| One of the biggest challenges facing modern | | | | a substance hazardous to health without first |
| businesses is ensuring that they are fully compliant | | | | undertaking a risk assessment. |
| with health and safety regulations. COSHH - the | | | | This assessment should involve consultation with |
| Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Act is | | | | any information provided by the supplier of a |
| just one of the relevant guidelines that businesses | | | | substance in use. This should be reviewed |
| must be compliant with | | | | regularly and also where there is reason to believe |
| London office cleaning services company Sloane | | | | that work patterns have changed significantly |
| Cleaning are fully compliant with COSHH. Their | | | | enough to warrant re-evaluation of substance use. |
| friendly staff are fully trained in COSHH and can | | | | Employers should also take into consideration the |
| ensure that your business is fully compliant all of | | | | level of occupational exposure limits, as outlined |
| the criteria outlined by the Health and Safety | | | | by the HSE. |
| Executive. | | | | Control of Exposure - Employers must either |
| What is COSHH? | | | | prevent exposure to harmful substances, or if |
| COSHH refers to the Control Of Substances | | | | unavoidable, implement measures to limit the level |
| Hazardous to Health Act of 2002 under which, | | | | of exposure. |
| employers have a responsibility to protect | | | | Control Measures - Employers must take action |
| employees and related persons from the hazards | | | | to ensure that measures of controlling, and any |
| of substances used in the workplace. | | | | necessary use of equpiment or facilities are |
| How does COSHH affect my business? | | | | managed correctly. |
| These guidelines stipulate that employers must | | | | Monitoring Exposure - Employers must prove that |
| undertake measures to prevent and protect | | | | they have measures in place to consistently |
| people in their place of business from coming into | | | | monitor the level of exposure at regular intervals. |
| contact with potentially dangerous substances. | | | | This should be in accordance with a risk |
| COSHH is enforced by both Local authorities and | | | | assessment plan. |
| the Health and Safety Executive. As an employer, | | | | Information and instruction - Regulation 12 of |
| taking your responsibility towards COSSH is very | | | | COSHH states that employees who are likely to |
| serious indeed. Breach of the regulations could | | | | come into contact with hazardous substances |
| result in a criminal conviction and this can lie with | | | | should be provided with adequate information and |
| either an organisation or an individual. | | | | instruction on how to limit exposure to harmful |
| What measures can I undertake to ensure I am | | | | substances and potential risk. All employees should |
| in compliance with COSHH? | | | | be provided with the following: |
| There are several ways to make your | | | | - Details of the hazardous substances including |
| organisation compliant with COSHH, they are as | | | | names of substances and the risk that they |
| follows: | | | | present. |
| Risk assessment | | | | - Relevant occupational exposure standard |
| Under Regulation 6 of the Act, employers must | | | | - Findings of risk assessment. |
| not carry out work liable to expose employees to | | | | |