ASBESTOS

Licensing

• HSC Policy Statement: Our approach to permissioning regimes 

• Asbestos Licence Amendment, Assessment and Revocation Guide (ALAARG) 

• HSG247 Asbestos: The Licensed Contractors' Guide ISBN 9780 7176 2874 2

• Specifications produced for asbestos equipment

• Asbestos Liaison Group (ALG) memos

Duty to manage

• Asbestos: The survey guide

• Managing asbestos in buildings: A brief guide

• Approved Code of Practice (ACOP)

Employees

• Asbestos Essentials task sheets/Equipment and Method sheets

Enforcement

• HSE prosecutions

• HSE notices

General

• Approved Code of Practice – L143

• Consultation on Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012

• Asbestos-related disease statistics

• MS31 - Guidance for appointed doctors on the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 - Medical surveillance for workers carrying out licensed work with asbestos

• Equipment and method - EM series

• MS34 - Guidance for doctors on the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 – Medical surveillance for workers carrying out non-licensed work with asbestos

ASTHMA

Baker

• Bakers - time to clear the air! flour dust can cause asthma.  ISBN 9780717663583, HSE Books.

• Guidance on dust control and health surveillance in bakeries (2008) 

• COSHH and bakers for the flour milling and craft bakery sector - Available from the COSHH Essentials web site

• Priorities for health and safety in the flour and grain milling industries FIS13

Vehicle spray painter / Motor Vehicle Repair (MVR)

• Safety in Motor Vehicle Repair: Working with 2-pack isocyanate paints - INDG388

• Motor vehicle repair: Good practice for SMART (small and medium-area repair technique) sprayers - WEB33 

• Isocyanate paint spraying: Safely managing spray booths and rooms

• MVR topic inspection pack – Isocyanate exposure  (Topic inspection packs describe and support the duties of HSE inspectors.)

• COSHH and vehicle spray painters - key messages

• COSHH Essentials - motor vehicle repair - Available from the COSHH Essentials web site

Non-MVR sector

• Safe use of and storage of cellular plastics - HSG92 ISBN 0 7176 1115 9, HSE Books.

• COSHH Essentials for Printers

• Safe to breathe - Dust and fume control in the rubber industry

Solderer

• Solder fume and you - INDG248 

• Controlling health risks from rosin (colophony) based solder fluxes - INDG249 

• Resin acids in rosin (colophony) solder flux fume: Laboratory method using gas chromatography - MDHS83/3 

Woodworker

• COSHH Essentials

• Wood dust: Controlling the risk - WIS23REV1

• COSHH and the woodworking industries - WIS6REV 

• Selection of respiratory protective equipment suitable for use with wood dust - WIS14

Healthcare worker

• HSE Latex website

Agriculture worker

• Health problems in agriculture

• COSHH and agricultural workers - key messages

• Grain dust EH66 (Third edition)

• Control of exposure to grain dust:  An employees guide  INDG140 (rev1)

Engineering worker

• Working safely with Metal Working Fluids (MWFs): A guide for employees

• COSHH essentials for machining with metalworking fluids

HSE general guidance

• Control of substances hazardous to health (Fifth edition) L5 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended). Approved code of practice and guidance, ISBN 0 7176 2981 3, HSE Books.

• A step by step guide to COSHH assessment HSG97 ISBN 0 7176 2785 3, HSE Books.

• Health surveillance

• Asthmagen Critical assessments of the evidence for agents implicated in occupational asthma. Also known as the 'Asthmagen Compendium' 

• Breathe freely, a worker's information card INDG172

• Working with substances hazardous to health: A brief guide to COSHH INDG136

• Health and Safety Statistics

• Health Survelliance for Occupational Asthma 

More guidance on asthma produced by HSE and other organisations

• Occupational asthma - a guide for employers, workers and their representatives   published by British Occupational Health Research Foundation (BOHRF) in partnership with HSE and the TUC

• Occupational asthma - a guide for general practitioners and practice nurses   published by BOHRF

• Occupational asthma - a guide for occupational Health Professionals, Safety Professionals and Safety Representatives   published by BOHRF

• Occupational Asthma: Evidence Review – March 2010   published by BOHRF

BIOSAFETY

General occupational guidance

• Report of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, Mycobacterium bovis Working Group 

• Controlling the risks of infection at work from human remains - A guide for those involved in funeral services (including embalmers) and those involved in exhumation 

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 ACOP

• Infection risks to new and expectant mothers

• Infection at work: controlling the risk 

• Blood-borne viruses in the workplace

• BSE - Occupational guidance (WEB22) 

Laboratories

• Revision of laboratory containment requirements for work with novel A/H1N1 strains of influenza

• Blood-borne viruses in the workplace

• Revised Advice on Laboratory Containment Measures for work with Tissue Samples in Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratories

• Management, design and operation of microbiological containment laboratories

• Approved List of biological agents 

• Working safely with research animals: management of infection risks

  • Working safely with simians: management of infectious risks 

• Vaccination of laboratory workers handling vaccinia and related poxviruses infectious for humans

• Safe disposal of clinical waste

• Safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories and similar facilities

• Guidance on the use, testing and maintenance of laboratory and animal flexible film isolators 

• The large scale contained use of biological agents

• Biological agents: Managing the risks in laboratories and healthcare premises 

• Sealability of Microbiological Containment Level 3 and 4 Facilities  NEW

• The principles, design and operation of Containment Level 4 facilities 

Healthcare

• Safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories and similar facilities

• Safe working and the prevention of infection in the mortuary and post-mortem room

• Biological agents: Managing the risks in laboratories and healthcare premises 

Agriculture

• Common zoonoses in agriculture

Sewage

• Working with sewage 

• Working with sewage: the health hazards. A guide for employers 

• Leptospirosis - Are you at risk

Legionella

• The HSE Legionella Working Group 

• Legionnaires' disease: a guide for employers 

• Legionnaires' Disease: Essential information for providers of residential accommodation 

• Legionnaires' disease: the control of legionella bacteria in water systems - ACOP and guidance

• Controlling legionella in nursing and residential care homes 

• Management of Spa Pools - Controlling the Risks of Infection 

• Legionnaire’s disease at chemical sites 

Zoonoses

• Anthrax: Safe working and prevention of infection

• Leptospirosis - are you at risk

• BSE and carcass disposal

Miscellaneous

• Other dangerous pathogens free leaflets

Research

• Biological hazard

Advisory Committees

• The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP)

CANCER

• Asbestos

• Diesel engine exhaust emissions

• Painters

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

• Radon

• Respirable crystalline silica (RCS)

• Shift work

• Solar radiation

• Tetrachloroethylene

• Welding

CONSTRUCTION (DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT) REGULATIONS

General

• Managing health and safety in construction - L153

• A quick guide for clients on CDM 2015 - INDG411

• Construction Phase Plan (CDM 2015) - CIS80

• Notification of construction project (F10

CONTROL OF MAJOR ACCIDENTS AND HAZARDS (COMAH) 2015

The COMAH Regulations

• A guide to the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (L111)

• The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (COMAH Regulations in full) 

• The Control of Major Accident Hazards (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (redefining 'local authority' in Scotland) 

COMAH competent authority guidance and key internal CA procedures

• HSE Competent Authority procedures and delivery guides

• Safety report assessment manual – CA internal guidance

• Safety report assessment guides – CA internal guidance

• Safety report assessment technical criteria – CA internal guidance

• COMAH establishment inspection – CA internal guidance

Other COMAH guidance

• Electrical, Control & Instrumentation (EC & I) in the Onshore Chemicals, Explosives and Microbiological Sectors

• Managing ageing plant - A summary guide [4]   

• Mechanical Integrity: Use of third party expertise on high hazard sites, Health and Safety Executive. 2010 

• Failure frequencies for major failures of high pressure storage vessels at COMAH sites: A comparison of data used by HSE and the Netherlands 

• Assessment of the Dangerous Toxic Load (DTL) for Specified Level of Toxicity (SLOT) and Significant Likelihood of Death (SLOD)

• Note to COMAH operators on authorisations under the Regulations

• Storage of gas in natural strata - application of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH)

• Revocation of the Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances (NIHHS) Regulations 1982 and 2002 

• Chemical and Downstream Oil Industry Forum (CDOIF) guidance

  • Case study: Warwickshire Oil Storage Ltd (WOSL) - Introducing a competency management system 

  • Demonstrating prior use of elements of a safety instrumented function in support of BS EN 61511 Guidance 

  • Automatic Overfill Prevention Systems for Terminal Loading Racks Guidance 

  • Terminal Loading Operational Hazard Awareness Guidance 

  • Process Safety Leadership Group - Other products in scope 

  • Preparing for flooding - A guide for regulated sites 

  • Prepare for flooding: A guide for regulated sites in Scotland  

  • Leak Detection Guidance 

  • Environmental Risk Tolerability for COMAH Establishments Guidance 

    • Supplement to guidance - FAQs 

    • Supplement to guidance - Complex site example 

    • Supplement to guidance - Storage terminal example 

  • Human Factors Review of Procedures Guidance 

  • The use of external contractors in the management of ageing plant

CONFINED SPACES

• Safe work in confined spaces. Confined Spaces Regulations 1997

• Confined spaces: A brief guide to working safely

• Working safely with solvents - A guide to safe working practices

• Docks

• Sewage industry

• Mining

CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH (COSHH)

• Chemicals

• Metals

• COSHH Essentials publications

• Working with substances hazardous to health: A brief guide to COSHH

• GN EH76 - Control of laboratory animal allergy 

• Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) - Guidance for occupational health professional

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Approved Code of Practice.

• A step by step guide to COSHH assessment

• EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limit

• Agriculture (Farming)

• Flour (Bakers and millers)

• Metalworking fluids

• Microelectronics

• Motor Vehicle Repair

• Offshore

• Printing

• Rubber

• Silica

  • Brick and tile

  • Ceramics

  • Construction

  • Foundry

  • Manufacturing

  • Quarries

  • Stoneworkers

  • Slate works

• Service and Retail

• Welding

• Woodworking

DUST

General dust guidance

• COSHH

• Trade Unions 

• European Agency for Safety and Health at Work 

• British Occupational Hygiene Society 

Specific dust guidance

• Asbestos

• Flour

• Grain

• Silica

• Wood​​​

FIRE AND EXPLOSION

DSEAR

• Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 

• Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved Code of Practice and guidance L138 (Second edition) HSE Books 2003 ISBN 0 7176 6616 4

Other guidance on flammable substances

• Chemical warehousing: The storage of packaged dangerous substances HSG71 (Second edition) HSE Books 1998 ISBN 0 7176 1484 0

• Fire safety in construction work: Guidance for clients, designers and those managing and carrying out construction work involving significant fire risks HSG168 HSE Books 1997 ISBN 0 7176 1332 1

Petroleum

• Unloading petrol from road tankers. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved Code of Practice and guidance L133 HSE Books 2003 ISBN 0 7176 2197 9

HSE leaflets

• Controlling fire and explosion risks in the workplace

• Safe working with flammable substances 

• Acetylene

• Hot work on small tanks and drums

Other HSE information

• Essentials of Health and Safety

• Storage of flammable liquids in process areas, workrooms, laboratories and similar working areas

• Fire and explosion hazards in the use of oxygen

HEALTH SURVEILLANCE

Detailed, industry-specific guidance on health surveillance associated with hazardous substances can be found at the following links:

Hazardous industry:

Agriculture

• Grain dust

• COSHH essentials in agriculture: Advice for farmers

• Sheep dipping 

• Controlling exposure to poultry dust 

• Veterinary medicines: Safe use by farmers and other animal handlers 

Motor vehicle repair

• Safety in motor vehicle repair: Working with isocyanate paints

• Urine sampling for isocyanate exposure measurement 

Foundries

• Health surveillance in the foundry industry

Metalworking fluids

• COSHH essentials for machining with metalworking fluids: Advice for managers 

Ceramics

• Health surveillance: A ceramics industry booklet

Electroplating

• Health surveillance requirements in the electroplating industry 

Timber treatment / wood working

• Occupational hygiene and health surveillance at industrial treatment plants 

• COSHH and the woodworking industries 

Food industry

• A recipe for safety: Occupational health and safety in food and drink manufacture

Beauty industry

• Health surveillance for occupational asthma 

• Health surveillance for occupational dermatitis 

Printing industry

• COSHH essentials for printers: Health surveillance for occupational asthma 

• COSHH essentials for printers: Health surveillance for occupational dermatitis 

• COSHH essentials for printers: Biological monitoring for isocyanates 

Welding, hot work and allied processes

• COSHH essentials for welding, hot work and allied processes: Expert advice 

General dust exposure

• COSHH essentials: Health monitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

Borehole sites and operation

• Boreholes Sites and Operations Regulations 1995 regulation 10. As is necessary for their protection

Construction industry

• Managing occupational health risks in construction

• COSHH essentials: Health monitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

• COSHH essentials: Health surveillance for occupational asthma 

• COSHH essentials: Health surveillance for occupational dermatitis 

• COSHH essentials: Health surveillance for those exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) 

• HSE Construction information sheet: Cement 

Particular hazards

• COSHH health surveillance

• Occupational asthma and rhinitis

• Health surveillance for noise at work

• Health surveillance for hand-arm vibration

• Health surveillance in construction

LEAD

Publications

• Control of lead at work (Third edition)

• Lead and you - Working safely with lead - indg305

• Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances: Lead and inorganic compounds of lead in air 

• Health surveillance

LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE

• Programme of interventions for controlling Legionella risks in workplaces 2013-14: half-year report 

• Legionnaires' disease: A brief guide for duty holders

• Legionnaires' disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems, approved code of practice and guidance (L8)

• Legionnaires' disease HPA & HSE Guidance: Management of Spa Pools: Controlling the risk of Infection 

• Sample recording sheets 

• Cooling tower compliance check questionnaire 

• Inspection topic pack to deliver the Legionella Intervention Programme 2012-2014 

• Control of legionella: Inspection of evaporative cooling systems and investigation of outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease

Videos

• Cold water storage tanks

• Sentinel outlets

• Hot water pipes

• Thermostatic temperature valves

Other resources

• Distribution of Legionella pneumophila serogroups, monoclonal antibody subgroups and DNA sequence types in recent clinical and environmental isolates from England and Wales (2000-2008) 

Useful links

• Water Management Society (WMS) 

• Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers 

• British Association for Chemical Specialities (BACS) 

• Legionella Control Association (LCA) 

• Department of Health (DH) 

• Health Protection Agency (HPA) 

• Health Protection Scotland 

• Public Health Wales 

• LGA 

• British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA) 

• Thermostatic Mixing Valve Association (TMVA) 

LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION (LEV)

Guidance

• Videos of common processes and sources

• Case studies

• Glossary of terms

• Useful calculator for LEV assessors

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) essential

• INDG408 - Clearing the air 
  A simple guide to buying and using local exhaust ventilation (LEV).

• INDG409 - Time to clear the air!
  A workers' pocket guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV).

• Order a publication offline 

• Controlling airborne contaminants at work - HSG258

• Controlling airborne contaminants at work - HSG258 (includes DVD 'Everybody needs to breathe')

Videos

A series of videos giving examples of common processes and sources of local exhaust ventilation and an explanation of what LEV is are available.

DVD

• Control of wood dust at circular saws 

METALWORKING FLUIDS

• HSE Operational guidance

• Publications

• Leaflets

• Non-HSE publications

• COSHH essentials information sheets for machining with metalworking fluids

• Case studies

• Useful links

Operational guidance

• Metalworking fluids - Controlling inhalation exposure to metalworking fluids (Topic inspection pack) 

Publications

• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations: Approved Code of Practice and guidance L5 (2002) (see Appendix 3) 

• Health and Safety in Engineering Workshops HSG129 (2004 rev)

HSE leaflets

• Working safely with metalworking fluids: A guide for employee 

• Preventing contact dermatitis at work

• Controlling the risks in the workplace 

• Working with substances hazardous to health: A brief guide to COSHH

NANO TECHNOLOGY

• Using nanomaterials at work

• The use of Nanomaterials in UK Universities: an overview of occupational health and safety 

• Working Safely with Nanomaterials in Research and Development  

• Regulatory review 

• Health effects of particles produced for nanotechnologies EH75/6 

NOISE

• Controlling noise at work. Guidance on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. 

• Sound Advice: control of noise at work in music and entertainment. HSG260. 

• HSE’s free employers leaflet Noise at Work - Advice for employers INDG362 (rev 1) 

• Noise - Don't lose your hearing (HSE's free pocket card) INDG363 

Other

• Free HSE Leaflets and information sheets

• Sound Solutions in Food and Drink: reducing noise in food and drink manufacturing. 

• Sound Solutions in Food and Drink: reducing noise in food and drink manufacturing.

• Report of an International Expert Symposium on the usefulness of Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing in Occupational Health Surveillance 

• Publication brief - Report of an IES on the usefulness of Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing in Occupational Health Surveillance

Exposure calculators and ready-reckoners

The noise exposure calculators can help you work out your daily noise exposure, weekly noise exposures, and estimate the performance of hearing protection.

• Daily Noise exposure calculator 

• Weekly Noise exposure calculator 

• Hearing protection calculators 

• Removal of hearing protectors severely reduces protection - online tool

If your version of Excel is having compatibility issues with the calculator then please see:

• Use Office Excel 2007 with earlier versions of Excel 

Noise exposure ready-reckoners

The noise exposure ready-reckoners allow you to estimate daily or weekly noise exposure. To use the daily exposure ready-reckoner you will need to know the levels of noise and durations of exposure which make up a person's working day. For weekly noise exposure, appropriate where somebody's noise exposure varies markedly from day to day, you will need to know the daily noise exposure for each day in the working week. These ready-reckoners can be printed for completion by hand.

• Daily noise exposure ready-reckoner 

• Weekly noise exposure ready-reckoner 

PRESSURE SYSTEMS

• Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC) 

• Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) 

• Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999 (PER) 

• The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 

• Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 1991

RADIATION

• Work with ionising radiation HSC Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance in support of IRR99. ISBN 0 7176 1746 7 reference L121 HSE Books.

• A guide to the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001

• INDG334 Working safely with ionising radiation : guidelines for expectant or breastfeeding mothers .

• Radon in the workplace

• Medical exposure

Ionising Radiation Protection Series information sheets

• No. 1 - Industrial radiography - managing radiation risks 

• No. 2 - Radiation doses - assessment and recording 

• No. 3 - Portable nuclear moisture/density gauges in the construction industry 

• No. 4 - Outside workers 

• No. 5 - Prior authorisation 

• No. 6 - Radiation protection supervisors 

• No. 7 - Selection, use and maintenance of portable monitoring Instruments 

• No. 8 - Control of radioactive substances 

• Appropriate designation of classified persons

• Wear your dosemeter 

• Dose constraints for comforters and carers - research report

• Adequacy of external dosimetry methods and suitability of personal dosemeters for workplace radiation fields – research report

• Information to accompany patients undergoing nuclear medicine procedures – research report

• Doses to the embryo/foetus and neonate from intakes of radionuclides by the mother – research report

Other publications

• Health Protection Agency (HPA), Radiation Protection Division's publications menu 

REGISTRATION, EVALUATION, AUTHORISATION & RESTRICTION OF CHEMICALS (REACH)

Anyone requiring more detailed information should consult the comprehensive guidance available from the ECHA website .

UK REACH CA information leaflets

• Number 1 - REACH is here 

• Number 2 - What REACH means for manufacturers 

• Number 3 - What REACH means for EU importers 

• Number 4 - What REACH means for users of chemicals 

• Number 5 - REACH - The basics 

• Number 6 - REACH - Timeline 

• Number 7 - REACH - Pre-registration 

• Number 8 - REACH - Exemptions 

• Number 9 - REACH - Articles 

• Number 10 - REACH - Guidance for distributors 

• Number 11 - REACH - Creating an inventory for downstream users 

• Number 12 - REACH - Substances of very high concern (SVHCs) 

• Number 13 - REACH - Safety data sheets (SDS) 

• Number 14 - REACH - Substances recovered from waste 

• Number 15 - REACH - Guidance on biodiesel 

• Number 16 - REACH - Registration 

• Number 17 - REACH - SIEFs 

• Number 18 - REACH - Minimisation of Animal Testing 

• Number 19 - REACH - Authorisation 

• Number 20 - REACH - Restrictions 

• Number 21 - REACH - Annex III - low volume registration

REPORTING OF INJURIES, DISEASES AND DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES REGULATIONS (RIDDOR)

Publications

• Accident book

• Reporting accidents and incidents at work

• Incident reporting in schools (accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences)

• Reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences in health and social care.

Forms

• Online forms

Statistics

• Injury statistics

Useful links

• Schedule to the regulations 2013 

• Office of Rail and Road (ORR) 

RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide (HSG 53)

• Fit testing of respiratory protective equipment facepieces (OC 282) 

Training, tools and information

• RPE selector tool

• Is your mask protecting you? - INDG 460

• Using filtering facepieces (poster)

• RPE pre event form 

• RPE after event form 

• RPE Toolbox talk Powepoint presentation 

Research

• Factors influencing the implementation of RPE programmes in the workplace (RR798)

• Review of occupational hygiene reports on suitability of respiratory protective equipment (RR746)

• Respiratory protective equipment supply services 

• Review of fit test pass criteria for Filtering Facepieces Class 3 (FFP3) respirators (RR1029)

Respiratory priority areas

• Agricultural workers

• Bakery workers

• Construction workers

• Foundry workers

• Quarry and stone workers

• Vehicle paint sprayers

• Welders

VIBRATION

Guidance

• Hand-arm vibration at work: A brief guide

• Hand-arm vibration - Advice for employees

• Hand-arm vibration - The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (L140) 

• Hand-arm vibration in foundries 

Solutions

• 'Vibration solutions:practical ways to reduce the risk of hand-arm vibration injury' (HSG170 (ISBN 0-7176 0954-5)

​Calculator

• Hand-arm vibration at work: A brief guide (INDG175)

• Guide to using the hand-arm vibration calculator

• Hand-arm vibration calculator 

Whole Body Vibration

• Control the risks from whole-body vibration INDG242(rev1)

• Drive away bad backs INDG404

• HSE Information Sheet Whole-body vibration in Agriculture

• Vibration Calculator​

​

WELDING

• Health and safety in engineering workshops HSG129

• Safe use of compressed gases in welding, flame cutting and allied processes HSG139

• Choosing a welding set? INDG390

• Take care with acetylene INDG327

• Safety in gas welding, cutting and similar processes. INDG297

• Hot work on small tanks and drums INDG314

• Asphyxiation hazards in welding and allied processes EIS45