COSHH basics - COSHH. COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. You can 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[1]); 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.
Most businesses 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. risk asse is a ‘substance hazardous to health'? Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Part I establishes a general regime by which the Secretary of State, as of 2008 the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, can prescribe any process or substance and set limits on it in respect of emissions into the environment. Authorisation and enforcement was originally in the hands of HM Inspectorate of Pollution and local authorities but, as of 1996, became the responsibility of the Environment Agency (EA) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Operation of a prescribed process is prohibited without approval and there are criminal sanctions against offenders.
The Act aims to control and reduce pollution Part II sets out a regime for regulating and licensing the acceptable disposal of controlled waste on land. Controlled waste is any household, industrial and commercial waste (s.75(4)). Unauthorised or harmful depositing, treatment or disposal of controlled waste is prohibited with prohibition enforced by criminal sanctions. Background[edit] RIDDOR - Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (also referred to as HSWA, the HSW Act, the 1974 Act or HASAWA) is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain.
The Health and Safety Executive, with local authorities (and other enforcing authorities) is responsible for enforcing the Act and a number of other Acts and Statutory Instruments relevant to the working environment. The full text of the Act (as amended) is available at legislation.gov.uk [1] where it can also be downloaded free of charge. Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 [2] This is the latest version. Please see the Disclaimer below and information on the legislation.gov.uk [3] website. Statutory instruments are pieces of secondary legislation made under specific Acts of Parliament. See Legislation enforced by HSE[4] for more details. If you need further advice on legal matters concerning the workplace, please consult Sources of information and external advisory services[5].
PUWER - Provision and use of work equipment regulations. These Regulations, often abbreviated to PUWER, place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over work equipment. PUWER also places responsibilities on businesses and organisations whose employees use work equipment, whether owned by them or not. PUWER requires that equipment provided for use at work is: suitable for the intended use safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and inspected to ensure it is correctly installed and does not subsequently deteriorate used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training accompanied by suitable health and safety measures, such as protective devices and controls. These will normally include emergency stop devices, adequate means of isolation from sources of energy, clearly visible markings and warning devices used in accordance with specific requirements, for mobile work equipment and power presses What is work equipment?
What you must do What you should know.