Importance of COSHH Assessment
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessments are a legal and practical necessity for any workplace that uses, stores, or disposes of hazardous substances. These assessments help manage risks associated with chemicals, fumes, dusts, and biological agents — ensuring both compliance and safety. Here's why COSHH assessments are vital:
1. Legal Requirement Under UK Law
COSHH assessments are a statutory duty under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Employers must identify, evaluate, and control exposure to hazardous substances in order to protect employees, visitors, and contractors.
2. Prevents Health Risks and Long-Term Illness
Without proper control, hazardous substances can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, poisoning, burns, and even long-term diseases such as cancer. COSHH assessments help prevent exposure by ensuring appropriate handling, storage, and disposal procedures are in place.
3. Reduces Workplace Accidents and Incidents
Accurate COSHH assessments identify potential risks — such as chemical spills, improper PPE use, or incompatible substance storage — and help prevent incidents before they happen, safeguarding people and property.
4. Protects Employees and Builds a Safety Culture
Conducting regular COSHH assessments demonstrates a commitment to employee health and safety. This fosters a culture of awareness, responsibility, and compliance throughout the organisation.
5. Guides Safe Work Practices and Training
COSHH assessments form the basis for training staff on safe handling procedures, appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency response protocols. This ensures everyone knows how to work safely with hazardous substances.
6. Supports Regulatory Inspections and Audits
Well-documented COSHH assessments show that your business is meeting its regulatory obligations. This is crucial during inspections by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or insurance audits.
7. Minimises Environmental Impact
Effective COSHH controls help prevent contamination of air, water, and soil through proper waste handling and spill management, contributing to your organisation’s environmental responsibilities and sustainability goals.