Chemical Safety (COSSH)
Chemical Safety - Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
Chemicals often have hazards associated with them, whether they be laboratory reagents, common cleaning products, engineering oils, woodworking dusts, or soldering fluxes. These hazards can be associated with fires or explosions, or hazards presented to the health of individuals: for more information see hazardous substances.
COSHH assessment process
- Determine the process and form to use: COSHH assessment based on hazard
- If the substance risk is very low or low, incorporate it within the activity risk assessment using the standard risk assessment template
- If the substance risk is medium use the standard COSHH form
- If the substance risk is high use the advanced COSHH form
- If the substance risk is very high consult the HSO or Health and Safety Services
- Create your COSHH documents:
- Ensure they are signed off by line manager or supervisor
- Print a signed copy and place it in the blue Health and Safety folder for the appropriate laboratory or workshop.
- Review risk assessment:
- Every 12 months
- Following significant change to activity or space
- following an incident
Procedure For Ordering Chemicals
These requirements for ordering chemicals were put in place to ensure that the safe storage and safe use of chemicals are considered before the chemicals are purchased:
- The cost of disposal of excess chemicals is significant. Consider how much material you actually need for your current work and order minimum quantities.
- Review the manufacturer's safety data sheets(MSDS) for the chemical of interest – these will be available on the supplier website.
- Identify the Hazard code statements (H-codes) and Precautionary statements to ensure that you understand the hazards of the chemical and how to handle it safely.
- Ensure your current storage and handling facilities are sufficient to ensure safe use of the chemical (for example, staff training, availability of fume cupboards, suitable personal protective equipment).
- Determine the correct hazard level for ordering the chemical in Opera using the chemical categorisation
- For each chemical ordered on Opera, input the H-codes into the comments section with a statement to indicate that you have considered the storage and control measures required for the chemical. If it is non-hazardous this should be stated in the comments section.
- For each chemical ordered on Opera, input the correct hazard level as determined in step 5. above.
- Dependent upon the hazard category identified in 4 above, the order may be subject to review and additional approval once it has been raised on Opera.
- Amend your Risk Assessment with the hazards and control measures to be used for the chemical.
- Once the chemical has been received it should be added to the chemical inventory for the laboratory in which it is stored. This includes the addition of the Hazard codes.