MoD Health & Safety Handbook 

JSP 375 Vol 2 

LEAFLET 5 ANNEX F 

MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES INC. LEAD & ASBESTOS 

CONTENTS 

Para 

ASSESSMENT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES 

 1  Introduction 

  The 

assessment 

 3 

The 

assessor 

  6 

The aim of a risk assessment 

 10 

Identifying processes 

  13 

Gather information on the substances 

  20 

What information should be recorded? 

 21 

Administration / location 

 22 

Process 

 28 

Substances 

 38 

Controls 

  Evaluating 

the 

information 

 48 

Risk 

  55 

In this case the risks to health are very serious 

 68 

Conclusions and Recommendations 

  70 

Conclusion 1   The risks are insignificant now and it is not reasonably foreseeable that they 

could increase in the future 

  71 

Conclusion 2   the risks are high now and not adequately controlled 

  74 

Conclusion 3   the risks are controlled now but could foreseeably become higher in the future 

  75 

Conclusion 4   Uncertain about the risks, nature of the hazard is known but uncertain about 

the degree or extent of exposure 

  76 

Conclusion 5   cannot decide about the risks. not enough information 

 80 

Review 

 86 

Bibliography 

Table 

Page 

1 Control 

Measures............................................................................................................................ 6 

Appendix 

1 COSHH 

Assessment 

Form 

2  Evaluating the Risk to Health   Flowchart 

ASSESSMENT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES 

INTRODUCTION 

1 

This Guidance is intended to help line managers assess and manage the risks associated with the 

use of hazardous substances In this context, hazardous substances include lead and asbestos as well 

as substances covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH).  This 

guidance is not a substitute for proper training in undertaking risk assessments for substances 

hazardous to health.  If your job requires you to undertake an assessment, you must seek advice from 

your Establishment or Unit Safety Adviser about where to get the necessary training. 

2 

Additional information and guidance specifically on the Regulations is provided in the Approved 

Codes of Practice (ACOP) to the COSHH Regulations, the Control of Lead at Work Regulations (CLAW) 

and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR)  [A Step by Step Guide  to COSHH 

Assessment (HSG97), and COSHH Essentials are also useful].  Details are at the end of this guidance. 

Leaflet 5 Annex F 

April 2003 

 Page 

1