Chemical Occupational Exposure Regulation

1. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 

A generic risk assessment scheme was developed by a subgroup of Health Safety and Environment (“HSE”)’s former Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (“ACTS”). The scheme provides a practical route for selecting an appropriate generic control approach. The generic risk assessment takes account of the chemical or product’s health hazard classification and the exposure potential. It brings forth a simple control banding approach to identify suitable options for mitigating risks from substances hazardous to health.    

The factors used in the risk assessment to identify appropriate control approach (can be put in a chart/schema):

• The health hazard is represented by the Hazard (H) statements assigned to substances during classification by suppliers under CLP.
• The exposure potential is represented by physical properties of the substances (dustiness for solids, volatility for liquids) and the amount used in an operation or process.

⇢ Both health hazard and exposure potential are combined to determine the degree of control needed.

2. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (OSHA)

Directive 2019/1831 - indicative occupational exposure limit values

3. Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH)

The Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) assists the European Commission in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of activities in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH) and facilitates cooperation between national administrations, trade unions and employers' organisations.

4. Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL)

The Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) evaluates the potential health effects of occupational exposure to chemicals.

From 2019, the scientific evaluation of the relationship between the health effects of hazardous chemical agents and the level of occupational exposure is conducted by the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Methodology for derivation of occupational exposure limits of chemical agents - The General Decision-Making Framework of the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) 2017

5. Occupational exposure limits (OEL) (add link to send to the section in website)