Which Hazardous Substance Does COSHH Not Cover?

Are you wondering about which hazardous substance does COSHH not cover? In our helpful guide, you will get all the useful information about asbestos, lead, and radioactive materials that are not covered by COSHH.

COSHH is a set of rules and guidelines designed to help employers and workers manage the use of these dangerous substances. Chemicals, fumes, vapours, nanoparticles, and many other hazardous substances are covered under COSHH. It does not, however, cover things like lead, asbestos, radioactive materials, explosives, etc.

It is essential to uphold laws governing the use of dangerous substances to safeguard everyone’s health and safety at work. This section will teach us about the extremely hazardous substances that are not covered by COSHH.

What Is a Hazardous Substance?

A hazardous substance is any material or chemical that has toxic, corrosive, flammable, explosive, oxidising, and dangerous properties and is harmful to human health and the environment. Millions of people work in places where hazardous substances are present and used frequently. 

Hazardous substances can be found across various industries, such as

• In primary production, agrichemicals are used on a regular basis
• In the transportation business, fuels are used to run vehicles and transport fleets
• In mining and quarrying, explosives and other flammable substances are used
• In manufacturing, solvents and other harmful chemicals are used regularly
• Cleaning solutions in food production and speciality chemicals in research and development are also used on a daily basis

Have you heard about the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990? According to this act, all hazardous substances in the workplace must have permits or approvals. These hazardous substances cannot be used without adhering to the health and safety regulations at work. 

Types of Hazardous Substances

Hazardous substances are commonly found in the workplace. These substances can be in different forms, such as solid, liquid, or gas. Occupational exposure to harmful substances can cause serious harm and damage to human health and the environment.

Research on hazardous substances in the workplace has shown that around 600-900 people prematurely die every year due to exposure to hazardous substances. 

There are many types of hazardous substances found in the workplace. Let’s take a glance at some of these:

Toxic Substances

Toxic substances have properties that can cause severe damage to the human body regardless of the quantity. The symbol for toxic substances is a skull and crossbones.

Corrosive Substances

Corrosive substances are some of the most dangerous substances that can damage living tissue on contact. These substances must be used carefully. The symbol for corrosive substances is a hand, and chemicals from a test tube are spilt on the hand.

Flammable Substances

Flammable substances can create flammable gases in contact with water. Flammable chemicals can blow up on contact with air or a small ignition source. Some examples of them are alcohol, gasoline, wood, paper, acetone, perfume, and aerosol products. The symbol of flammable substances is an open fire.

Oxidising Substances

Oxidising materials can cause a serious reaction when exposed to dangerous chemicals. These substances are mainly risky during the preparation, processing, or creation. The symbol for representing oxidising substances is an open fire over a circle.

Explosive Substances

An explosive substance is a solid or liquid substance, or a mixture of both, which in itself is capable of producing gases, which cause a fatal reaction when exposed to high heat or temperature. 

Explosive substances are mainly produced by using explosive chemicals, such as Nitrocellulose, Di- and Tri-nitro compounds, peroxide-forming compounds, Picric acid (dry), Benzoyl peroxide (dry), etc.

Health Hazard and Serious Health Hazard

Substances that are hazardous to health can cause damage to the human body, such as respiratory diseases, irritation, dizziness, nausea, or allergic reactions. 

Serious health hazards can cause internal damage to the human body and lead to organ damage, chronic illnesses, cancer, genetic defects, or even death. Serious health hazard signs/symbols are shown with an exclamation mark. 

Harmful to the Environment

Hazardous substances that cause fatal damage to the environment must be used under the Health and Safety and Environmental Acts. The symbol of these damaging substances is a tree and a dead fish. Some examples of environmentally hazardous substances are solvents, pesticides, and radioactive substances.

What Does COSHH Do? 

COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) is a set of regulations established to protect workers from workplace hazards that can cause serious damage to them and the environment.  

COSHH controls the exposure of workers to hazardous substances and ensures their physical well-being. The substances can be in any form of hazardous materials, such as:

• Solids
• Liquids
• Gases, Vapours, or Fumes
• Dust, Mists
• Fibres
• Microparticles/Nanoparticles
• Biological agents like bacteria, viruses, etc. 

Violating any of the COSHH regulations by an employer or employee is a punishable act and is considered a crime. One of the primary duties of a health and safety officer is to ensure the adherence of everyone to health and safety regulations at work.

How Do Hazardous Substances Enter the Body

Before you know about the harmful effects of hazardous substances and what happens when you get exposed to them, you have to know how these substances can enter your body. These dangerous materials can cause both internal and external damage to your body.

There are four ways in which hazardous substances can enter your body. Let’s get some details on them:

Inhalation

Breathing or inhaling in an environment full of dust, polluted air, fumes, or harmful gases, contaminated materials can cause harm to your internal organs. It can cause lung infection, bacterial pneumonia, or restrictive lung disease.

Ingestion 

Swallowing or eating contaminated food, water, or any other material can cause severe damage to your internal and external organs. Respiratory disease, skin disease, allergies, infections, etc., can be the negative outcomes of this.

Absorption

Direct eye or skin absorption is another way these hazardous substances enter your body. When you come in direct contact with contaminated soil, water, or any other substances, it can cause fatal injuries or illnesses. This can also bring damage to both your internal and external organs.

Injection

Skin penetration by contaminated objects is one of the most dangerous exposures to hazardous substances. We can see a variety of substance abuses in today’s world. These hazardous substances, also known as drugs, can cause many health-altering diseases like cancer, chronic illness, or even death.

Which Hazardous Substance Does COSHH Not Cover? 

COSHH covers a wide range of hazardous substances that cause serious damage to human health and the environment. Some extremely hazardous substances are not covered by COSHH, such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive substances. These are the three primary areas.

They are equally dangerous and bring fatal damage to human health and the environment.

Here, we can get a full comprehension of these three hazardous substances that COSHH does not cover.

1. Asbestos: Its Risks, Types, and Impacts

Asbestos is not covered by COSHH. The potential risk of asbestos is the chance of getting chronic illnesses. Some of the fatal diseases are lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of the pleura), and asbestosis. It happens through the inhalation of fibres or particles roaming in the air. 

Asbestos is the leading cause of workplace deaths in the United Kingdom. Millions of people work in places where asbestos is used for heat resistance. The fibres of asbestos are pervasive in the environment and cause potential risk to human health and the environment.

There are mainly six types of asbestos that are found in the workplace. These include:

• Chrysotile
• Amosite
• Crocidolite
• Anthophyllite
• Actinolite
• Tremolite

Asbestos has severe consequences on human health and the environment as well. It pollutes the air and makes it an unsafe work environment for everyone. Bringing asbestos under COSHH needs to be considered immediately.

You can also learn about asbestos, its risks, and how to mitigate such risks. It can also help raise awareness among workers who work with asbestos. Asbestos Awareness online courses have categories A and B asbestos awareness training for workplaces to prevent hazards.

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2. Lead: Its Risks, Types, and Impacts

Another hazardous substance is lead, which is not covered by COSHH. Lead can be found in various forms in the workplace. Workers can inhale (dust, fumes, vapours), ingest (paint, powder, paste), or absorb through skin (alkyls, naphthenate). 

According to the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), employers in every workplace that uses lead need to limit its exposure. When using lead, the workplace executive must adhere to the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). Lead can cause fatal diseases, such as noncommunicable diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and respiratory diseases.

There are several types of leads, such as

• Organic and inorganic lead compounds like lead oxides (PbO and PbO₂), lead carbonates (PbCO₃), lead sulfides (PbS), lead sulfates (PbSO₄), lead acetates (Pb(CH₃COO)₂), etc.
• Lead metals in powder or various purities
• Organolead compounds like tetraethyl lead.

Lead poisoning is a severe health condition that occurs when lead builds up in the body. It can cause permanent damage to the body. Bringing lead as a hazardous substance under COSHH for them to cover should be taken into consideration.

3. Radioactive Substances: Risks, Types, and Impacts

Radioactive substances are materials that consist of unstable isotopes, which continuously release energy by ionising radiation. Some of the most hazardous radioactive substances are Cobalt, Uranium, Thorium, etc. When exposed to these materials, it can cause severe damage to both internal and external organs. These are also severely harmful to the environment.

It can lead to organ failures, cancer, and other long-term diseases over the years. Using radioactive substances in the workplace requires a limitation permit. Employers need to limit the use of these materials and workers’ exposure to them.

Various types of radioactive substances include,

• Naturally occurring radioactive substances like Uranium, Thorium, etc.
• Human-made radioactive substances are produced in particle accelerators or reactors
• Based on the type of radiation they emit, they are classified as Alpha and Beta particles, Gamma Rays, and Neutrons.

Other uncovered substances include,

• Simple Asphyxiants, although they can cause unconsciousness
• Substances with explosive or flammable properties
• Biological agents that are not work-related, such as pneumonia, flu, etc.
• Substances exposed to high temperatures

A vital component of any work life is workplace health and safety. Asbestos, lead, and radioactive materials pose serious risks to both the environment and human health. Exposure to other substances, such as explosives, simple asphyxiants, etc., can also be harmful. COSHH should take drastic measures to cover these dangerous substances as well.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Asbestos, lead, and radioactive materials are hazardous substances that could cause great damage to living beings and the environment. The use of these substances at work should have limited permits, and the people in the workplace should use them with careful consideration.

Nowadays, everyone is conscious about having a healthy and safe work environment. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) covers a wide range of hazardous substances except asbestos, lead, and radioactive substances. Having a proper license or permit to use these substances in the workplace should be taken seriously.

Being fully informed about which hazardous substance does COSHH not cover can be of great help, particularly in protecting the health of employers and employees. It can also protect against severe environmental damage.