Who Is Responsible for Carrying out a CoSHH Risk Assessment?

Who Is Responsible for Carrying out a CoSHH Risk Assessment

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CoSHH law requires that employers control hazardous substances in the workplace which can cause harm to health.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advise that hazards are identified and the risks to health stemming from the hazards are assessed.A CoSHH risk assessment looks for hazards and risks created by substances in the workplace.The HSE state that there are no particular qualifications required in order to complete a CoSHH risk assessment but the person must be competent.A competent person, in this instance, must have the relevant skills, knowledge and practical experience and training to be able to assess the risks arising from work activities involving substances which are deemed hazardous to health.A competent person needs to know how to:1)Understand hazard and risk2)Evaluate how the work can expose people to substances hazardous to health3)Collect all the relevant information4)Make the correct decisions in regard to controlling exposure.The competent person does not need to be an expert or consultant in CoSHH, but is usually an employee within the company. A group of employees could also make up a 'competent' team with each member concentrating on their own specialism. It is vital however, that the competent person realises their limitations and requests more expert advice externally, if required.It is the manager's responsibility to decide who will become the relevant CoSHH assessor in the workplace. No training courses exist which make a person 'competent' in CoSHH. There are however,a number of courses that cover the basic principles of a risk assessment. The work experience and training records of the possible competent candidates, should be examined by the manager before making a decision. It may even be necessary to appoint someone initially on a trial run.The minimum knowledge requirement is that the competent person should have a suitable understanding of the operations and substances being assessed.The main responsibility for the assessment and any controls implemented lies with the employer. Should legal action arise from the CoSHH risk assessment then this would usually be taken against the employer as opposed to the competent assessor.If the delegated person feels they cannot make an adequate assessment, then it is crucial that they explain this to their employer. However, if they are still expected to proceed with the assessment, then it is important that they make their reservations known and document this.

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