COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. Stated by HSE: This law requires that employers control substances that are hazardous to health.
Substances covered by COSHH include:
∙ Chemicals
∙ Products containing chemicals
∙ Fumes
∙ Dust
∙ Vapours
∙ Mists
∙ Nanotechnology
∙ Gases and asphyxiating gases and biological agents (germs)
∙ Germs that can cause diseases such as leptospirosis or legionnaires disease and germs used in laboratories
If the packaging is labelled with any of the hazard symbols shown on the image below, it is classified as a hazardous substance: 
Chemicals if not stored correctly, may pose a risk to employees if there were an accident. Hazardous substances should be always be stored in a COSHH cupboard for the safety of those in the workplace.
Hazardous substances can enter the body by:
∙ Skin contact
∙ Inhalation
∙ Ingestion
∙ Exposure
Examples of health risks related to work:
∙ Irritant substances coming into contact with skin
∙ Inhalation of fumes or chemicals
∙ Ingestion of substances from poor personal hygiene (not washing your hands before eating)
∙ Exposure to radiation e.g, UV rays from the sun
Classification of substances:
∙ Irritant, a substance that can skin or lung irritation
∙ Corrosive, a substance that will strike, mostly by burning living tissue
∙ Harmful, a substance that if swallowed, inhaled or exposed to the skin may cause a health risk
∙ Toxic, a substance that will result in organ damage if ingested
∙ Carcinogenic, a substance that causes cancer
COSHH Regulations – The Hierarchy of Control Measures:
∙ Elimination, preventing the risk by changing the process
∙ Substitute, substituting for a less hazardous substance
∙ Engineering controls, changing the method to minimise the hazard
∙ Administrative controls, e.g, reduced time of exposure to hazardous substances
∙ Personal protective equipment (PPE), only to be used as a last resort, does not eliminate the hazard
The Personal Protective Equipment At Work Regulations:
∙ PPE must suitable for the wearer and the task
∙ PPE should fit well, be comfortable to wear and not interfere with other equipment being worn or present the user with additional hazards
∙ PPE must be well maintained and safely stored when not in use
∙ The user must be trained in the safe and effective use of any PPE they need or use
∙ A suitable review process should be in place to ensure continued proper use and highlight any defects
PPE used when working with hazardous substances:
∙ Use of gloves, arm shields and barrier creams
∙ Safety aprons, chemical resistant boots, full body suits
∙ Goggles, safety glasses and visors
∙ Respirators (face mask) and breathing apparatus
Safety Checklist:
∙ Do any of the products you use have hazard labels on them?
∙ Does your current process of work include the production of gas, fume, dust, mist or vapour?
∙ Are there any substances being used that pose a risk if inhaled?
∙ Can any of the substances in use harm your skin?
∙ Is there a potential for harm to arise due to the way you use or produce it?
∙ What are you going to do about it?
If you are interested in an online training course on COSHH, click the button below.