What does COSHH mean?
The initials ‘COSHH’ stand for the ‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health’. Each year thousands of people are exposed to hazardous substances at work including liquids, gases, solids, dusts and fumes. If the exposure is not controlled it can result in occupational diseases such as dermatitis, hepatitis or lung disease. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 provides a legal framework, which require employers to look at the chemicals used and to then carry out an assessment of these chemicals to check if any action is needed to reduce health risks. Legal requirementsWhat does the employer have to do? If employees are exposed to hazardous substances, the employer must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to health. This assessment must be regularly reviewed and revised as necessary and all employees must be told about it. • Measures must be taken to either prevent exposure to hazardous substances or adequately control the risks from such expo
