What Does COSHH Stand For?

COSHH is the law that requires employers to control hazardous substances in the workplace, and restrict or prevent the risk these substances pose to employees and workers. The acronym stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health; quite a clear indication of what the regulation is in place to do.

When was COSHH Introduced?

The COSHH regulations were first introduced in the year 1988, by the Health and Safety Executive; or HSE for short, with the main objective of reducing occupational ill health by setting out a simple framework for controlling hazardous substances in the workplace.

Why was COSHH Introduced?

COSHH was introduced as part of a general trend towards improving and legislating for workplace safety, but it was largely a formalisation of safety measures that employers were commonly already taking, as required by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The COSHH regulations have been an important factor in improving safety standards, raising awareness of the risks and giving employers an incentive to ensure that their workplace is as safe as possible.

Why is COSHH Important?

COSHH is incredibly important for business owners for a variety of reasons. For one, it allows them to properly assess the working environment they are providing to their employees, which naturally leads to an all-round safer workplace for employees, visitors and members of the public.

By conducting robust COSHH risk assessments, you’ll identify substances that might not have initially been on your radar as hazardous, and understand why they’re hazardous, and keeping up with your COSHH responsibilities will uncover extra rules and regulations that should be followed, adding an added layer of safety around your business.

To conclude, COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, and it works to help business owners control exactly this. And in this process, it is vital to make sure that you have the right equipment to deal with and manage these substances, such as using a COSHH Cabinet to store these substances. These cabinets are especially designed for the safe storage of these hazardous substances; for more information, you can view our range of COSHH Cabinets here today.