HSE CoSHH Advice for Small Businesses
Published Date: 21st December 2009
A new leaflet produced by the HSE entitled ‘Working with Substances Hazardous to Health’ has been written mainly for employers in small businesses to help them meet their specific duties under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) Regulations.
It is an easy to use guide which centres on dealing with hazardous chemicals at work, so that they do not cause ill health to employees as well as information on CoSHH assessment. The guide was actually produced with input from small businesses including hairdressers and construction workers. It is intended to provide updated chemicals advice to smaller businesses in a language that makes it easier to comprehend and follow.
If you are running a small business or are self employed, you will need this guide to make sure you are protecting your employees. Most businesses use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances. Every year, thousands of workers become ill due to hazardous substances.
This leaflet gives guidance on working safely with a variety of substances, from metalworking fluids which can grow bacteria and fungi and cause dermatitis and asthma, to hairdressing products. Many other products used in the workplace can be harmful such as paint, glue and beauty products.
This useful guidance tool will help small businesses comply with health and safety law and are compliant with CoSHH regulations. CoSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. The CoSHH Regulations require employers to undertake risk assessments on their employees to determine how workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals and by how much . CoSHH helps provide measures to reduce harm to health and gives guidance on how to keep all dangerous chemicals in good working order.
The guide is practical and user friendly, and it highlights the importance of employers checking each substance they use and finding out how the substance can be harmful. Employers are encouraged to check the information which comes with products, for example; a safety data sheet. A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a form containing data regarding the properties of a particular substance.
Small businesses are an important contributor to the economy and are affected by a considerable number of occupational health related issues every year. However, if they follow the directions given in the guide, this will ensure that they are taking as much preventative measures as is needed to ensure the health and safety of their employees.
The guide can be found on HSE’s website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf.