Our dynamic RoSPA assured COSHH course is suitable for anyone who comes into contact with hazardous substances, including flammable or explosive substances.
It reviews the COSHH Regulations and how they protect people at work and explores how people can be exposed to hazardous substances.
It covers what you need to do to comply with COSHH regulations and how to deal with the disposal of hazardous waste safely.
To learn more about our courses, or to request a tailored quote for your organisation, please contact us today and a member of our team will be happy to help.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations cover a much wider range of substances than chemicals with obvious hazard symbols. Cleaning products, printer toner, wood dust, flour, lubricants, paints, and adhesives all fall within scope, as do substances generated by work processes such as welding fumes, exhaust gases, and dust from cutting or grinding. If your business uses or creates any of these, COSHH compliance is essential, regardless of your size or sector.
Effective COSHH compliance begins with a comprehensive risk assessment that identifies all hazardous substances in your workplace, including those brought in by contractors and those created by your own processes. Don't overlook substances stored in unmarked containers, seasonal items like de-icing salts, or chemicals used only occasionally. Check safety data sheets for every product, look for hazard symbols on labels, and consider how exposure could occur, both immediate effects like skin irritation and long-term impacts like respiratory disease.
COSHH requires a specific order of control measures. Eliminate hazardous substances entirely where possible, or substitute them with safer alternatives. Where elimination isn't practical, use engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation, enclosed processes, or workplace design that minimises exposure. Personal protective equipment is the last line of defence, used only when other measures cannot adequately control the risk. Relying on PPE alone, without addressing higher-level controls, is one of the most common COSHH compliance failures.
Safety data sheets contain everything you need to manage chemicals safely, including hazard identification, handling and storage requirements, exposure controls, first aid measures, and disposal considerations. Keep them readily accessible to employees who work with the substances, ensure they're updated when suppliers issue new versions, and use the information to inform your risk assessments, training programmes, and emergency procedures. They are not paperwork to be filed and forgotten.
Some substances require health surveillance to detect early signs of harm and monitor whether your control measures are actually working. This typically applies to chemicals linked to occupational asthma, skin sensitisation, or certain cancers. Surveillance might involve regular questionnaires, lung function tests, skin examinations, or blood monitoring, depending on the risks. Keeping detailed records of results helps you spot patterns, review the effectiveness of your controls, and demonstrate your commitment to long-term employee health.
Learn more about chemical safety and COSHH compliance by reading our blog article Chemical Safety at Work: A Practical Look at COSHH.
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