MoD Health & Safety Handbook 

JSP 375 Vol 2 

Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) 

16  A guidance publication based on regulations which, if followed, helps compliance with the law. 

NOTE 

The full wording of risk (R) and safety (S) phrases can be found in part V of the APPROVED 

SUPPLY LIST 

CLASSIFICATION  

17  The fundamental requirement of CHIP is for suppliers to decide whether chemicals are hazardous 

(inherently dangerous). If they are, they have to:  

17.1 

Decide what kinds of hazard (category of danger) the chemical has; and  

17.2 

Describe the hazard by allocating a risk phrase.  

18  This process is known as classification. 

19  In CHIP, suppliers have to classify before they do anything else. If they classify the chemical 

incorrectly then the label, safety data sheet and possibly the packaging will be wrong. CHIP makes it an 

offence to supply a dangerous chemical before it is classified. 

20  Many commonly used substances have already been classified and appear in the APPROVED 

SUPPLY LIST (ASL)   suppliers must use these classifications. If their substance is not in the ASL, or if 

they are supplying a preparation (that is, a mixture of substances), then they must classify it themselves, 

following the steps set out in the flow chart below. 

SAFETY DATA SHEETS  

21  Suppliers must provide safety data sheets for dangerous chemicals to the recipient of the 

chemicals, but only if the chemicals are to be used in connection with work. Safety data sheets do not 

have to be provided when dangerous chemicals are sold through shops for use by the public, as long as 

enough information is given in another form, for example on the package. Safety data sheets are 

important in helping you, or anyone you supply, to make the workplace safe and to protect the 

environment. More specifically, a safety data sheet contains information to help you make a risk 

assessment as required by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). 

22  The safety data sheet itself is not an assessment. However, it will describe the hazards of a 

chemical, helping you to assess the probability of those hazards (ie the risk) arising in the workplace. 

NOTE 

Safety data sheets have to be provided no matter how the chemical is supplied   in bulk or in 

packages.  

23  CHIP does not specify exactly what should go into a safety data sheet. It does specify a standard, 

however, by:  

23.1 

Setting a quality requirement for the information; and  

23.2 

Giving headings under which information has to be provided. 

Leaflet 5 Annex H 

April 2003 

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