COSHH

The Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health, or COSHH for short. A variety of chemicals are used in food businesses to keep the premises hygienic and the food safe. From surface sanitisers to floor cleaning degreasers, they are all an essential part of the business. It is the responsibility of business operators to ensure that these chemicals do not cause harm to those using them or the general public. A COSHH assessment may seek to determine the following - 

• Do the chemicals have any hazardous properties? For example, they may be toxic when inhaled, flammable, or an irritant to skin.
• What is the intended purpose of the chemical?
• What actions should be taken in the event of an emergency?
• What training is required to use the chemical safely?
• How should the chemical be safely stored?
• If the chemical is an environmental hazard, how should it be disposed?
• Are the risks of the chemical sufficiently controlled?

All the information required for a COSHH assessment should be found on the product's data sheet. This can normally be acquired from the place you bought the chemical, or from the manufacturer directly. Some of the required information will be on the product label. Some businesses will file the data sheet alone, but completing a full COSHH assessment demonstrates the risks have really been considered and controlled.