Rank: Forum user 
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The step before producing an actual COSHH assessment must be a risk assessment informing you that you have to produce said COSHH assessment.
Has anybody got a template which details this requirement?
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Rank: Super forum user
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The need to address the risks posed by substances hazardous to health will become apparent during your core risk assessment process, as will other issues such as work at height, noise, etc, as appropriate to your work place.
Why not integrate the process and deal with the COSHH issue within your risk assessment? You don't have to produce separate documents.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Jane Blunt wrote:The need to address the risks posed by substances hazardous to health will become apparent during your core risk assessment process, as will other issues such as work at height, noise, etc, as appropriate to your work place.
Why not integrate the process and deal with the COSHH issue within your risk assessment? You don't have to produce separate documents.
Agree
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Rank: Super forum user
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Isn't this just part of the task appraisal/briefing?
Why over complicate matters
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Rank: Super forum user
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For me the answer is simple. Wherever there are chemicals in the workplace and there is any potential for someone to be exposed a risk assessment is mandatory. By 'chemicals' this is not limited to just those which have been allocated a risk phrase or hazard statement - see regulation 2(1) para (e) of the COSHH regulations. Of course, many chemicals can quickly be excluded but even here caution is required. One of the most common causes of occupational contact dermatitis is wet work, i.e. excessive exposure to water. Dermatologists have long recognised water as a skin irritant. (If you don't believe me PM me with your e-mail and I will send you some documentation on this!). Incidentally wearing of occlusive gloves for any length of time is equivalent to wet work so would also need assessing.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I suggest the "step before COSHH" is often the decision on what to buy and bring into the workplace in the first place (by-products notwithstanding).
A COSHH Assessment IS a risk assessment, and it should be task based. There are many instances where no other assessment document is required.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Step before COSHH RA = buy safer products where possible as once this is done it helps go a long way to managing the area
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Rank: Super forum user
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Bob
May I add to your posting: "Design the workplace, equipment and materials used to minimise any risk of damage to health"
In my particular field I see new equipment that has been designed to prevent physical accidents but where it seems little or no attention has been paid to exposure to chemical hazards.
One client had had a new building constructed where the architect had paid no attention to how to get hazardous chemicals in to and out of the premises safely. The cost of modifying the building would have been significant, had we not been able to find an alternative way of operating not involving the chemicals.
Of course, no one had thought of involving the health and safety team at the planning stage, something that in my view should be standard practice, but in my experience seldom seems to occur.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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We have a system where chemicals are "reviewed/assessed" prior to purchase. It is not a COSHH Assessment, but enables us to consider various aspects before purchase! However, this is for Research & Development activities in chemical labs and deal with a few hundreds of chemicals. The rationale is that adequate thought has been given prior to purchase so that there is no "surprise" after it is delivered, stored, used, and finally disposed off (if relevant). The assumption is that there is no substitute available!
Some of the headings for assessment/review include:-
Intended use:
Intended use location:
Applicability of legislation banning/restricting its use, i.e REACH, Ozone depleting, Under Import-export controls, etc.
Intended storage location
Proposed supplier name:
State: solid, liquid, gas,
Pack size (ml, l, g, kg):
Hazard Group:
Risk Phrases/Hazard Statements:
Safety Phrases/Precutionary Statements:
What precautions for handling sealed packs?
Any special First Aid for accidental release: Re: pack size.
Storage requirements, including segregation:
Disposal requirements:
Containment and fire fighting:
Other information or comment:
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