that the product does not escape.
• Extract emissions of the substance near the source.
• Reduce the number of RCH Group employees working within the area.
• Provide PPE such as Gloves, Coveralls, Safety Glasses, Goggles, Visor and Respiratory
Protective Equipment (RPE).
COSHH Risk Assessment
Must be ‘suitable and sufficient’ and undertaken by a ‘competent person’ who is familiar
with the task/environment. It should include:
• assessment of risks to health
• focus on preventing exposure to substances
• steps that need to be taken to ensure adequate control of exposure
• identification of other necessary actions e.g.. monitoring/training etc
All assessments should be reviewed regularly – annually or if there is a change in the

process, an incident etc.
Factors to consider in an assessment include:
• Type of substances to which employees are liable to be exposed
• Where, and in what form, the substances are present
• Effects of the substances on the body
• Consider storage, transport, handling and use in your area of work
• Emergency arrangements for spillages and disposal procedures
Material Safety Data Sheets
• Suppliers of hazardous chemicals must provide their customers with material
safety data sheets.
• The material safety data sheet is the starting point for the COSHH assessment.
Information provided on material safety data sheets includes:
• Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL).
• The WEL should not be exceeded. If substance causes cancer, heritable genetic
damage or asthma, exposure must be reduced to lowest level reasonably
practicable.
Health Surveillance
Early detection of ill health associated with exposure to hazardous substances, can
involve:
• examination by a doctor or Occupational Health nurse.
• checks of employees skin for dermatitis by a Responsible Person.
• completion of a health questionnaire.
• Health/monitoring records must be kept for at least 40 years.
COSHH Hazard Symbols
The diamond red and black COSHH
symbols are newer and were
introduced by the European Regulation
on the classification, labelling and
packaging of substances and mixtures
(known as the CLP Regulations). They
have been gradually phased in since
2009.
Click HERE for short video
CLP Hazard Statement
A hazard statement is a phrase that describes the nature of the hazard in the substance or
mixture. A hazard statement will be determined by the application of the classification
criteria.
• Examples of hazard statements include:
• Causes serious eye damage
• Toxic if swallowed
• Toxic to the aquatic life with long lasting effects
• May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled
It replaces the ‘risk or R-phrase’ used in CHIP.

CLP Precautionary Statement
A precautionary statement is a phrase that describes a recommended measure(s)
to minimise or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous
substance or mixture due to its use or disposal.
• Examples of precautionary statements include:
• Wear eye protection
• Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product
• Avoid release to the environment
• In case of inadequate ventilation wear respiratory protection
It replaces the ‘safety or S-phrase’ used in CHIP
COSHH Awareness Knowledge Test
1. Which COSHH Regulation requires you to consider a hierarchy of control measures?
a) Regulation 2
b) Regulation 7
c) Regulation 6
d) Regulation 12
2. What does COSHH stand for?

a) Control of Substances Hazardous to Humans Regulations.
b) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
c) Control of Chemicals Hazardous to Health Regulations.
3. What does this symbol mean?
a) Toxic
b) Flammable
c) Corrosive
d) Oxidising
4. What is a dangerous substance?
a) Anything with flammable, oxidizing, corrosive or explosive qualities.
b) Anything that can cause harm.
c) A liquid or powder that causes irritation.
d) A substance that causes harm if touched.
5. What does this symbol mean?

e) Acute toxicity
f) Corrosive
g) Serious Health Hazard
h) Hazardous to the environment
6. Which COSHH Regulation requires employer to provide Information, Instruction and Training?
i) Regulation 7
j) Regulation 12
k) Regulation 6
l) Regulation 2
7. An example of a biological agent is?
a) Asbestos.
b) Silica dust.
c) A virus.
d) Petrol.
8. You have to use a harmful substance what must your line manager do?
e) Let you get on without giving any instructions.
f) Make sure that someone is working close to you.
g) Tell you what is in the COSHH assessment.
9. Airborne hazardous substances come in different forms, breaking up concrete is likely to produce?
h) Gas.
i) Dust.
j) Vapour.
k) Mist.
10. What is the first step in the hierarchy of controls?

l) Substitution.
m) Engineering controls.
n) PPE.
o) Elimination.

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The Health & Safety

• The Health and Safety at work act etc 1974 (HASWA).

NB. Other regulations apply to these risks.

All assessments should be reviewed regularly – annually or if there is a change in the

It replaces the ‘risk or R-phrase’ used in CHIP.

2. What does COSHH stand for?

3. What does this symbol mean?

5. What does this symbol mean?

10. What is the first step in the hierarchy of controls?

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