COSHH is the
symbol for control of substances hazardous to health. With this in mind, it is
a health and
safety initiative created to limit the risk posed by hazardous chemicals. COSHH
guidelines, which are set out by the government’s Health and Safety Executive, applicable to substances that have been identified
as corrosive, poisonous, irritant, harmful or toxic. These measures highlight
using a COSHH cabinet to store hazardous substances, particularly in places
such as schools or facilities for mentally disabled adults, where permitting
access to such products poses an additional risk to your health and wellbeing.
With this in
mind, in this blog, we run through some of the key things you need to know
about COSHH cabinet usage. Read on to discover more.
What is a COSHH Cabinet?
A COSHH
cabinet is created for the safe storage of hazardous substances. It is a
lockable reinforced cabinet that offers unauthorised persons from being able to
get to the dangerous chemicals stored inside. COSHH cabinets are created to be
leak-proof to stop spilled substances from seeping out of the cabinet or cause
contamination of the products inside.
COSHH
cabinets are utilised in a variety of places, including schools, hospitals,
science laboratories, factories and offices for the storage of cleaning
products or other hazardous materials that are required on site.
Keys to the cabinet are often placed in the
trust of employees who have the responsibility of ensuring that hazardous
materials are safely put away inside the locked cabinet when they are not being
used. Every workplace should have a clear and strictly enforced policy of
returning substances to the COSHH cabinet after usage. A COSHH cabinet should
never be left out unlocked while it is unattended, especially in environments
where vulnerable people or children, mentally disabled adults or animals could
access to the cabinet.
Storing Substances in a COSHH Cabinet
Substances
should be kept in the COSHH cabinet in accordance with their storage
instructions. Hazardous substances need to be stored in appropriate spill-proof
containers and not permitted to come into contact with each other if there is a
risk of a dangerous chemical reaction occurring between them. Substances which
are not required or that have expired should be disposed of according to
governmental regulations concerning the disposal of hazardous scenario. There
are regulations governing the amounts of specific substances that can be stored
in a single location. Workplace managers should use this as a reference to the
national HSG51 and DSEAR 2002 health and safety guidelines to understand more
about the storage of hazardous substances.
Here at
Racking & Shelving, we understand how important storage is. So, if you
require metal cabinets, COSHH cabinets or non-hazardous and hazardous storage
lockers, we provide high quality, reliable and durable products to keep
valuable, precarious or personal possessions protected and safe. If you’re
thinking about secure storage cabinets for your business but aren’t sure which
one will best suit your needs, get in touch
with our team of experts today on
028 9442 9037.
