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Written question asked by Andrew George (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 October 2025. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Thursday, 30 October 2025 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Hazardous Substances: Regulation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 to ensure that hazardous medicinal products with reprotoxic effects are controlled to the same standard as (a) carcinogens and (b) mutagens.

Answer

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no current plans to amend The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) (as amended). These regulations place duties on all employers to assess the risk and ensure that the exposure of their employees to substances hazardous to health is either prevented or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled. This includes any hazardous substances within hazardous medicinal products.

COSHH requires employers to carry out their risk assessments to establish the hazards arising from work activities, including the products and processes being used, and for the employer to put measures in place to control those risks. The risk assessment must take into account the properties of the hazardous substance and how and when they can give rise to risks to health.

If exposure cannot be prevented, employers must implement an effective programme of management procedures and put in place and maintain suitable and sufficient control measures to mitigate against the risks to health posed by any such exposure.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
84143
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Hazardous substances Regulation
Legislation
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk