Do I need COSHH as a private GP?

Do private GPs need COSHH?

In your GP practice, you are likely to have items such as oxygen, antiseptic wipes and cleaning products which fall within the COSHH guidelines.  

To keep your employees and patients safe and to meet the regulations, the CQC are likely to ask you for a COSHH risk assessment as part of your inspection.  

What do I need to include in the risk assessment?

To complete your COSHH risk assessment, you should regularly walk around your practice, looking for areas where there is potential exposure to substances which can be hazardous to health.  

You should understand the circumstances which may lead to harmful exposure and record the measures you are taking and need to take to ensure this doesn’t happen.  

The Health and Safety Executive has provided a step-by-step guide to COSHH assessment which is linked in the further resources section.

Staff in your clinic need to be trained on the risks, precautions and procedures in place to control hazardous substances and know their role in keeping themselves and others safe.