What's new at HSE » COSHH

Updated chemicals advice praised by small businesses

HSE — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:30:08 +0000

New, easy to use guidance is available for businesses on how to deal with hazardous substances in the workplace.

The revised publication, “Working with substances hazardous to health”, offers advice and guidance on working safely with a variety of substances - from hairdressing products to metal working fluids; from quarry dust to cleaning materials.

View press release ‘Updated chemicals advice praised by small businesses’

RR737 - COSHH and current practice

HSE — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:04 +0000

Guidance on the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) has been recently revised (INDG136 Rev4). Before publication, HSE wished to test whether this new format would properly engage and inform the target audience of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and, especially, micro-businesses. .

View the full research report RR737: COSHH and current practice

Company fined after exposure to severe dermatitis risk

HSE — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:05:45 +0000

HSE is reminding companies of the importance of managing dermatitis risks, by effective risk assessments and taking adequate precautions to ensure that employees are not exposed to hazardous substances at work.

View dermatitis exposure press release

Warehousing chemicals safely - storing packaged dangerous substances

HSE — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:47:36 +0000

This book will help you keep chemicals and other dangerous substances in your warehouse safe and comply with the law, whatever the size of your storage facility. The updated guide sets out control measures aimed at eliminating or reducing risks to people, at work or otherwise, from the storage of packaged dangerous goods.

Find out more about HSG71: Warehousing chemicals safely - storing packaged dangerous substances

COSHH - case studies

HSE — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:38:32 +0000

Examples of real life situations with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Using chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can put people’s health at risk, causing diseases including asthma, dermatitis or cancer.

View the COSHH case studies

COSHH - Working with substances hazardous to health

HSE — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:02:37 +0000

This leaflet describes how to control hazardous substances at work so that they do not cause ill health. It will help you understand what you need to do to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended) which apply to the way you work with these substances.

View the working with substances hazardous to health leaflet

COSHH - Risk assessments

HSE — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:37:50 +0000

HSE have compiled a set of example Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) risk assessments for some industries. You can use these to get ideas for completing assessments in your company. They include a paving company, die caster, warehouse, DIY store…

View the COSHH example risk assessments

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

HSE — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:35:09 +0000

Using chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can put people’s health at risk, causing diseases including asthma, dermatitis or cancer. COSHH regulations require employers to control substances that can harm workers health.

The COSHH website has been re-launched with lots of additional information.

View the re-launched website

Coping with health and safety legislation

HSE — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:32:09 +0000

Netherwood Hotel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria. 15 October 2009. Coping with health and safety legislation: manual handling, COSHH and work equipment.

A variety of talks will take place, including: Demystifying the Manual Handling Regulations, COSHH assessment: keep it simple, Practical solutions to manual handling in the NHS; and a seminar overview on Manual handling.

Find out more about this event

Sign up safely - Free event

HSE — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:22:24 +0000

Barnsley, 30 June 2009. HSE and The British Sign & Graphics Association free safety and health awareness day, looking at health and safety in the sign manufacturing industry. The event features demonstrations of access equipment, as well as talks on: working at height, manual handling, COSHH and risk assessments.

Booking and full event details

Statement of evidence: Respiratory hazards of poultry dust

HSE — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:55:10 +0000

Poultry dust can harm the respiratory system (nose, throat, airways and lungs) and workers may experience a range of symptoms including sore throat, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, bronchitis and even occupational asthma. Workers may also experience flu-like symptoms. A statement of evidence has been prepared which describes the composition of poultry dust and its health effects more fully.

WEB40 - Statement of evidence: Respiratory hazards of poultry dust [PDF 105KB]

Controlling exposure to poultry dust

HSE — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:50:24 +0000

People working in poultry houses inhale many different airborne particles which collectively are referred to as poultry dust. This web-only publication gives guidance on controlling exposure to poultry dust.

WEB40 - Controlling exposure to poultry dust [PDF 114KB]

Occupational hygiene 2009

HSE — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:45:32 +0000

April 28 to 30 2009, Eastbourne. Organised by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), this event will bring together leading UK, European and international researchers, practitioners and regulators.

The event will include, interactive workshops, a scientific poster display and associated exhibition. Speakers include Sayeed Khan and Mark Piney from the Health and Safety Executive.

Full programme and booking details for Occupational hygiene 2009

European health and safety legislation

HSE — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:00:25 +0000

Euronews provides revised and updated information about European health and safety legislation on the horizon, under negotiation and in the process of being implemented.

Visit Euronews

Selecting protective gloves

HSE — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:54:26 +0000

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) essentials guidance sheet on selecting protective gloves has been updated.

View selecting protective gloves guidance [PDF 42KB]

Deadline: biocides containing “unsupported” active substances

HSE — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:34:12 +0000

Reminder - certain biocidal products containing active substances cannot be sold in the EU or stored for any purpose from 21 August 2009.

Find out more on these product deadlines

REACH eBulletin - out now

HSE — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:19:12 +0000

Sign up to the free REACH chemicals e-Bulletin and join more than 6,000 other subscribers who receive the latest submission deadlines, news and updates from the HSE by email.

Controlling isocyanate exposure in spray booths and spray rooms

HSE — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:55:51 +0000

This guidance is aimed at owners and managers of bodyshops and will be of use to employees (particularly paint sprayers) as well as suppliers. It supplements other HSE guidance relating to protecting people’s health from isocyanate exposure in spray booths and rooms, and the statutory 14-monthly thorough examination and test carried out on spray booths and rooms.

View publication WEB36 Controlling ioscyanate exposure

New chemicals at work portal

HSE — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:19:00 +0000

There is a new chemicals portal page to help users navigate quickly to their area of interest. The page provides a simple signpost and direct link to the different parts of the website covering health and safety in chemical manufacturing, marketing and supply, carriage or use of chemicals as well as latest news.

Chemicals at work portal

DVD: Signposts for health and safety

HSE — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:30:49 +0000

Originally broadcast on BBC2 as 10 half-hour programmes - a variety of small businesses show how they have successfully dealt with health and safety at work issues.

Visit the Signposts page and view extracts from the DVD