| Reviewed by: | Suzanne Deadman: 29 04 2025 |
| Ratified by: | Resources Committee, 05 06 2025 |
| Next Review: | Summer 2027 |
Contents
What is a Hazardous Substance?
Substances classified as harmful, irritant, toxic, very toxic and corrosive, such substances will carry the pictograms detailed below.
Premises staff and cleaning staff are also likely to contain such substances within their stores.
Risk Assessment
There are 8 steps you need to go through for hazardous substances
- Step 1 assess the risks
- Step 2 decide what precautions are needed
- Step 3 prevent or adequately control exposure
- Step 4 ensure that control measures are used and maintained
- Step 5 Monitor the exposure (where necessary)
- Step 6 Carry out appropriate health surveillance (where necessary)
- Step 7 prepare plans to deal with accident incidents, and emergencies
- Step 8 ensure employees are properly informed, trained and supervised.
Responsibilities
The Head teacher has overall responsibility for compliance with COSHH and to:
- ensure that assessments have been carried out for substances hazardous to health within the school.
- Ensure the findings of these assessments should where necessary be acted upon and information, training and supervision provided as necessary to premises staff and other relevant staff identified in the assessment.
- Ensure that any equipment used to control the risk from hazardous substances are adequately maintained in an efficient condition.
- Ensure that “at risk staff” are informed of any risks they may be exposed to and the control measures in place to reduce them.
- Ensure that health surveillance is carried out and in particular, for substances that may cause occupational asthma are completed and checks made for skin and dermatitis
Separate risk assessments are required for legionella control within schools.
The Premises Officer is responsible for:
- Keeping COSHH assessments up to date, obtaining data sheets for any new hazardous substances and for carrying out an assessment for any substances within their control. Also, that any such information be made available to relevant personnel where they may be affected by risks (e.g. contractors, service engineers and own staff).
- Attending any health and safety training identified for them and comply with any health and safety arrangements including wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) where deemed necessary.
- Undertaking inspections to ensure school staff are not bringing into school any chemicals that have not been authorised
Cleaners are responsible for:
- Ensuring access doors are locked when not in use so that children cannot access any hazardous substances.
- Ensuring they are aware of the hazards connected to the use, storage, mixing of any chemicals they work with.
- Attending any health and safety training identified for them.
- Complying with any health and safety arrangements put in place for example provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Contract cleaners should:
- Carry out their own risk assessments, but the school should be provided with a copy to ensure that risks are adequately controlled to their own staff and pupils, visitors, contractors etc.
- Ensure access doors are locked when not in use so that children cannot access any hazardous substances.
- Ensure appropriate warning signage must be in place when undertaking cleaning duties to warn others of any hazards.
Employees should:
- Inform the head of school / premises officer of any defects with equipment used to control exposure to hazardous substances, and of any symptoms they may be experiencing using hazardous substances.
- NOT bring in to school any chemicals from home without authorisation from the Head Teacher / Premises Officer
- Co-operate with monitoring and health surveillance that is required of them.
Carrying out a COSHH assessment:
A number of hazardous substances are used within the school, but provided adequate precautions are taken the risks will be adequately controlled.
Suppliers will always provide Safety Data Sheets for hazardous products. Always check whether there is a safer alternative on the market. You should only keep COSHH assessments if you are using or storing the products concerned. Details of any safe system of work and manufacturers’ instructions will also need to be included.
General advice regarding cleaning products:
- COSHH assessment sheets should be completed using the template available.
- New products should not be used until a COSHH assessment has been carried out. Read all product labels carefully before use.
- When purchasing select the least hazardous substance available.
- Never mix chemicals except in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions. N.B. Bleach (and other chlorine-based products) releases chlorine gas when mixed with acid-based products. Chlorine gas can be lethal.
- Add cleaning product to water NOT the other way around.
- Ensure there is adequate ventilation at all times during cleaning.
- Before using substances like floor strippers, floor sealers, and products containing solvents check the ventilation requirements and ensure there is adequate ventilation.
- For all products consider what steps are necessary to protect others (especially pupils) e.g. keeping pupils away from an area being treated.
- Cover any cuts and abrasions with suitable medical dressings.
- Some products (e.g. polish strippers, concentrated disinfectants) can be irritating to the skin and cause chemical burns. Ensure the correct protective clothing is used.
- A number of products can lead to dermatitis; protective gloves or other PPE identified by COSHH assessment should be worn and any problems reported immediately.
- Eye protection to relevant British Standards or European standard should be worn whenever there is a risk of a chemical hazard to the eyes (e.g. splashing). Check the safety data sheets for information. Assess when splashing could occur (e.g. when decanting or pouring concentrated solutions – reduce the hazard where possible by having a less concentrated product).
- Ensure PPE is well maintained and replace as necessary.
- After treating floors etc. continue to provide ventilation until the floor is dry.
- Display all warning signs correctly.
- Replace the cap after use. Clean all equipment after use.
- Premises Officer/ cleaners should be aware of first aid provision available
- Ensure there is a correctly stocked first aid kit available.
- Report any accidents / incidents or near misses promptly. Staff should report any symptoms such as dermatitis etc. to the Head teacher.
- All containers of hazardous substances must be properly labelled (this includes the small hand sprays used for cleaning products – suitable labels are available from most suppliers). Food containers should not be used.
- When storing chemicals ensure those that could react are kept away from each other (e.g. keep bleach away from acid cleaners).
- Store products safely and neatly at all times.
Premises Officer’s /cleaner’s cupboards etc. must be locked at all times whilst pupils are present in the school.
Classroom Substances
Substances such as fixative and spray glue / paint should not be used in confined areas and preferably outside. It is preferred to use the substances outside normal school hours or when children are not in the classroom.
Classroom substances should be locked away / kept out of children’s reach when not in use. Teaching staff must report any accidents / incidents immediately.
Trained COSHH Assessor
The Premises Officer is the Schools trained COSHH Assessor
Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed by the resources committee every two years, or sooner if required.
Further information
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
HSE: Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)