edp Safety Systems
total Management of Health and Safety
for every organisation
health, safety and environment consultants
Service Overview
COSHH Assessment
Call us on: 01744 766000
or fax on: 01744 766025
or email on:
enquiries@edp-uk.com.
Essential Services
H+S Services:
- Health and Safety Audit
- General Risk Assessment
- Specific Risk Assessment
- Fire Risk Assessment
- Manual Handling Risk Assessment
- COSHH Risk Assessment
- Display Screen Equipment Assessment
- Noise Risk Assessment
- Asbestos Survey (Type II)
- Competent Contractors Audit
- Access Consultancy
- Portable Appliance Testing
Overview
Some hazardous substances encountered in the workplace are subject to specific legislation, such as lead, radio-active materials, asbestos or explosives.
There are many other potentially hazardous substances, some of which may be commonly used in domestic environments. However, when used in the workplace they are subject to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations - often referred to by the acronym COSHH.
These regulations require that the risks associated with storage, use and disposal of the substances, are clearly understood and appropriate controls put in place to manage the risks.
Typically, a COSHH Assessment is identified as necessary from a Health and Safety Audit, a Compliance Review, a General Risk Assessment, a Risk Assessment or perhaps by management or other staff members.
Objectives
The purpose of the COSHH Assessment is to identify and look in detail at all potentially hazardous substances that are acquired, manufactured, stored, used in processes or disposed in association with the organisation's business activities.
The result is a list of recommendations to ensure potentially hazardous substances are adequately controlled.
Methodology
The Assessment involves an examination of substances used by the organisation, along with the processes in which they are used, the persons using them, the conditions under which they are stored and the method for disposing of them. To carry out this task effectively, the assessor may need access to all areas of the premises.
The examination needs to include any previous Risk Assessment or COSHH Assessment, along with documented procedures associated with the substances.
The Assessor also requires access to Safety Data Sheets for each of the substances in use. These should be available from the manufacturer or supplier of each substance and should be available for the date of the assessment.
Duration
Most COSHH Assessments for a single site can be completed within a day.
More time may be needed for larger scale operations or if all relevant documentation is not available.