What is COSHH? 

COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health[61]. You can prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous substances by:

  • finding out what the health hazards are;
  • deciding how to prevent harm to health (risk assessment[62]);
  • providing control measures to reduce harm to health;
  • making sure they are used ;
  • keeping all control measures in good working order;
  • providing information, instruction and training for employees and others;
  • providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases;
  • planning for emergencies.

Most businesses use substances, or products that are mixtures of substances. Some processes create substances. These could cause harm to employees, contractors and other people.

Sometimes substances are easily recognised as harmful. Common substances such as paint, bleach or dust from natural materials may also be harmful.

Link URLs in this page

  1. COSHHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm
  2. COSHH overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/index.htm
  3. What is a ‘substance hazardous to health’?https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/substance.htm
  4. I’m self-employed. Does this apply to me?https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/selfemployed.htm
  5. What you need to dohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/whatdo.htm
  6. COSHH assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/assessment.htm
  7. Substitutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/substitution.htm
  8. Exposure limitshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/exposurelimits.htm
  9. Chemical safety data sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/datasheets.htm
  10. Control measureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/control.htm
  11. Permits to workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/permits.htm
  12. Personal protective equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/ppe.htm
  13. Monitoringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/monitoring.htm
  14. Health surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/surveillance.htm
  15. Training for employeeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/training.htm
  16. Emergencieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/emergencies.htm
  17. Detailed overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/detail/index.htm
  18. COSHH, CLP and REACHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/detail/coshh-clp-reach.htm
  19. REACH and COSHHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/detail/reach.htm
  20. Principles of good practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/detail/goodpractice.htm
  21. Overview - Your industryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/index.htm
  22. Agriculturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/agriculture.htm
  23. Bakinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/baking.htm
  24. Beautyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/beauty.htm
  25. Cateringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/catering.htm
  26. Cleaninghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/cleaning.htm
  27. Engineeringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/engineering.htm
  28. Fumigationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/fumigation.htm
  29. Hairdressinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/hairdressing.htm
  30. Offshore oil and gashttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/offshore.htm
  31. Printinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/printing.htm
  32. Motor vehicle repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/mvr.htm
  33. Weldinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/welding.htm
  34. Woodworkinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/woodworking.htm
  35. Frequently asked questionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/faq.htm
  36. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/resources.htm
  37. COSHH Essentialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/index.htm
  38. Overview - Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/casestudies/index.htm
  39. Soldererhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/casestudies/solder.htm
  40. Bakerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/casestudies/baker.htm
  41. Cookhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/casestudies/cook.htm
  42. Weldershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/casestudies/welder.htm
  43. Isocyanateshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/casestudies/isocyanates.htm
  44. Dermatitishttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/casestudies/dermatitis.htm
  45. Overview - Example risk assessmentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/index.htm
  46. Officehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/office.htm
  47. DIY shop https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/diyshop.htm
  48. Workshop https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/workshop.htm
  49. Engineer https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/engineer.htm
  50. Sandwich makerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/sandwichmaker.htm
  51. Garden centrehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/gardencentre.htm
  52. Paving companyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/paving.htm
  53. Feed mill https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/feedmill.htm
  54. Die caster https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/diecaster.htm
  55. Electronicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/electronics.htm
  56. Fruit farmhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/fruitfarm.htm
  57. Warehousehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/warehouse.htm
  58. Further informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/furtherinfo.htm
  59. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/publications.htm
  60. Research reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/research-reports.htm
  61. substances that are hazardous to healthhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/substance.htm
  62. risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/index.htm
  63. EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limitshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/eh40.htm
  64. Working with substances hazardous to health: A brief guide to COSHHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.htm
  65. COSHH Essentialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/index.htm
  66. Case studies (Examples of real life situations with COSHH)https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/casestudies/index.htm
  67. Example risk assessments (Use these to get ideas for completing assessments)https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/index.htm
  68. Nanotechnologyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/nanotechnology/index.htm
  69. Risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm
  70. Local exhaust ventilation micrositehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/lev/index.htm
  71. Chemicals micrositehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/chemicals/index.htm

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2020-06-12