Diesel Fuel / Red Diesel / Gas Oil
COSHH assessment
A COSHH assessment for diesel fuel / red diesel / gas oil on a UK construction site: what it does to people, how it gets into them, the controls that stop it, the PPE for what is left, and what to do when it goes wrong. Copy it into your assessment and change what does not fit your job.
Hazards to health
Skin irritation, dermatitis, oil folliculitis. Diesel exhaust emissions are IARC Group 1 (lung cancer). Vapour inhalation, CNS effects at high concentration. Aspiration hazard if swallowed (chemical pneumonitis). Environmental, Tier 1 pollutant, EA notifiable spill.
Routes of exposure
Skin contact, Inhalation (vapour and exhaust), Ingestion
Control measures
- Bunded fuel storage (110% capacity).
- Drip trays under all dispensing and parked plant.
- Bonded earth strap when decanting.
- No smoking, no naked flames, no mobile phones at fuel point.
- Fuel cards/tags, refuel by trained operatives only.
- Spill kit (oil-only absorbent, drain mats) within 10m of fuel point.
- Engines off and exhausts ventilated indoors, never run plant in unventilated enclosure (CO/DEEE).
PPE for what is left
- Nitrile gloves (changed when contaminated), Safety goggles when decanting/pumping, Antistatic footwear, FR overalls if hot work nearby
Emergency procedures
- Skin: wash with soap and water, do not use solvents.
- Eyes: irrigate 15 mins, A&E if irritation persists.
- Ingestion: do not induce vomiting, 999.
- Spill: contain with absorbent, do not hose into drains, notify EA via 0800 80 70 60 if entering watercourse or volume >25L.
Questions people ask
Do I need a COSHH assessment for diesel fuel / red diesel / gas oil?
If the substance is hazardous to health and your work exposes people to it, yes. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, regulation 6, require a suitable and sufficient assessment before the work starts, with the significant findings recorded if you employ five or more. The safety data sheet is an input to the assessment, not a substitute for it. Guidance, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a safety data sheet and a COSHH assessment?
The data sheet is the manufacturer describing the product in general. The assessment is you describing how your people use it on your job: how much, how often, for how long, in what ventilation, with what controls. Two firms using the same tin can have very different assessments.
What is a WEL?
A Workplace Exposure Limit, the maximum airborne concentration averaged over a reference period, set in HSE document EH40. Where one applies to this substance it is stated in the hazards above; where it does not, the duty to reduce exposure so far as is reasonably practicable still stands.
Is PPE enough?
No. COSHH puts PPE last: eliminate the substance, substitute for something less harmful, control at source with ventilation and enclosure, then organise the work to reduce exposure, and only then PPE for what is left. An assessment that jumps straight to gloves and a mask is the kind an inspector questions. Guidance, not legal advice.
How often should it be reviewed?
When the product, the method, the quantities or the people change, if there is any sign the controls are not working, and at least every year or so regardless. Health surveillance may be required where exposure could cause an identifiable disease, such as dermatitis or occupational asthma.
The COSHH assessment writes itself
Pick the substance in the SiteLynx RAMS editor and the COSHH assessment fills in with the hazards, controls and PPE, alongside the HAVS and noise assessments for the tools you chose. Signed on site on a phone. 14 days free.
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