In order to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 [1], you must undertake an assessment and control any substance that might present a hazard to health in the workplace. A COSHH Risk Assessment template is provided.
Walk around the practice and identify potential exposure to substances hazardous to health. For each substance consider:
- In what way is the substance harmful to health? Collect Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), check information on the packaging; check the manufacturer’s website or contact the manufacturer directly, if necessary.
- What tasks or processes could lead to exposure? What controls are already in place? Can additional controls be introduced to eliminate or reduce the risk further?
- What action is required after exposure?
- Is health surveillance needed?
- Areas of concern, e.g. check the practice accident book.
Merely keeping a copy of the MSDS does not equate to a full COSHH assessment.
Further information on conducting a COSHH risk assessment, including alternative risk assessment templates, is available on Public Health Scotland – Healthy Working Lives [2] and the Health and Safety Executive [3] websites.
Sources of information
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
- Hazardous Substances. Healthy Working Lives, Public Health Scotland
- COSHH Assessment: Identifying hazard and assessing risk (webpage). Health and Safety Executive