What are employers, self-employed people and main contractors required to do with ‘hazardous substances’ that are going to be used at work?
You must: • undertake a risk assessment for all ‘hazardous substances’ and prepare a risk assessment report (see below); • ensure no person is exposed at the workplace to a ‘hazardous substance’ above its exposure standard (see below); • keep a current ‘hazardous substances register’ of all ‘hazardous substances’ used at the workplace from time to time and ensure it is readily available (see below); • obtain from the supplier a material safety data sheet (MSDS) before or on the first occasion a ‘hazardous substance’ is supplied to the workplace; • consult with all people who might be exposed to the ‘hazardous substance’ at the workplace about the intention to use the ‘hazardous substance’ and the safest method of using it; • ensure the MSDS for each ‘hazardous substance’ is readily available to anybody at the workplace who might be exposed to it; • reduce the risks to people at the workplace that could arise from exposure to a ‘hazardous substance’ by means of prevention of exposure. T
