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From 6 April 2005, a new focus on good practice was launched to help employers meet their duties under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). The existing requirements to follow good practice are being clarified by the introduction of eight principles, namely: - Design and operate processes and activities to minimise emission, release and spread of substances hazardous to health.
- Take into account all relevant routes of exposure - inhalation, skin absorption and ingestion - when developing control measures.
- Control exposure by measures that are proportionate to the health risk.
- Choose the most effective and reliable control options which minimise the escape and spread of substances hazardous to health.
- Where adequate control of exposure cannot be achieved by other means, provide, in combination with other control measures, suitable personal protective equipment.
- Check and review regularly all elements of control measures for their continuing effectiveness.
- Inform and train all employees on the hazards and risks from the substances with which they work and the use of control measures developed to minimise the risks.
- Ensure that the introduction of control measures does not increase the overall risk to health and safety.
A single type of limit is also being introduced, with Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) replacing Maximum Exposure Limits (MELs) and Occupational Exposure Standards (OESs). Adequate control of exposure will require employers to: - apply the above eight principles of good practice;
- ensure that the WEL is not exceeded; and
- ensure that exposure to substances that can cause occupational asthma; cancer; or damage to genes that can be passed from one generation to another is reduced as low as is reasonably practicable.
Employers who currently comply with COSHH, will still be able to do so by continuing to apply good practice. Good practice advice on controlling chemicals is available at the HSE's COSHH Essentials website. New versions of the COSHH Approved Code of Practice; EH40 (the list of exposure limits); and the brief guide to COSHH leaflet will be published shortly. For further information please contact the Public Protection team on 01789 260832, or by email at envhealth@stratford-dc.gov.uk
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