UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER

School of Biosciences

The Control of Substances Hazardous To Health Regulations 1999 (COSHH).

GUIDANCE NOTES ON COMPLETING THE ASSESSMENT FORM.

FORMS MUST BE READILY ACCESSIBLE IN THE ROOM WHERE THE EXPERIMENT IS BEING CONDUCTED.

GENERAL

Please use this form to record all assessment of hazardous substances as detailed in The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999.

SHEET...... OF...... : use to record if continuation sheets have been used.

1.TITLE OF EXPERIMENT: The name by which the process is known.

ROOM/LABORATORY: Room number, etc.

SITE: e.g.New Cavendish Street

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WORK: Unless you choose to make them separate processes, it is important to record here any subsidiary processes included n the assessment. For example, initial charging of the process, cleaning of equipment, decanting of chemicals, etc.

2.SUBSTANCES USED OR CREATED

NAME: The name of the substance plus any known codes, e.g. The UN identification code.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The form of the substance, e.g. powder, liquid, mist, spray, etc.

QUANTITY: The largest amount that an operator could be exposed to. If you store a powder in a 5 kg drum but use it 10 grammes at a time, the amount that an operator could be exposed to is 5 kg.

DATA AVAILABLE:

MANUFACTURERS DATA SHEET, PRODUCT LABEL

Suppliers have a statutory duty to supply users with information. If you don't have it, ASK FOR IT!

KNOWN HAZARDS The identification of all new substances should follow the Chemicals (Hazard Information, Packaging & Supply) Regulations 1994. For old stock, or if the substance is decanted, it is recommended that the container be labelled to conform with these Regulations.

MEL OR OES - Some substances will have a Maximum Exposure Limit (MEL) or Occupational Exposure Standard (OES). This information should be quoted on the data sheet. See current version of EH 40.

3.PERSONNEL INVOLVED

NAME: SurnameINITIAL: Initials and Give name of class (if appropriate).

STATUS: Lecturer/Student/Technician.

INVOLVEMENT: Date of use or

(D)aily - more than 3 times/week

(W)eekly - more than 3 times/month

(M)onthly - more than 6 times/year

(O)ccasionally - less than 6 times/year

4.OTHER GROUPS - Other people who may be exposed to the substances.

NOTE: If you order hazardous substances and incorporate them into a new product, you have a statutory duty to inform any person who you may expose to the hazard. For example if you ask a technician to move a structure that you have made that includes hazardous substances, you have a DUTY to inform them of the hazards he/she or his/her staff may be exposed to. Also state control measures to prevent inappropriate persons/groups having access to the substances.

5.EMERGENCY PROCEDURES - Identify action if any substance or procedure poses a special hazard in an emergency such as spillage, uncontrolled release or fire (using code letters as in Section 2).

6.CONTROL MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED - Tick the relevant measures, noting that some are mandatory. If there is a limit to the amount of time a person may be exposed to the substance then a time log must be kept. If any control is used (e.g. Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), good general ventilation, etc.) then the control must be maintained and maintenance records kept for 5 years. Any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be regularly inspected, maintained and suitable records kept. Specify PPE by underlining items.

7.REVIEW AND MONITORING OF CONTROL MEASURES - Record the date by which you would expect the assessment to be reviewed. Assessment should automatically be reviewed at a change of personnel in charge.

8.OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION (any additional measures required to comply with COSHH).

9.NAME AND STATUS OF ASSESSOR - Assessor is either the supervisor of students (for undergraduate practical, projects and postgraduate work); or post-doctoral fellow; or senior technical staff.

10.Separate forms should be used for micro-organisms, clearly stating their category (see University of Westminster Biosciences Biological Safety Regulations - Appendix 10). Genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically-modified microorganisms (GMMOs) require separate risk assessment - consult the Biological Safety Officer. Work involving radiochemicals or radioactivity should be referred to the Radiological Protection Adviser.

ALL ASSESSORS SHOULD MAKE THEMSELVES FAMILIAR WITH THE HSE PUBLICATION COSHH ASSESSMENTS - A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO ASSESSMENT AND THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR IT.

THIS ASSESSMENT MUST BE REVIEWED IF THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE WORK, OR NEW TOXICITY INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.

UOW Laboratory Safety 2000