Rank: Forum user 
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Hello
In my small brain I can simplify the process to I see a task that needs a risk assessment, if that task uses a substances hazardous to health I then complete a COSHH assessment too, I combine the info from the Risk Assessment and COSHH Assessment to create a Safe system of work (SSOW), and document (evidence / training) that the people doing the task are competent and understand to follow the SSOW. (Follow the heiracy of control and inform occupational health should industrial hygiene monitoring be required)
(Please critique if this is not the approach others take)
I have seen other company’s COSHH assess every chemical they have onsite including the likes of Tipex and standard household cleaning products, these assessments sit in a file on a shelf that no one ever looks at until there’s an accident, a new Safety Data Sheet has been produced or an auditor asks to look at them.
I can’t COSHH assess every task or hazardous substances in the business over 30 plus sites, yet I don’t trust the sites to be able to complete COSHH assessments to an acceptable standard (not their fault just because the competency and resource isn’t there)
In short I’m writing a policy for the business but can’t help feel that I’m setting sites up to fail. I’m agonising on how to put a workable COSHH strategy into place (with an under resourced or sufficiently trained staff) that can be successfully rolled out across the business, it really should be for site managers to worry about but I don’t work like that.
Unfortunately we have purchasing teams that don’t really liaise with safety and so I’m trying to put a system in place to prevent rogue substances entering the sites
How can I develop a strategy based on these deficiencies? It’s ok saying more resource, train people up ,or fill the gaps but it won’t happen so is it just destined to fail? Or are there easier systems of COSHH management out there that are less labour intensive Thoughts mosy welcome
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Rank: Super forum user
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Messey Your starting paragraph works for me (almost!). Nothing in the COSHH Regulations says that the risk assessment has to be on a piece of paper called "COSHH assessment". Nothing in the Manual Handling Regs says that the risk assessment has to be on a piece of paper called "Manual handling asessment" etc etc What you want is something that adequately assesses a package of risks, and realises that if you put in something to mitigate one type of risk it might elevate another, so you need solutions that cover the range of risks as a package - which you are doing in your Safe System of Work. Most of the time those actually doing the work are probably better placed to assess that package of risks than their managers and, DEFINITELY, the H&S bod! IFF they are given the training and confidence to take ownership - THEY don't want to get harmed or to harm those near them. The goal of the health and safety and etc etc bod should be ultimately to make their position redundant - will rarely happen as some new problem always comes up. So in terms of a "strategy" I think it should probably be upskilling EVERYONE at all levels so that they deal with H&S etc etc as an integral part of how work is done. Good luck, Peter
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 4 users thanked peter gotch for this useful post.
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