Risk management measures for chemicals: the "COSHH essentials" approach

Area of Science:

• Occupational Hygiene
• Chemical Safety Regulations

Background:

• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations in Great Britain require duty holders to manage chemical risks.
• The European REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) also focuses on risk management for chemical substances.
• COSHH essentials was developed to aid compliance with UK COSHH Regulations and shares principles with the REACH Regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utility of "COSHH essentials" as a tool for communicating risk-management measures.
• To highlight its role in assisting duty holders under both COSHH and REACH regulations.
• To demonstrate its effectiveness in providing a benchmark for good practice in chemical safety.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes an empirical approach for risk assessment and management.
• Outputs "Control Guidance Sheets" detailing "dos" and "don'ts" for specific task scenarios.
• Incorporates administrative and behavioral controls alongside mechanical ones.

Main Results:

• COSHH essentials provides a straightforward method for identifying and communicating risk-management measures.
• Freely available online since 2002, it facilitates links between shared tasks and ancillary guidance.
• The tool has gained significant popularity, attracting over 1 million visits, indicating its value as a communication benchmark.

Conclusions:

• COSHH essentials is an effective and popular tool for communicating good control practices in chemical handling.
• It serves as a valuable resource for various stakeholders, including chemical users, manufacturers, suppliers, importers, regulators, and health professionals.
• Its alignment with REACH principles enhances its applicability for European chemical safety compliance.