Understanding COSHH Risk Assessments

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A COSHH Risk Assessment helps employers identify hazardous substances in the workplace, assess the risks they present and implement suitable control measures to protect employees and others who may be affected.

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Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, employers have a legal duty to prevent or adequately control exposure to hazardous substances.

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A properly completed COSHH Risk Assessment is often the first step towards creating a safer workplace and ensuring compliance with UK health and safety legislation.

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At A-Mac Environmental, we help businesses control hazardous airborne contaminants through the design, installation, testing and maintenance of effective Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems.

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What is a COSHH Risk Assessment?

A COSHH Risk Assessment is a systematic review of the hazardous substances used or generated within your workplace.

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Its purpose is to identify:

• What hazardous substances are present.

• Who could be exposed.

• How exposure occurs.

• The potential health effects.

• Existing control measures.

• Whether further action is required.

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The assessment helps employers determine the most effective way to reduce risks and protect employee health.

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What are Hazardous Substances?

Many workplaces generate hazardous substances without realising it.

Examples include:

• Welding fumes

• Wood dust

• Flour dust

• Respirable crystalline silica (RCS)

• Oil mist

• Chemical vapours

• Paint spraying fumes

• Cleaning chemicals

• Metal dust

• Diesel exhaust emissions

• Laboratory chemicals

• Solvent vapours

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COSHH applies whether these substances are used directly or created as part of a work process.

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Why is a COSHH Risk Assessment Important?

Without a proper assessment, employees may be exposed to hazardous substances that can cause serious health problems, including:

• Occupational asthma

• Respiratory disease

• Skin irritation and dermatitis

• Eye irritation

• Chemical burns

• Long-term lung disease

• Occupational cancers

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A COSHH Risk Assessment helps employers identify these risks before they cause harm.

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What Should a COSHH Risk Assessment Include?

A suitable assessment should consider:

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1. Identify the Hazard

Determine which hazardous substances are used, stored or generated.

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2. Assess Who Could Be Affected

Consider employees, contractors, visitors and anyone else who may be exposed.

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3. Evaluate the Risk

Assess:

• How exposure occurs

• How often employees are exposed

• How much exposure takes place

• The potential health effects

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4. Implement Control Measures

Where possible, employers should eliminate the hazard.

If this is not reasonably practicable, suitable control measures should be introduced, including:

• Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)

• Process enclosure

• Dust extraction systems

• General ventilation

• Safe working procedures

• Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 

Engineering controls such as LEV should always be considered before relying solely on PPE.

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5. Monitor and Review

COSHH Risk Assessments should be reviewed whenever:

• Processes change

• New equipment is installed

• Different materials are introduced

• New hazards are identified

• Existing controls are no longer effective

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Regular reviews help ensure workplace controls remain appropriate.

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How LEV Supports COSHH Compliance

Many hazardous substances become airborne during normal work activities.

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A properly designed Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system captures contaminants at source before they reach the breathing zone.

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LEV is commonly used to control:

• Welding fumes

• Wood dust

• Flour dust

• Silica dust

• Oil mist

• Metalworking dust

• Chemical vapours

• Vehicle exhaust emissions

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Regular Thorough Examination and Test (TExT) helps ensure LEV systems continue to perform effectively.

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Industries That Require COSHH Risk Assessments

COSHH applies across many industries, including:

• Manufacturing

• Engineering

• Welding and fabrication

• Woodworking and joinery

• Food production

• Commercial bakeries

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

• Healthcare

• Schools and universities

• Automotive workshops

• Distilleries and breweries

• Chemical processing

• Laboratories

• Agriculture

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Where hazardous substances are present, COSHH should always be considered.

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Common Mistakes in COSHH Risk Assessments

Many businesses unknowingly make mistakes that reduce the effectiveness of their COSHH management.

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Common issues include:

• Assuming only chemicals require assessment.

• Forgetting that dusts and fumes are hazardous substances.

• Failing to review assessments after process changes.

• Not maintaining LEV systems.

• Relying on PPE instead of engineering controls.

• Inadequate employee training.

• Missing records of LEV inspections and maintenance.

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Keeping assessments up to date is just as important as completing them in the first place.

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How A-Mac Environmental Can Help

Although employers are responsible for completing COSHH Risk Assessments, A-Mac Environmental can support your compliance by providing effective engineering controls for airborne contaminants.

Our services include:

• LEV system design

• Supply and installation

• Dust extraction systems

• Fume extraction systems

• Industrial ventilation

• LEV Thorough Examination and Test (TExT)

• Planned preventative maintenance

• System upgrades

• Compliance support

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Our experienced engineers help businesses improve workplace air quality and reduce employee exposure to hazardous substances.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is a COSHH Risk Assessment a legal requirement?

Yes. Employers must assess the risks from hazardous substances where employees may be exposed during work activities.

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Does every business need a COSHH Risk Assessment?

Only if hazardous substances are used or generated. This includes many workplaces where dust, fumes, vapours or chemical products are present.

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Is wood dust covered by COSHH?

Yes. Wood dust is a hazardous substance and should be considered as part of a COSHH Risk Assessment.

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Is welding fume covered by COSHH?

Yes. Welding fumes are hazardous to health and employers must take suitable measures to control employee exposure.

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Does LEV replace a COSHH Risk Assessment?

No. LEV is one of the engineering controls identified during a COSHH Risk Assessment. The assessment determines what controls are required, while the LEV system helps reduce exposure to hazardous airborne contaminants.

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If your COSHH Risk Assessment identifies the need to control airborne dusts, fumes, vapours or other hazardous substances, A-Mac Environmental can help.

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Our experienced engineers provide professional LEV design, installation, testing and maintenance services throughout Scotland, helping businesses create safer workplaces and support compliance with COSHH Regulations.

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Contact A-Mac Environmental today to discuss your ventilation requirements or arrange a site survey.