Health and Safety Inspector and COSHH: Controlling Hazardous Substances and Protecting Workers' Health

1. Health and Safety Inspector and COSHH

2. What is COSHH • COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health[1]. You can prevent or reduce workers' exposure to hazardous substances by: • finding out what the health hazards are; • deciding how to prevent harm to health (risk assessment[2]); • providing control measures to reduce harm to health; • making sure they are used ; • keeping all control measures in good working order; • providing information, instruction and training for employees and others; • providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases; • planning for emergencies. • Most businesses use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances. Some processes create substances. These could cause harm to employees, contractors and other people. • Sometimes substances are easily recognised as harmful. Common substances such as paint, bleach or dust from natural materials may also be harmful.

3. COSHH covers • What is a ‘substance hazardous to health’? • COSHH covers substances that are hazardous to health. Substances can take many forms and include: • chemicals • products containing chemicals • fumes • dusts • vapours • mists • nanotechnology • gases and asphyxiating gases and • biological agents (germs). If the packaging has any of the hazard symbols[1] then it is classed as a hazardous substance. • germs that cause diseases[2] • such as leptospirosis or legionnaires' disease and germs used in laboratories.

4. Case Study - Soldererdevelops asthma at large manufacturers in Gloucester • Summary • An employee developed occupational asthma after working for a large multi-national company in Gloucester. He was employed between 1995 and 2004 as a solderer and was exposed to rosin based colophony) solder fume during his career. • His health was deteriorating from 1999 onwards, and he was taking time off work due to breathing difficulties • HSE investigation • The company did not have adequate control measures in place and failed to install fume extraction equipment to remove rosin based fumes from the workroom air or from the breathing zones of its solderers. • The company did not substitute the rosin based solder with rosin free solder until December 2003, despite an assessment having identified the need to in 1999. • Employees, including the asthma suffer were not placed under a health surveillance scheme at any time. • Effects • As a result of action taken by HSE the company was fined £100,000 with £30,000 costs. This attracted local and national media attention.

5. Case Study 2 - Summary • A 46-year-old school cook developed breathing problems after working with flour in the school kitchen. The room was small with poor ventilation. • Her breathing problems became so severe that she could hardly walk. She had to sleep sitting up. • Her daily job included dough making in a large mixer. There were no controls for the flour dust. • HSE investigation • The cook contacted her union, which supported her with a compensation claim on the basis that decent working conditions were not provided. • The council admitted that it had not taken sufficient action over the problem despite repeated complaints. HSE was not involved. • Effects • The cook became severely asthmatic. She had to retire early on health grounds, and the courts eventually awarded her £200,000 in damages. • But the money will not bring back her health. While she was able to move out of town, she rarely leaves the house. She faces a very restricted lifestyle.