What is CoSHH?
CoSHH stands for The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and are the regulations surrounding their handling and storage. Also relevant are the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) which require employers to control the risks to safety that could occur from fire and explosions and from substances that are corrosive to metals and gases under pressure.
Most businesses have substances that can be hazardous to health – even flour can be a hazardous substance.
Even when hazardous materials are out of sight and not in use, they should never be out of mind. Risks could include fire or explosion and could even have potentially fatal consequences. However, most substances won’t cause problems if they are stored properly in accordance with the manufacturers’ guidelines.
Many hazardous substances are supplied with a safety data sheet which contains information about the safe storage of the product or else it may be worth asking the supplier for their advice.
Key considerations include how you will label and maintain details about stored substances, the segregation of incompatible substances, volume limits and whether additional fire or explosion protection is required. Other concerns may include storage conditions such as temperature or light variations, the location of the product and how it will be safely loaded, unloaded, and transported.
The Health and Safety at Work Act and Regulations require a risk assessment be performed.
The CoSHH Regulations define good control practice as follows:
• Consider all relevant routes of exposure – inhalation, skin absorption and ingestion – when developing control measures.
• Choose the most effective and reliable control options, which minimise the escape and spread of substances hazardous to health. This includes using appropriate methods of movement and storage.
• 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 for their continuing effectiveness.
• Inform and train all employees on the hazards and risks from the substances they work with, and the use of control measures developed to minimise the risks.
The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) 2015
Although many duties will be familiar from the 1999 Regulations, the 2015 Regulations contain some new or changed duties including:
- The list of substances covered by the Regulations has been updated and aligned to the CLP Regulation.
- There are transition arrangements for safety reports.
- For emergency planning, there is a new requirement for co-operation by designated authorities (Category 1 responders, as defined in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004) in tests of the external emergency plan.
- Stronger requirements for public information including a duty for lower-tier establishments to provide public information.
- The domino effects duty is broader, including a duty for members of a domino group to co-operate with neighbouring sites to share relevant information.
- Stronger requirements for the competent authority on inspection.
- Local authorities must now inform people likely to be affected following a major accident.
Shop all our hazardous substance storage products here.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Please note that legislation and regulation information may not apply to your area and/or may have since been updated. Please check regulations and legislation with your local authority. You should also seek independent advice about any legal matter.
View our full range of products on www.slingsby.com or email our team at sales@slingsby.com for further help.
> Visit our Knowledge Centre for more information and helpful guides