Health & Safety

Why dust is a COSHH substance with no label, the silica and wood dust exposure limits, and the controls that actually work.

What WELs are, why a limit is not a safe level, long-term vs short-term limits, the Sk and Sen notations, and what to do if you exceed one.

The eight core duties regulation by regulation, the 14-month LEV rule, record retention periods, and what inspectors actually ask for.

COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 — what each word means legally, and what COSHH does not cover.

Any mains-powered equipment used at work should be in your maintenance regime — including extension leads, chargers and employee-owned items. What is in scope and what is not.

PAT testing must be done by a competent person — but that does not have to be a qualified electrician. What competence means and who can do each level of check.

There is no legally fixed PAT testing interval. Frequency depends on equipment type, environment, how often it is moved and who uses it.

No — PAT testing is not a legal requirement. The duty is to maintain electrical equipment so it does not cause danger. What the law actually says.

PAT testing means Portable Appliance Testing. It is not itself a legal requirement — the duty is to maintain electrical equipment. What it involves, who can do it, and how often.

A COSHH risk assessment identifies hazardous substances, decides who could be harmed, and puts controls in place. The five practical steps explained.