Part 10:
5 Steps to COSHH Assessment Completion
With all things considered, it’s time to conduct your COSHH risk assessment. How do you do this successfully? We recommend following these five steps.
Dive deeper into each step so you can truly get an accurate picture of all aspects involved:
1. Identify the hazards
This can easily be done by looking at the following areas:
- Safety Data Sheets – Look at section 2 of the SDS, as previously outlined
- Review hazards labels and COSHH symbols
- Examine toxicology reports
- Look at previous accident/incident reports
- Liaise with competent persons in your organisation or external members
2. Decide who may be harmed and how
- What activities give rise to exposure?
- How much of the substance is used?
- How many people are exposed? Don’t forget staff could be in adjacent areas.
- How long are they exposed to the substance?
- What is the workplace exposure limit for this substance?
- What are the routes of exposure?
- What current controls are in place? The most important thing is to be honest e.g: PPE is listed but people don’t use it. If that’s the case, then it’s not an acceptable control measure and another should be implemented.
3. Assess the risk and decide if any additional control measures are needed
Many organisations don’t assess the severity or danger for all their chemicals. From experience, the 5 x 5 risk matrix is a useful tool to identify risk levels. It outlines the severity of the chemical and the likelihood of an incident. Based on this evaluation a risk rating is assigned. The hazard level of a chemical is difficult to change, as this can only be attempted by diluting the chemical or substituting it for another less harmful chemical. We can however, reduce the likelihood of an incident happening by putting the right control measures in place.
Impact (Severity) Scale
- Negligible: Adverse event leading to minor injury. Does not require first aid.
- Minor: Minor injury or illness, first aid treatment required. <3 days absence/<3 days hospital stay/emotional distress.
- Moderate: Significant injury requiring medical treatment. E.g.: fracture and/or counselling. Agency reportable. E.g. HSA, Gardai (violent and aggressive acts) <3 days absence/3-8 days extended hospital stay/emotional trauma.
- Major: Major injuries/long term incapacity or disability (loss of limb) requiring medical treatment and/or counselling /physical /emotional disability
- Catastrophic: Incident leading to death or major permanent incapacity. Event which impacts a large number of employees or members of the public. Emotional/physical trauma.
What controls are required?
Decide which controls are required by examining the hierarchy of controls:
Hierarchy of Controls
The preferred order of implementing control measures:
- Elimination – Could the exposure be eliminated all together by changing the task?
- Substitution – Could the substance be substituted for a safer alternative?
- Engineering controls – Could we make use of local exhaust ventilation (LEV)?
- Administrative controls – Could we use written procedures to highlight a safe way of working?
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Look at section 8 within the safety data sheet, which has good insight and recommendations on the necessary PPE. Manufacturers are also able to provide detailed information.
Check out our video on section 8 of safety data sheets which discusses Exposure Controls
Some typical control methods you can also think about including:
Worker Reporting on Chemical Storage
4. Implement control measures
Once all the hazards, who they may affect, and controls are established, it’s time to implement the necessary control measures:
- Assign responsible individuals to implement control measures.
- Assign implementation date for controls.
- Review implementation of controls.
- Train employees on usage of controls measures.
5. Record, review and update COSHH assessments as appropriate
All COSHH assessments must be documented and stored electronically (or otherwise) in the workplace. Distribute this information to employees and remind them of the identified risks in the area so they can make quick and safe decisions.
It’s also important to note that once a significant change occurs in a process, the regulation, etc., your COSHH assessment should be updated. This is an evolving live document which you should continuously look to improve at a regular cadence. The HSE says you should review your COSHH assessments at regular intervals. This could be based on your assigned risk ratings, for example.
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