COSHH(NI): A brief guide to the
Regulations
What you need to know about the Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2003 (COSHH(NI))
1
COSHH(NI): A brief guide to the Regulations
2
This booklet is written mainly for employers to help
them meet their specific duties under COSHH(NI).
It will also be useful to safety representatives,
health and safety professionals and anyone
interested in health and safety issues.
COSHH(NI): A brief guide to the Regulations
Why COSHH(NI) matters
Using chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can put people’s
health at risk, so the law requires employers to control exposure to
hazardous substances to prevent ill health. They have to protect both
employees and others who may be exposed by complying with the Control
of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2003 (“COSHH(N.I.)”) (as
amended).
COSHH(NI) is a useful tool of good management which sets eight basic
measures that employers, and sometimes employees, must take. These
are set out in this leaflet with a simple step-by-step approach which will
help you to assess risks, implement any measures needed to control
exposure and establish good working practices.
If you as an employer fail to control hazardous substances adequately,
your employees or others may become ill. Effects from hazardous
substances range from mild eye irritation to chronic lung disease or, on
occasions, death. This may:
● result in lost productivity to your business;
● leave you liable to enforcement action, including prosecution under
COSHH(NI);
● result in civil claims from your employees.
There can be positive benefits to your business from carefully following
through the requirements of COSHH(NI):
● improved productivity as a result of using more effective controls
(e.g. less use of raw material);
● improved employee morale;
● better employee understanding and compliance with health and
safety requirements.
Details of all publications mentioned in this leaflet may be fo