Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

6.4 
Controlling health risks
6.4.1 Types of health risk
The principles of control for health risks are the same 
as those for safety. However, the nature of health risks 
can make the link between work activities and employee 
ill-health less obvious than in the case of injury from an 
accident.
The COSHH Amendment Regulations 2005 sets out 
the principles of control (see box).
Figure 6.6 shows a route map for achieving 
adequate control.
Unlike safety risks, which can lead to immediate 
injury, the results of daily exposure to health risks may 
not manifest itself for months, years and, in some cases, 
decades. Irreversible health damage may occur before 
any symptoms are apparent. It is, therefore, essential 
to develop a preventive strategy to identify and control 
risks before anyone is exposed to them.
Risks to health from work activities include:
➤
skin contact with irritant substances, leading to derma-
titis etc.
➤
inhalation of respiratory sensitizers, triggering 
immune responses such as asthma
➤
badly designed workstations requiring awkward body 
postures or repetitive movements, resulting in upper 
limb disorders, repetitive strain injury and other mus-
culoskeletal conditions
➤
noise levels which are too high, causing deafness 
and conditions, such as tinnitus
➤
too much vibration, for example, from hand-held 
tools leading to hand – arm vibration syndrome and 
circulatory problems
Figure 6.5
Health risk – checking on the contents.
Principles of good practice for the control 
of exposure to substances hazardous to 
health
(a) Design and operate processes and 
activities to minimize emission, release 
and spread of substances hazardous to 
health.
(b) Take into account all relevant routes of 
exposure – inhalation, skin absorption 
and ingestion – when developing control 
measures.
(c) Control exposure by measures that are 
proportionate to the health risk.
(d) Choose the most effective and reli-
able control options which minimize the 
escape and spread of substances haz-
ardous to health.
(e) Where adequate control of exposure 
cannot be achieved by other means, pro-
vide, in combination with other control 
measures, suitable personal protective 
equipment.
(f) Check and review regularly all elements 
of control measures for their continuing 
effectiveness.
(g) Inform and train all employees on the 
hazards and risks from the substances 
with which they work and the use of con-
trol measures developed to minimize the 
risks.
(h) Ensure that the introductin of control 
measures does not increase the overall 
risk to health and safety.

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