School Hazardous Substances Inventory and Secure Storage Procedure

This procedure applies where the school stores or uses dangerous materials or chemicals. The arrangements must reflect the substances, quantities, storage facilities and activities at [school name].

1. Establish whether the procedure applies

The responsible person should establish whether [school name] stores or uses dangerous materials or chemicals. If it does, this procedure should be applied to the materials, quantities, storage facilities and activities concerned.

2. Maintain the inventory

Maintain an inventory of the dangerous materials and chemicals stored or used by the school. Record the substance or material, its location, quantity and relevant school activity in the inventory.

Keep the inventory up to date when substances, quantities, storage facilities or activities change. The current inventory should be available to the persons responsible for storage, handling and the relevant school-specific hazard controls.

3. Secure storage and access

Store dangerous materials and chemicals securely. The school should define and apply storage and access arrangements for each relevant storage location, taking account of the substances, quantities, facilities and activities recorded in the inventory.

Restrict access to the storage arrangements in accordance with the school’s applicable COSHH controls and school-specific hazards. Record the storage location and the applicable access arrangement in the inventory or associated school record.

4. Link storage and handling arrangements to controls

For each relevant inventory entry, link the storage and handling arrangement to the applicable COSHH controls and the school-specific hazard information for the associated activity.

The handling and use of hazardous substances is governed by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. This procedure does not replace the school’s need to identify and apply the controls applicable to its substances, quantities, facilities and activities.

5. Review and update

Review the inventory and associated storage arrangements whenever there is a change to the dangerous materials or chemicals, their quantities, storage facilities or activities. Update the inventory so that it remains current.

The person responsible for the inventory should record the date of the review and any changes made in [inventory review record].