Rank: New forum user 
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Hi all, Recently passed my General Cert this year and I am looking to further my knowledge beyond the basics and currently struggling with COSHH Assessments, I have carried out many of these and completed basic assessments however now I want to ensure I am getting the most out of my assessments and ensuring they are completed correctly. Currently my struggle is with WELS and Disposal. Does anyone know of an In depth explanation or training course into COSHH? I understand what WELs are however I don’t understand what I can do to actually monitor the exposure and work out the PPM or mg/m3 to ensure that employees are not being exposed above the WELs and all the calculators do not explain where to find the information just how the formula works. For disposal I find the "Comply with local regulations for disposal" very unhelpful is there something I can refer to that gives an answer on if something needs to be disposed of via a waste carrier or if it can go in the general waste? Am I over thinking these parts of the COSHH assessment and there is a very simple answer to them? Would love to hear any advice or recomendations on resources/training courses out there and happy to put the leg work into my own research but currently all my searches are not providing a conclusive answer for me. Thank you
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I can't recommend a training course as all the COSHH courses I have either been on or heard about have been rubbish. But I can give you some pointers.
To monitor exposure (if it is worth while to do so) you engage the services of an occupational hygienist, who will undertake measurements in the workplace. For example, a worker may be asked to wear a pump and filter as they go about their tasks. The pump forces air through the filter which collects contaminants. The contents of the filter are analysed in a lab. From this the exposure to the contaminant can be calculated and compared with the WEL. Obviously this is an elaborate and costly exercise and in most workplaces it won't happen. Generally you would instead follow good practices that have already been established to give adequate control. Manufacturers are now supposed to supply "extended Safety Data Sheets" which after the first 16 sections that you will have seen before have some "Exposure scenarios". These are like little COSHH assessments in themselves that describe a particular way of working with the substance. Importantly, actual measurements have been undertaken in these scenarios showing that the controls are adequate. So if you are working in the same way or in a less exposed way, you can be confident that the controls are adequate. It's quite rare though to actually see an extended SDS.
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 1 user thanked Kate for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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You are right that SDS are totally unhelpful about waste disposal. If you are in England, the guidance on waste classification is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-classification-technical-guidance
If you are elsewhere, then better to look at your national government website. Waste classification is complicated and it's often useful to get a specialist in to advise you. Waste disposal companies often provide this as part of their service.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Originally Posted by: ssmith26  I find the "Comply with local regulations for disposal" very unhelpful is there something I can refer to that gives an answer on if something needs to be disposed of via a waste carrier or if it can go in the general waste?
Kate has already pointed out the better waste disposal companies can help. The terminology is unfortunately common as most SDS authoring packages use consistent phrases to enable them to generate output in multiple market languages (correctly technicallly translated) for the same product whilst at the same time trying to deal with differing occupational health (WEL) and waste rules. As rule of thumb there is very little material accompanied by a Safety Data Sheet that can go in "General Waste" even something as benign as a water based emulsion paint is not suitable for UK domestic disposal routes (the local tip having a special cage for waste paints). The EU did ask companies to state the European Waste Code in Section 13 - very few, even in the target Construction products group have.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: ssmith26 I find the "Comply with local regulations for disposal" very unhelpful is there something I can refer to that gives an answer on if something needs to be disposed of via a waste carrier or if it can go in the general waste?
Kate has already pointed out the better waste disposal companies can help. The terminology is unfortunately common as most SDS authoring packages use consistent phrases to enable them to generate output in multiple market languages (correctly technicallly translated) for the same product whilst at the same time trying to deal with differing occupational health (WEL) and waste rules. As rule of thumb there is very little material accompanied by a Safety Data Sheet that can go in "General Waste" even something as benign as a water based emulsion paint is not suitable for UK domestic disposal routes (the local tip having a special cage for waste paints). The EU did ask companies to state the European Waste Code in Section 13 - very few, even in the target Construction products group have.
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Rank: Super forum user
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sorry...I have been trying to acces the site for a couple of weeks now...but yeah I'm back... The more in depth parts that you are looking for would be more industrial hygiene than straight forward COSHH assessment...there are calculations and assessments for the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of any product and how that can potentially impact the environment on disposal... I will try and post a link...
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Ssmith It all depends on the level of COSHH that you are expected to get involved with: there is a massive difference between the sport of COSHH risk assessment that lab synthesising a novel substance and a cleaner preparing a cleaning solution need to produce. As Kate said most COSHH training is poor to really poor, and does not provide people with the understanding they need to do the necessary risk assessments. The British Safety Council used to do a course, which was ok ( and I used to deliver it in the past) but I am not nor sure what is out there right now. Nowadays, I tend to do my own thing and tailor it to the group I am working with.
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Rank: New forum user
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Thank you all. You have helped explain this a little better and given me confidence in knowing that what I had been doing was correct and also guided me where needed.
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