Skip to main content

Mastering COSHH Assessments: A Guide for Cleaning Professionals

— 04 December 2024 by Marketing Pioneer FM

csl00819

 Cleaning services | Pioneer FM

 

Understanding and implementing the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations is essential for maintaining safety in the cleaning industry. This guide outlines practical steps for COSHH compliance, focusing on commonly encountered substances like dust and cleaning chemicals.

Conducting COSHH Assessments for Substances Without a Safety Data Sheet

Substances like dust, often generated during work processes, can pose significant health risks even without a formal Safety Data Sheet (SDS). To conduct an effective COSHH assessment for these substances:

  • Assess Risk by Working Form: Consider how the substance behaves in the workplace. For example, dry sweeping can increase airborne dust exposure, while vacuuming may reduce it.
  • Evaluate Exposure: Observe tasks, identify sources of exposure, and implement controls such as using HEPA-filter vacuums or wet cleaning methods.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS): Your Starting Point

Suppliers must provide an SDS for any hazardous substance at purchase, upon request, or when a formulation changes. These sheets offer critical details about:

  • Hazardous properties
  • Health risks
  • Recommended control measures

Important: SDSs are not substitutes for a COSHH risk assessment. Instead, use them as a foundation to evaluate risks specific to your workplace.

Learn More: Guide to Understanding SDSs

Keeping Accurate Records

Maintaining detailed records is essential for compliance and safety. Here's what you need:

  • Health Surveillance Records: Include employee names, National Insurance numbers, substances exposed to, and the type and outcome of any health tests conducted.
  • Medical Records: If your company closes, ensure medical records are transferred to the HSE’s Employment Medical Advisory Service or provided to the employee’s GP.

There is no specific COSHH form required, but documentation should detail hazards, affected individuals, tasks involved, and control measures implemented.

Explore Record-Keeping Best Practices: HSE Guidance on Health Surveillance

Best Practices for Working with Hazardous Substances

  • Hazardous Substances Defined: These include toxic, harmful, corrosive, or irritant materials, as well as dust, biological agents, and other workplace chemicals.
  • Chemical Storage: Always store cleaning chemicals in locked cupboards to prevent unauthorized access, particularly in environments with children or vulnerable individuals.
  • Ventilation Requirements: Ensure proper ventilation, with general building systems achieving five to ten air changes per hour. For high-risk tasks, local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is recommended.

Learn About LEV Effectiveness: HSE LEV Guidelines

Training and Competency for COSHH Assessments

While no formal qualifications are required to conduct COSHH assessments, competence is key. This includes:

  • Understanding the properties and risks of hazardous substances.
  • Assessing how workers might be exposed.
  • Implementing control measures effectively.

Enhance Your Skills: HSE COSHH Training Resources

What If Employers Fail to Comply?

If your employer does not have adequate procedures for managing hazardous substances, report the issue to:

  • The HSE’s Concerns and Advice Team.
  • Local authority Environmental Health Officers.

Reports can be made anonymously to protect your identity.

File a Concern: HSE Reporting Tool

Simplify Your COSHH Compliance

Staying compliant with COSHH regulations can be overwhelming, but tools like Cloud MI, a free COSHH risk assessment web app, make the process simpler.

Understanding COSHH is more than a legal obligation—it’s a commitment to workplace safety and health. Ensure your cleaning practices meet industry standards to protect your team and maintain trust with clients.