Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) provides a legal framework to protect people against health risks arising from hazardous substances used or encountered at work. Employers have a responsibility to manage and minimise the risks from work activities. They must identify hazards and assess the risks, put in place actions to prevent and control these risks and review regularly these control measures. COSHH Regulation sets eight generic principles of good practice for the control of exposure to substances hazardous to health:

• Design and operate processes and activities to minimise emission, release and spread of substances hazardous to health.
• Take into account all relevant routes of exposure when developing control measures
• Control exposure by measures that are proportionate to the health risk.
• Choose the most effective and reliable control options which minimise the escape and spread of substances hazardous to health.
• Where adequate control of exposure cannot be achieved by other means, provide, in combination with other control measures, suitable personal protective equipment.
• Check and review regularly all elements of control measures.
• Inform and train all employees on the hazards and risks from the hazardous substances with which they work and the use of control measures put in place.
• Ensure that the control measures implemented do not increase the overall risk.

NHS Lothian recognises its legal and moral obligations on the use, storage, handling, production (e.g. generation of dust) and disposal of substances hazardous to health. This Policy establishes the framework which such management can take place and the responsibilities of the managers and staff in the implementation of these principles within NHS Lothian.