Wherever you work in the UK, safety should always be paramount to your employer — especially when hazardous substances might be involved in day-to-day tasks. A COSHH risk assessment is one of the tools your employer might use to both keep you safe, and adhere to the law.

In this guide, we’ll look into how exactly a COSHH risk assessment keeps employees safe, explore the hazards it aims to tackle, and explain your rights if you’ve been injured at work because COSHH has been ignored.

What is COSHH and why does it matter for workplace safety?

COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous for Health, and it’s a set of regulations that aims to keep workplaces safe from hazardous substances. The main substances this tackles are:

  • Biological agents, including bacteria, viruses and other infections.
  • Chemicals, including cleaning materials, paints and solvents.
  • Dust, including silica dust, wood dust and flour dust, depending on the profession.
  • Fumes and vapours, including emissions after welding or chemical use.

If your employer is relaxed when it comes to COSHH regulations, you could be at risk of respiratory diseases, skin conditions, or even cancer after long-term exposure to hazardous substances.

Understanding a COSHH risk assessment

Depending on your position in the workplace, it’s likely that you’ve never seen or heard a COSHH risk assessment take place. Here’s how a standardised assessment takes place:

  1. Your employer will search for and note any hazardous substances present in your workplace.
  2. For every substance they find, your employer will assess the risk they pose. This includes the probability of exposure and the potential health effects of exposure.
  3. Your employer will now implement relevant control measures to reduce the risk of exposure to you and your fellow employees.
  4. A written report should then be created by your employer as proof that a COSHH risk assessment has been carried out.

This process should be repeated regularly and especially if a new hazardous substance has been introduced to the workplace.

Employee rights and employer responsibilities under COSHH

In accordance with the Health and Safety at work act 1974, employees have rights that all employers must adhere to. Because of their duty of care over you, your employer must respect that you have the right to:

  • A safe working environment — You have the right to work in a space where exposure to hazardous substances is adequately controlled.
  • An awareness of risks — Employers must inform you about the risks associated with your work and the safety measures in place.
  • Correct PPE and training — You have a right to the necessary equipment and training to perform tasks safely.

What to do if your employer has not carried out a COSHH assessment

If you suspect that your employer has neglected their responsibilities under COSHH, it’s a serious accusation. So be sure that you have proper evidence to make a complaint. When you think you’re ready, take the following steps:

  • Raise the issue internally — Speak with the health and safety representative of your business or your supervisor to address your concerns.
  • Gather evidence — Collect evidence like photographs of hazards, medical reports and witness statements. Record any incidents that could involve hazardous materials in the company’s accident book.
  • Get in touch — If you believe you’ve suffered harm because of a lack of COSHH compliance, get in touch with Express Solicitors so that we can explore your options for compensation.

How can Express Solicitors support your COSHH claim?

At Express Solicitors, we understand how critical COSHH compliance is for workplace safety. If you believe your employer’s negligence has caused you harm, we’re here to help. We have extensive experience handling claims related to COSHH breaches and workplace injuries.

With our no-win, no-fee arrangement, we can guarantee you can pursue justice without risk of financial upheaval. So, if you’ve been affected by poor COSHH compliance, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation and let us help. Call us on 0161 904 4661 or  Start your claim online