Accessibility statement

Overview of Legislation

The U.K. legislative framework relating to chemical safety includes:

  • COSHH (The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)

The COSHH Regulations aim to protect workers from substances hazardous to health. It is the duty of the employer to assess each piece of work and to ensure that the workers are not exposed to harmful levels of any substance connected with that work.

The term hazardous substance includes:

  • any substance (including mixtures) classified as hazardous to health:
    • acute toxicity categories 1-4
    • germ cell mutagenicity categories 1A, 1B & 2
    • carcinogenicity categories 1A, 1B & 2
    • reproductive toxicity categories 1A, 1B & 2
    • respiratory sensitisation
    • aspiration hazard
    • skin corrosion
    • serious eye damage
    • narcotic effects
  • any substance assigned a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL)
  • are biological agents
  • dusts at specified levels
  • any substance not fulfilling any of the categories above but capable by its chemical or toxicological properties of creating a risk to health
  • DSEAR (Dangerous Substances Explosive Atmosphere Regulations)

The DSEAR Regulations seek to ensure that workers are protected from 'dangerous substances' which present a safety hazard (substances, that, due to the physical properties of these substances (e.g. flammable, explosive), can cause injury) as opposed to a health hazard (e.g. a toxic substance).  The regulations impose requirements designed to eliminate or reduce risks to safety from fire, explosion or other similar events arising from the hazardous properties of 'dangerous substances' associated with work activities.