What you need to know about handling hazardous substances

When a container isn't handled correctly or becomes damaged during handling, you risk an uncontrolled spill. If the container is storing hazardous substances, this spill will have a variety of potential consequences for both workers and the environment. These can include:

• Substances classified as dangerous for the environment can make areas uninhabitable when they come into contact with soil or surrounding waters.

• Many substances are harmful through direct contact, inhalation and ingestion.

• Flammable substances have the potential to create a dangerous explosive environment.

You can find more information about the hazardous substances located on your company's premises inside the company's safety data sheets (SDS). Employers have a duty to ensure that substances are appropriately labelled and able to be easily identified by employees.

Here are a few examples of hazard symbol labels:

It is worth noting that larger containers create greater risks. If hazardous substances are being transported in large, heavy containers - such as steel drums - then manual transport will result in a high level of physical strain and an increased risk of injury to the employee, alongside an increased risk of spillage.

Furthermore, as with conventional transport tasks, the issue of ergonomics must be taken into account: If the hazardous materials are in large, heavy containers such as drums, manual transport means a high physical strain and increased risk of injury for the employee.

In the UK, hazardous substances are further controlled by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), which requires employers to protect workers and members of the public from any risk of harm as a result of hazardous substances used or present in the workplace. From June 2015, DSEAR also covers gases under pressure and substances that are corrosive to metals.

Another UK law that governs the control of hazardous substances is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH, 2002). COSHH applies to virtually all substances hazardous to health, with the exception of asbestos and lead (which have their own regulations) and substances that are hazardous only because they are radioactive, asphyxiants, at high pressure/temperature or have explosive/flammable properties.

COSHH legislation requires:

• Identifying health hazards

• Identifying how to prevent harm to health (through a risk assessment)


• Providing control measures to reduce harm to health


• Making sure control measures are used


• Keeping control measures in good working order


• Providing information, instruction and training for employees and others


• Providing monitoring and health surveillance


• Planning for emergencies

Employers have a legal requirement to carry out a risk assessment, both under COSHH legislation and within The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 - so it’s important that you have one in place!

The short answer is yes. As laid out in Section 7 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH, 2002), employers in the UK are required to provide employees working with hazardous materials with "suitable work equipment." This can include drum handling equipment, equipment for the management of spills and floods and transport equipment for gas cylinders. Section 7 also covers the need to provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

COSHH 2002, s 7(3)(a) "The design and use of appropriate work processes, systems and engineering controls and the provision and use of suitable work equipment and materials."

COSHH 2002, s 7(3)(c) "Where adequate control of exposure cannot be achieved by other means, the provision of suitable personal protective equipment in addition to the measures required by sub-paragraphs (a) and (b)."