Working with Hazardous Substances

COSHH

The  Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) requires that risks arising from   substances that are hazardous to health are prevented or, where prevention is not reasonably proacticable, controlled. This includes:

• chemicals
• products containing chemicals
• fumes, dusts, vapours and mists
• nanotechnology
• gases and asphyxiating gases
• biological agents (germs that cause disease). e.g. leptospirosis or legionnaires disease

Preventing or reducing exposure to hazardous substances involves:

• finding out what the health hazards are;
• carrying out a risk assessment
• providing control measures to reduce harm to health and making sure they are used ;
  keeping all control measures in good working order;
• providing information, instruction and training for employees and others;
• planning for emergencies.
  

The links on this site give guidance on how to carry out a COSHH assessment and control risks from hazardous substances. If you need help with COSHH assessment please contact HSAS.

 

Changes to Labelling and Safety Data Sheets

If you handle, use, store or transport hazardous substances, you may already have seen changes to warning labels on products and also to the information on Safety Data Sheets. Your COSHH assessments and methods of work may require review with any updates communicated to your team.

Globally Harmonised System GHs) - changes in hazard symbols and meanings

The United Nations Globally Harmonised System and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) aims to have one chemical, one label worldwide. In Europe, the GHS is implemented via the Classification and Labelling of Packaging (CLP) Regulations. Summary: The orange and black hazard symbols have been re-classified into red, white and black pictograms. New harmonised hazard and precautionary statements for labels, will replace the existing risk and safety phrases, eg H240 heating may cause an explosion and P271 use only outdoors or in well-ventilated area.

Example 1: The original orange and black hazard symbol for Explosive changes to a red, white and black pictogram meaning Explosive, Self-reactive, Organic Peroxide'.

Example 2: This new pictogram reflects serious longer term health hazards such as carcinogenicity and respiratory sensitisation.

REACH - Changes to Safety Data Sheets

The CLP Regulations dovetail into another European Union regulation called Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH). An important part of chemical safety is clear information about any hazardous properties of a substance. Manufacturers, importers and suppliers need to comply with new requirements regarding the content and structure of Safety Data Sheets (SDS). This is in turn should aid users in their assessment of risk and implementation of controls in relation to chemical substances.

Summary: As new prints of SDS are made, the suppliers of that substance should ensure the SDS conforms to the new standard. Online sourcing of SDS by users is not considered appropriate; SDS should be provided to users before or at the time of the delivery of the substance or mixture.

Further information

Click on The United Nations Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) for an overview of the 'one chemical, one label - worldwide' aim of this law.

Dr David Knight, Department of Biological Sciences, has prepared a very useful overview of the changes from symbols to pictograms, 'Summary of changes to labelling of chemical hazards from December 2010 onwards'.

The Health and Safety Executive website contains comprehensive guidance about REACH which is aimed to assist manufacturers, suppliers, importers and users. See the HSE webpage to read more about this topic at REACH. For an explanation of the aims, scope and exemptions, click on What is REACH?