The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002, the Control of Lead at Work Regulations (CLAW) 2002 and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) 2002, already announced by ministers, came into force on 21 st November 2002, and replace the COSHH Regulations 1999, CLAW Regulations 1998 and the CAWR Regulations 1987. The new sets of Regulations will implement those health requirements of the European Union’s Chemical Agents Directive (CAD) that are not already set out in British legislation.

The Directive is designed to protect the health and safety of workers from the risks from chemical agents, and largely follows the well accepted principles already present in UK legislation. These include the need to carry out assessments of risk for chemical agents; prevent or adequately control exposure; monitor exposure; place employees under health surveillance and provide employees with information, instruction and training. Most of the changes to the Regulations simply make explicit what is currently implicit in the current Regulations and Approved Codes of Practice. However they now also include a new requirement for employers, in certain circumstances, to draw up detailed procedures for dealing with accidents, incidents and emergencies that involve hazardous substances.