Effective School Management

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
The COSHH regulations date from 1988 and concern substances such as
solvents, cleaning fluids, paints, chemicals and even Tipp-Ex. Various objects
containing such substances (e.g. permanent marker pens) are included.
It is a legal requirement that a written ‘risk assessment’ should be pre-
pared for any such substance that is used on school premises. The Health and
Safety Executive suggests that an assessment should involve the following
questions:
(1) What substances are present? In what form?
(2) What harmful effects are possible?
(3) Where and how are the substances actually used or handled?
(4) What harmful substances are given off, etc.?
(NB Use a rating scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) where appropriate)
Location
Hazard
Possible or known consequences – and to whom
Risk
• Frequency rating
• Seriousness rating
Existing controls
Suggested further action(s)
Resources needed and cost
Figure 12.1
Risk assessment

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EFFECTIVE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT
(5) Who could be affected, to what extent and for how long?
(6) Under what circumstances?
(7) How likely is it that exposure will happen?
(8) What precautions need to be taken to comply with the rest of the COSHH
regulations?
We would also suggest that the assessment should include the immediate
action to be taken in case of an accident involving the substance.
The best way of dealing with hazardous substances is, of course, to
exclude them or replace them by a non-hazardous alternative.