MoD Health & Safety Handbook 

JSP 375 Vol 2 

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

degree or extent of exposure 

75  This conclusion covers areas where specialist involvement is warranted. The risk assessment of 

exposure may require measurement or greater experience than you possess. If you find it impossible to 

make a valid risk assessment regarding the degree or extent of exposure then ask for help through your 

Establishment Safety Officer. 

Conclusion 5   Cannot decide about the risks. Not enough information 

76  Reconsider the potential sources of advice and information discussed in Section 3. If you still 

cannot progress the risk assessment due to a lack of documentation ask for help from your 

Establishment Safety Officer and implement sensible controls to minimise any potential exposures. E.g. 

use the substance in a well ventilated place, take care not to contaminate skin or clothing with the 

material, always wash thoroughly after handling the substance, always close containers when not in use 

etc. 

77  Line Managers should produce an Action Plan for bringing any process up to the required 

standard.  It doesn t matter what format is used, so long as it is attached to the assessment. The 

assessor and all the relevant line managers should record what actions are required and who should 

carry them out. But it shouldn t be dumped on the assessor or the safety officer. The complete 

assessment, with all the information, conclusions and recommendations can then before forwarded or 

copied to whoever needs to see it prior to and during implementation. If an assessment indicates 

problems, the paperwork should not be confined to the drawer until the actions are complete. The 

assessment package must be treated as a working document and must be seen to be treated as a 

working document. 

78  The COSHH Regulations and the ACOP are quite specific about a number of actions which all line 

managers should be familiar with. Any employee who is or may be affected by the hazardous 

substances involved in a process must be provided with adequate information, instruction and training. 

Adequate Instruction means sufficient to ensure that people do not endanger themselves or others as a 

result of activities involving hazardous substances. 

79  Control measures must be used.  See Annex G, Control of Hazardous Substances.  

REVIEW 

80  COSHH assessments should be reviewed regularly, and forthwith, if 

80.1 

There is reason to suspect that the assessment is no longer valid; or 

80.2 

There has been a significant change in the work to which the assessment relates. 

81  If nothing changes and the process does not represent a particularly dangerous activity then MOD 

policy is to review every two years.] 

82  However two years will be too long if: 

82.1 

There is a significant change in the way that the work is carried out; or  

82.2 

There is a change in the management of the department so that the original assessor has 

left, or 

82.3 

The results of the original assessment are no longer valid because new information has 

come to light, either because of an updated SDS or because of the results of air monitoring or 

health surveillance. 

Leaflet 5 Annex F 

April 2003 

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