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What is COSHH?

What is COSHH?

Understanding the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations

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If your business uses cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, detergents, solvents or any other potentially hazardous substances, understanding COSHH is essential.

COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, a set of regulations designed to protect people from ill health caused by exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.

For cleaning contractors, facilities managers and employers, COSHH provides a framework for identifying risks, implementing safety controls and ensuring employees have the information and training they need to work safely.

What Does COSHH Mean?

What Does COSHH Mean?

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations require employers to assess, manage and control the risks associated with hazardous substances used within their workplace.

Hazardous substances can include:

  • Cleaning chemicals
  • Disinfectant and sanitisers
  • Solvents and degreasers
  • Dust and powders
  • Fumes and vapours
  • Biological agents such as bacteria and viruses

Why is COSHH Important?

Why is COSHH Important?

Exposure to hazardous substances can cause both short-term and long-term health problems.

These may include:

  • Skin irritation and dermatitis
  • Eye injuries
  • Breathing difficulties and respiratory conditions
  • Chemical burns
  • Occupational asthma
  • Long-term illnesses linked to repeated exposure

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), thousands of workers continue to suffer work-related illness each year due to exposure to hazardous substances.

By following COSHH regulations, organisations can reduce these risks and create safer working environments for employees, contractors and visitors.

Is COSHH a Legal Requirement?

Yes.

COSHH is a legal requirement for employers whose employees work with substances that could be harmful to health. Employers must take reasonable steps to identify hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate control measures. Failure to comply with COSHH regulations can result in enforcement action, fines and increased risk of workplace injury or illness.

What are employers required to do under COSHH?

Employers have several responsibilities under COSHH legislation.

These include:

Carry out COSHH risk assessments

Carry out COSHH risk assessments

Identify hazardous substances within the workplace and assess the risks they present.

Prevent or control exposure

Prevent or control exposure

Where possible, remove hazards altogether or implement controls to minimise exposure.

Provide appropriate PPE

Provide appropriate PPE

Supply suitable personal protective equipment where required and ensure it is used correctly.

Deliver information and training

Deliver information and training

Ensure employees understand the risks associated with hazardous substances and know how to work safely.

Maintain safety procedures

Maintain safety procedures

Implement procedures for storage, handling, spill response and emergency situations.

Monitor and Review

Monitor and Review

Regularly review risk assessments and ensure control measures remain effective.

What are employees responsible for?

What are employees responsible for?

COSHH compliance is not solely the responsibility of employers.

Employees also have a duty to follow safe working practices and use the controls provided.

This includes:

  • Following workplace safety procedures
  • Wearing required PPE
  • Reporting accidents, spillages or defects
  • Attending training sessions
  • Using chemicals in accordance with instructions
  • Supporting a safe working environment for colleagues and visitors

Effective COSHH compliance relies on both employers and employees working together.

What is a COSHH Risk Assessment?

What is a COSHH Risk Assessment?

A COSHH Risk Assessment is a structured review of the hazards associated with a particular substance and the measures required to control those risks.

A typical COSHH assessment will consider:

  • The substance being used
  • Potential health hazards
  • Who could be affected
  • How exposure could occur
  • Existing control measures
  • Required PPE
  • Emergency procedures
  • Storage and disposal requirements

Risk assessments should be reviewed regularly and whenever products, processes or working practices change.

What are CLP hazard symbols

What are CLP hazard symbols

Most cleaning chemicals display CLP symbols on their labels and packaging.

CLP stands for Classification, Labelling and Packaging and helps users quickly identify potential hazards associated with a product.

Common symbols include:

  • Irritant
  • Corrosive
  • Flammable
  • Toxic
  • Environmental hazard
  • Health hazard

Understanding these symbols is an important part of COSHH awareness and chemical safety training.

Who needs COSHH training

Who needs COSHH training

Anyone who works with substances hazardous to health should receive appropriate COSHH training.

This may include:

  • Cleaning operatives
  • Facilities management teams
  • Maintenance staff
  • Housekeeping teams
  • Care and healthcare workers
  • Supervisors and managers responsible for chemical safety

Training helps employees understand hazards, follow safe procedures and respond appropriately in the event of an incident.

What does COSHH training cover

What does COSHH training cover

A good COSHH training programme should help employees understand:

  • How chemicals can enter the body
  • Common workplace hazards
  • Hazard symbols and warning labels
  • Safe dilution and handling procedures
  • Personal protective equipment requirements
  • Emergency response procedures
  • Spill management
  • Risk assessments and safety documentation

Regular refresher training helps ensure knowledge remains current and effective.

How often should COSHH training be refreshed?

How often should COSHH training be refreshed?

While there is no fixed legal expiry period for COSHH training, it should be reviewed and refreshed regularly.

Many organisations choose to provide refresher training every 12 months to ensure employees remain aware of current procedures, products and legislation.

Additional training may be required when:

  • New chemicals are introduced
  • Risk assessments change
  • Procedures are updated
  • Employees move into new roles

COSHH resources from AUK Hygiene

COSHH resources from AUK Hygiene

At AUK Hygiene, we believe that safety and compliance should be straightforward.

Through our CleanSafe programme, we provide practical resources designed to help cleaning contractors and facilities managers manage COSHH responsibilities more effectively.

These include:

  • Free COSHH training
  • Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
  • COSHH Risk Assessment templates
  • Chemical dosing charts
  • Product safety information

Together, these tools help business reduce risk, improve compliance and support safer working practices across every site they manage. 

Learn More About COSHH with CleanSafe

Understanding COSHH is the first step towards creating a safer workplace.

Whether you're responsible for a single site or a national cleaning operation, having the right training, documentation and safety information in place can help protect your people while supporting compliance.

Explore the CleanSafe programme and access free COSHH resources, training and compliance tools today.

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