MoD Health & Safety Handbook 

JSP 375 Vol 2 

LEAFLET 5 ANNEX K 

MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES INC. LEAD & ASBESTOS 

CONTENTS 

Para 

  TOXICOLOGICAL 

SAFETY 

 1  Introduction 

 2  MoD 

position 

 4  Procedures 

TOXICOLOGICAL SAFETY 

INTRODUCTION 

1 

Even modest exposure to some chemicals can cause serious damage to health if continued over 

long periods without adequate precautions being taken. MOD sometimes develop and use new and 

novel chemical substances in its work, many of them in an unconventional way in R&D establishments 

and in factories, and sometimes little if anything is known about the harmful effects of these substances 

on people or the environment. There is a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 

(HSWA) to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that when use of such substances is being 

considered, the toxicological risks are assessed to establish a reasonable presumption of safety before 

human exposure occurs. 

MOD POSITION 

2 

Many MOD establishments and contractors are involved in dealing with toxicological hazards and 

discharging the obligations under the HSWA. In most cases, where the substance is well known and 

standards of contamination established, satisfactory control measures and working procedures can be 

readily set up to ensure safe conditions. 

3 

The growing public and political awareness of the health implications of exposure to chemical 

substances, and the specific obligations incorporated in the HSWA, have made it necessary to institute 

a formal system for ensuring that all potential requirements for toxicity tests are identified at the outset 

and channelled into a programme that uses the advice and expertise of CBDE to best effect. 

PROCEDURES 

4 

The general responsibility for safety lies with Directors and Heads of Establishments for all 

activities within their establishments and with project managers or integrated project team leaders for 

aspects relevant to their projects.  Where, however, questions of toxic hazard arise, it is particularly 

important that the scientists and project officers immediately concerned with the introduction of new 

substances or processes are aware of the potential dangers and draw them to the attention of the 

appropriate authorities through their IPTL in good time. The following systems, which in many ways 

formalise existing practice, will therefore operate: 

4.1 

All MOD scientists, project officers or IPTLs responsible for the use of existing substances 

that may pose a potential toxic hazard must ensure that the risks have been assessed and the 

conclusions of the assessment acted upon, in accordance with the requirements of the Control of 

Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, seeking advise as necessary, 

Leaflet 5 Annex K 

October 2001 

 Page 

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