What are the specific legal requirements?
General requirements
The main piece of law in this area is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which places a general duty on employers to ensure, as far as possible, the health and safety of all their employees.
Every employer is required to assess risks posed to employees in the course of work so that appropriate health and safety arrangements can be made (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999).
Employers must also make sure that employees’ work equipment is suitable, and provide personal protective equipment where employees are exposed to risk (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992).
Hazardous substances
As well as the general workplace laws, there is specific law designed to protect employees exposed to hazardous substances. Requirements are set out in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (also referred to as the COSHH Regulations).
Employers must prevent, or where this isn’t possible, control potential risks from workplace exposure to hazardous chemicals. They are required by law to:
- assess the health risks and decide what control measures are needed
- put those control measures into practice and ensure employees use them
- make sure control measures are effective
- monitor exposure and survey employee health
- inform employees of potential risks
- provide training for employees
To help to protect employees from hazardous substances, the COSHH Regulations contain Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs). WELs are legally binding, and must not be exceeded.
For further information on these Regulations, click here
We need your Feedback
on the Website
Tell us what you think about the content in this section