Every year exposure to hazardous substances at work affects the health of many thousands of people. The results can be discomfort, pain, time off work and, all too often, premature retirement and early death. Some common examples are:
- Long-term disability from lung diseases following years of work in dusty conditions
- Skin irritation, dermatitis or skin cancer from frequent contact with oils
- Asthma resulting from sensitisation to isocyanates in paints or adhesives
Apart from the pain and suffering, there is also a high economic price to be paid for all this occupational ill health. The workers and their families lose earnings, employers lose money from reduced productivity and lost production, accidents cause disruption and prosecution and civil actions can be very expensive. The nation as a whole has to pay for the sickness benefit and National Health Service care involved.
THE COSHH Regulations 2002 (COSHH) help protect people in the workplace against health risks from hazardous substances. The substances may be used directly in the work (e.g. cleaning chemicals, chemical reagents) or may arise from work activities (e.g. dusts, fumes and waste products).
COSHH requires the following:
- Assessment of the risks
- Deciding what precautions are needed
- Prevention or control of the risks
- Ensuring that control measures are used and maintained
- Monitoring exposure and health surveillance, where necessary
- Informing, instructing and training employees about the risks and precautions needed
The risk will depend on a number of factors, such as the hazard presented by the substance, how it is used, how exposure is controlled, the degree and extent of exposure etc.
Please follow the links on the right for more information.
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