Dangerous materials and hazardous substances

Our policies and guidance help to protect against exposure to hazardous chemicals and substances commonly used in workplaces that can have short and long-term health effects.

This information includes: 

• asbestos management  
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 
• gas safety 
• oxygen in the workplace 

Asbestos management 

Asbestos management policy 

Asbestos kills 5,000 (five thousand) people every year. Any building built before the year 2000 is likely to contain asbestos. The asbestos management policy provides all the information premises managers need to make sure any asbestos in their buildings do not affect the health of their staff or visitors. 

Asbestos Management Policy (HSP 9.17) (DOCX, 369KB)  

We recommend that companies carrying out asbestos surveys should not be asbestos removal companies or have links to asbestos removal contractors due to a potential conflict of interest.  

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations cover many substances but not lead, asbestos or radioactive substances. These substances have their own specific regulations. 

Hazardous substances enter the body through inhalation, absorption, ingestion or injection. They include biological agents such as legionella. Some substances used in the workplace could cause harm to your health.  Line managers must ensure a COSHH risk assessment is undertaken for those substances. 

A Safety Data Sheet is not a COSHH assessment. A COSHH assessment can only be undertaken when a COSHH assessor considers: 

• how the substance is used 
• how often 
• in what form (liquid, gas or solid) and  
• in what quantities 

Once identified as hazardous, your line manager must remove the substance or reduce the risks arising from it. 

You can find more COSHH information on the HSE website. 

COSHH policy, guidance and forms 

Alongside the HSE information, our COSHH policy and guidance provides further details on how to protect our employees from hazardous substances at work and to comply with the duties.  

It includes: 

• detailed guidance 
• responsibilities  
• COSHH risk assessment form and flow chart 
• COSHH inventory form 
• Line manager health surveillance assessment form 

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) (HSP 9.02) (DOCX, 699KB)

CoSHH Risk assessment form (HSF 019) (DOCX, 191KB)

Gas safety 

The gas safety policy helps to make sure that the use, selection, installation and maintenance of gas systems and equipment in the council are as safe as possible in compliance with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. 

Gas Safety Policy (HSP 9.35) (PDF, 349KB) 

Oxygen in the workplace 

The purpose of this policy is to define the responsibilities, and set the standards, for the storage, use and transport of oxygen in the relatively small quantities likely in many council workplaces and as part of the council's undertaking.

It is also intended to be suitable for schools and social care settings where oxygen may be needed for people with breathing difficulties. 

Oxygen in the Workplace (HSP 9.45) (DOCX, 700KB)