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Do You Know Your WELs from MELs?
COSHH Regulations require employers
to demonstrate that they are adequately controlling exposure
levels of hazardous substances to their employees. The
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
2002, as amended, have received another amendment in the
form of Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs).
What are the changes to the legislation?
The aim of WELs is to replace the existing
Occupational Exposure Standards (OESs) and Maximum Exposure
Limits (MELs), which employers often found difficult to
understand and implement, with one simple system. In addition,
substances that currently have an OES or MEL that is not
based on sound science will not be transferred to the
new system.
The definition of 'adequate control'
will be broadened to include the duty to apply the principles
of 'good practice' for the control of exposure to substances
hazardous to health (see below), as well as complying
with any relevant WEL.
For substances/processes that may cause
occupational related diseases such as cancer and asthma,
an employer must ensure that the level of exposure is
reduced as far as is reasonably practicable.
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