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Chemical hazards
Hazardous chemical substances can cause skin or eye irritations, respiratory problems, loss of consciousness,
poisoning and long term health problems such as cancers.
Tobacco smoke for example contains lots of chemicals that can have serious health effects even when its inhaled
passively. Smoke in an enclosed workplace can therefore be regarded as air pollution and a risk to employees' health.
Based on evidence of the harm that can result from passive smoking, the Independant Scientific Committee in the UK have advised that all enclosed workplaces must be non-smoking areas.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
The COSHH regulations set out standards for working with hazardous substances, which all employers
must comply with. Hazardous substances can be materials used in
production or work activities like solvents, paints and cleaning agents. They can also be substances
generated by work, such as dust, fumes or other waste materials.
Commercially supplied chemicals which fall under the COSHH requirements have to be labelled properly to meet with the
Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994.
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