The COSHH Regulations 2005

The Control of Substances Hazardous To Health Regulations (COSHH) requires by law, employers to control exposure to hazardous substances to prevent ill health. Hazardous substances may be:

• Classified as such under the Chemicals Regulations 2002
• Substances with workplace exposure limits as listed in EH40 (HSE)
• Biological agents
• Dusts where air concentrations exceed levels specified in COSHH

Monitoring of Airborne Hazardous Substances

All hazardous substances must be assessed for risk to human health. Monitoring of airborne substances is required where:

1. there could be serious risk to health if control measures failed or deteriorated
2. exposure limits may be exceeded
3. control measures might not be working efficiently

Cirrus Environmental Solutions Ltd has considerable experience in the field of air quality monitoring and assessment. Our staff are qualified to undertake COSHH compliance monitoring and assessment, and are able to provide the following services:

• Determination of employee exposure to airborne contaminants
• Measurement of ambient levels of airborne contaminants
• Pinpointing hot spots and assessing significant sources of contaminants
• Evaluation of potential risk to human health
• Assessment of efficiency of engineering (local exhaust ventilation) and process control measures
• Investigation of specific air quality issues or concerns

Using a combination of traditional analytical and real time instrumental monitoring techniques, we are able to compare personal exposures with both long and short-term exposure limits as specified in HSE, ACGHIH, OSHA, NIOSH publications. From this we can assess the level of compliance with COSHH. Our state of the art equipment allows us to measure:

• total inhalable, thoracic and respirable dust
• DEEE’s (diesel engine exhaust emissions)
• lead or other heavy metals
• respirable fibre
• acid mists
• combustion gases
• explosive gases
• organic vapours
• bacterial loading (air borne microbes)

Our interpretive reports not only discuss the findings from monitoring and thorough site observations, but give full recommendations on remedial actions where required. Should we encounter any air quality issues on site, we are confident that we can offer a sensible and practical solution, every time.