1. Purpose
This policy sets out Murzo Group's approach to controlling risks from substances hazardous to health and chemicals used, stored, handled, generated, or supplied in connection with Murzo Group activities.
Murzo Group aims to prevent ill health, reduce exposure, maintain safe working conditions, and ensure that hazardous substances are managed in a lawful, proportionate, and documented way.
2. Scope
This policy applies to employees, directors, contractors, consultants, agency workers, visitors, suppliers, and any other person who may use, handle, store, transport, dispose of, or be exposed to hazardous substances during Murzo Group work.
It may apply to substances including:
- Cleaning agents, disinfectants, solvents, adhesives, paints, fuels, lubricants, and maintenance products
- Laboratory, design, farming, food, substrate, pest-control, or production chemicals
- Dusts, vapours, gases, fumes, mists, biological agents, or by-products created by a work process
- Substances brought onto Murzo Group premises or client sites by contractors or suppliers
3. Legal & Policy Framework
This policy supports compliance with applicable health and safety law and guidance, including the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations where relevant.
Some substances or activities may also be subject to additional or separate legal regimes, including asbestos, lead, pesticides, biocides, fire safety, dangerous goods transport, environmental waste rules, REACH, and chemical classification, labelling and packaging requirements.
This policy should be read alongside Murzo Group's Health, Safety & Wellbeing Policy, Risk Management Policy, Food Safety & Product Integrity Policy, Biosecurity, Pest & Disease Management Policy, and Sustainability & Environmental Policy where relevant.
4. Substance Inventory & Safety Data Sheets
Murzo Group-controlled sites or projects must maintain an appropriate inventory of hazardous substances used or stored for work purposes.
- Hazardous substances must be identified before use, purchase, storage, or disposal
- Current safety data sheets must be obtained and made available where required
- Product labels, hazard pictograms, exposure information, storage requirements, and emergency measures must be reviewed
- Safety data sheets must support, but not replace, task-specific COSHH risk assessments
- Unlabelled, unknown, damaged, expired, or unauthorised substances must not be used
5. COSHH Risk Assessment
Before hazardous substances are used or generated, Murzo Group must assess the risk and identify suitable controls.
A COSHH assessment should consider:
- The hazardous properties of the substance and any workplace exposure limits
- Who may be exposed, including workers, contractors, visitors, cleaners, maintenance workers, and members of the public
- How exposure could occur, including inhalation, skin or eye contact, ingestion, injection, or accidental release
- Frequency, duration, quantity, concentration, process temperature, and route of use
- Existing controls and any further action needed to prevent or reduce exposure
- Emergency arrangements, spill response, waste disposal, storage, and incompatible substances
Assessments must be recorded where legally required and should be recorded for all non-trivial hazardous substance activities as good practice.
6. Control Measures
Murzo Group will apply a hierarchy of control to prevent or adequately control exposure.
- Eliminate the hazardous substance or process where reasonably practicable
- Substitute with a safer substance, lower concentration, safer form, or less hazardous process where possible
- Use closed systems, containment, local exhaust ventilation, segregation, or restricted access where appropriate
- Apply safe systems of work, supervision, hygiene arrangements, and documented handling procedures
- Use personal protective equipment only where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other measures alone
Controls must be suitable for the work, maintained in effective condition, and reviewed when tasks, substances, equipment, personnel, or operating conditions change.
7. Storage, Labelling & Segregation
Hazardous substances must be stored securely and in a way that prevents harm, contamination, unauthorised use, fire, leak, spill, or incompatible mixing.
- Containers must be suitable, closed when not in use, clearly labelled, and protected from damage
- Incompatible substances, such as acids and alkalis or oxidisers and flammables, must be separated
- Storage areas must consider ventilation, temperature, ignition sources, secondary containment, access control, and emergency access
- Food, drink, personal items, and non-compatible materials must not be stored with hazardous substances
- Only the minimum practical quantity should be kept at the point of use
8. Personal Protective Equipment
PPE and respiratory protective equipment must be selected based on the COSHH assessment and must be suitable for the substance, task, wearer, exposure route, and work environment.
- PPE must be provided, maintained, replaced, and used as required
- Workers must be trained on correct use, fit, storage, cleaning, limitations, and replacement
- Respiratory protective equipment must be suitable, compatible, and face-fit tested where tight-fitting masks are used
- PPE must not be treated as the primary control where more reliable controls are reasonably practicable
9. Monitoring & Health Surveillance
Exposure monitoring may be required where Murzo Group needs to demonstrate compliance with workplace exposure limits, confirm that controls are effective, or understand potential contamination spread.
Health surveillance may be required where there is a known disease or adverse health effect associated with the substance, it can be detected, and workplace conditions make the risk reasonably foreseeable.
- Monitoring and surveillance must be proportionate to the risk and conducted by competent persons
- Results must be reviewed and acted on where controls are inadequate
- Health information must be handled confidentially and in line with data protection requirements
- Required records must be retained securely for the appropriate legal or operational period
10. Training, Information & Supervision
Workers who may be exposed to hazardous substances must receive suitable information, instruction, training, and supervision.
- Training must cover hazards, risks, exposure routes, control measures, PPE, hygiene, spill response, waste handling, and emergency procedures
- Workers must have access to relevant assessments, safety data sheets, and safe systems of work
- Contractors must be told about site risks and must disclose hazardous substances they intend to bring onto Murzo Group or client premises
- Training records should be kept and refreshed when substances, processes, equipment, or duties change
11. Emergency Preparedness & Spill Response
Murzo Group must plan for foreseeable accidents, incidents, spills, exposures, leaks, fires, and chemical emergencies.
- Suitable spill kits, first-aid information, decontamination materials, emergency contacts, and PPE must be available where required
- Workers must know how to raise the alarm, isolate the area, protect themselves, help casualties, and obtain assistance
- Emergency information must be available to emergency services where relevant
- Incidents, near misses, uncontrolled releases, or suspected exposures must be reported, investigated, and corrected
12. Waste, Disposal & Environmental Protection
Chemical and hazardous waste must be managed lawfully and responsibly.
- Waste must be identified, segregated, labelled, contained, and stored securely pending disposal
- Hazardous substances must not be poured into drains, disposed of with general waste, or released to the environment unless specifically authorised and lawful
- Licensed or competent waste contractors must be used where required
- Waste transfer documentation and disposal records must be retained where applicable
13. Records & Review
Murzo Group will retain appropriate records of hazardous substance inventories, COSHH assessments, safety data sheets, training, inspections, exposure monitoring, health surveillance, equipment examination, incidents, and waste disposal.
COSHH assessments and controls must be reviewed regularly and when:
- There is a change in substance, supplier, process, quantity, concentration, equipment, personnel, location, or exposure route
- Monitoring, surveillance, inspection, incident, near miss, or worker feedback indicates a possible issue
- Legal, regulatory, client, or operational requirements change
14. Responsibilities
Managers and project owners are responsible for ensuring that hazardous substances are assessed, controlled, stored, and used safely.
Workers and contractors must follow assessments, labels, safety data sheets, training, PPE requirements, storage rules, and emergency procedures. Any unsafe condition, missing label, damaged container, spill, exposure, or concern must be reported promptly.
