COSHH
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002, is a United Kingdom Statutory Instrument that states general requirements on employers and public bodies, such as universities to protect employees and other persons (such as students) from the hazards of substances used at work or in their place of study by risk assessment, control of exposure, health surveillance and incident planning. To determine all potential risks of chemicals, MSDS (Material Data Safety Sheet) which outlines all the risks and control measures that should be implemented.
The COSHH regulations also implement several European Union directives. COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. You can prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous substances by: (1) finding out what the health hazards are; (2) deciding how to prevent harm to health (risk assessment); (3) providing control measures to reduce harm to health; (4) making sure they are used; (5) keeping all control measures in good working order; (6) providing information, instruction and training for employees and others; (7) providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases; (8) planning for emergencies.
An essential part prior to carrying out any laboratory work or research is to gain approval from the local health and safety officers. This shows that you have the necessary health and safety procedures and precautions in place to reduce any risk to yourselves or other people, as well as ensuring that the work carried out is under ethical regulations. To do this, risk assessment, COSHH and ethics forms must be completed and approved prior to any work being carried out.
Risk Assessment
All identified tasks within the laboratory environment are assessed for risk and a “Risk assessment” document constructed, so that all staff working with the environment know about and hazards and how to deal with them. Dr. Bates made us aware of this and showed us how to fill in a risk assessment form before we did any laboratory work in order to minimise risk and reduce it down to the minimum possible level.
Luke and Sam signing COSHH forms
For the work taking place in our 2016 Summer Project, an EA1 and EA2 (ethics forms) needed to be submitted and gain approval from the local health and safety officers, as Corinne and Lee-Anne would be using the HL-60 cell line (Human promyelocytic leukemia cells).
The group found that learning how to complete these forms has given invaluable knowledge and experience which will be needed when working in a professional laboratory.
Completed, checked and signed COSHH forms using MSDS.