What is a COSHH data sheet ...?
Do you mean a material safety data sheet? Or a COSHH assessment? Or something else?

COSHH Data Sheet = COSHH Assessment...... thought that was pretty self explanatory?

Now now children. Kate, I think you splitting hairs. This is a professional forum to discuss matters of Health & Safety etc. Not to instigate arguments or try and make a point.

Now - back to the original post..

Jason - Regulation (6) of the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulations state that the assessment of the risk to health must be reviewed regularly and promptly.

But it doesn't specify time scales... I’m sure someone will come along with a more detailed response..

Welcome to the forum and don't be put off by some people.

Thank you for the help........ Luke.

Material safety data sheets are produced under CHIP and may not tell you want you need to know to assess the use of the substance under COSHH. I have recently been sent an MSDS for MDF and it states that there is no risk from the material. This is correct as long as it is not cut, sanded, etc as the main risk would be dropping the 8 x 4 sheet on your feet. However, a COSHH assessment would be required if the material is to be cut, shaped, sanded and so on; in that event, the MSDS is of limited use.

LB

Im currently dealing with occupational health and hygiene issues of a group action case. I can't give details of course, but one major failing by the defendant was to have COSHH assessments that a) identified the main risks, each in just a couple of words and b) stated that they had the MSDS for the products concerned. But that was it. No consideration of what they were doing with the materials in question, or of the new and greatly magnified risks that that had created.

These COSHH assessments were each duly signed and circulated, and no doubt filed - they found them several years later in the hope it would bolster their defence. Each year, a new copy was prepared and/or countersigned with a date of update though the information remained unchanged. No other action was taken. They had copied a few words from a series of MSDS onto their own forms and that was that!

Perhaps not surprisingly, a lot of people became ill and this error in managing substances hazardous to health and their duty to perform COSHH assessments may contribute substantially to the defendants downfall.

A key part of a proper COSHH Assessment review will be to consider if a safer product or method is available on the market. I seem to recall an older version of the COSHH Regs stipulating a 5 year interval in that regard.
Best practice though is an annual review of any Risk Assessment. Question then arises as to what constitutes a 'proper' review.
MSDS (where the are required under CHIP) are the responsibility of the supplier. All you can do is ask if the Sheet is still current. Some good suppliers now maintain MSDS via their websites.