COSHH Hazard Symbols and Safety Precautions

COSHH Hazard Symbols and Safety Precautions

Overview of COSHH Regulations

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, it's crucial for everyone at the workplace to be familiar with safety measures to prevent harm from exposure to hazardous substances.

What do you already know about COSHH hazard symbols and safety precautions?

Description of Hazard Symbols

Hazard symbols such as Toxic/Very Toxic, Corrosive, Harmful, Irritant, Explosive, Oxidising, Highly Flammable, Extremely Flammable, and Dangerous to the Environment indicate the nature of the hazards presented by chemicals.

Safety Precautions for Hazardous Substances

Associated safety precautions may include the use of protective clothing, immediate washing after contact with skin or eyes, and measures to avoid inhalation or ingestion.

Transition to New Symbols in 2015

It's important to note that from 1st June 2015, new symbols will replace the old ones.

Definition List

COSHH: The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations which are designed to protect people at work against risks from hazardous substances
Hazard Symbol: A pictogram on a label that provides information about the specific dangers of a chemical
Toxic/Very Toxic: Indicates a substance that can pose serious health risks, including death upon inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact
Corrosive: Describes a substance that can destroy living tissue or cause burns upon contact
Harmful: Refers to a substance that can cause limited health risks
Irritant: A substance that may cause inflammation or irritation upon contact
Explosive: A substance that may explode under certain conditions
Oxidising: Describes a substance that can react with others, potentially causing damage or explosions
Highly Flammable: Indicates a substance that can easily catch fire in the presence of air
Extremely Flammable: Refers to a liquid that has a very low flash point and can ignite very easily
Dangerous to the Environment: A substance that poses an immediate or delayed risk to the environment
Protective Measures: Actions such as wearing protective gear or washing exposed areas to minimize the risk of harm from hazardous substances

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.