COSHH LEGISLATION

The Health and Safety Executive are the government body responsible for the regulation and enforcement of work related risks to people in the work place. Un surprisingly fume and gas exposure/contact is one of the fundamental values with the COSHH 2002 (control of substances hazard to health) regulations setting out exposure limits, preventative guidelines and on going reductions into the contact between people and dangerous gas and particulates.

Under COSHH companies must take steps to prevent, control, maintain and monitor fume and gas exposure in the workplace, laid out in regulation 9.

THERE ARE UNLIMITED FINES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH COSHH REGULATIONS.

REGULATION 9

“Every employer who provides any LEV to meet regulation 7 shall ensure that , it is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, in good repair and in a clean condition” - Regulation 9 -1 COSHH

Where engineered controls have been used the employer must ensure that they are tested and thoroughly examined with a suitable record kept for minimum of 5 years. Further more the regulation states that:

“Any LEV system must be thoroughly appraised and tested at least once every 14 months.” - Regulation 9 – 2. Nb - This is reduced to 6 months in certain circumstances.