It doesn’t matter what industry you work in – many teams include at least someone who handles hazardous substances as part of their daily tasks.
There are, of course, the more obvious high-risk environments, like construction, chemical processing and healthcare but you’ll also find hazardous substances in other workplaces like shops, cafes and offices – often in cleaning products. This is why employers need to have a good understanding of the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations, and ensure their team receives the right training to stay safe.
Hazardous substances can be found in everyday products like hand sanitiser and bleach or in chemicals anddust. As the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) explains, the impact can be felt immediately (stinging eyes, dizziness) but employees may also suffer serious long-term illness such as cancer or respiratory conditions.
Employers have a legal duty of care to their staff – yet research shows:
COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. It is a UK law that requires employers to identify and control exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace, first by identifying them, and then putting in safety measures to eliminate them or reduce the risks.
Employees can be exposed to a range of hazardous substances covered by the COSHH regulation (2002):
For example, hairdressers are in constant contact with ammonia and hydrogen peroxide from hair colourants, as well as aerosols like hairspray. Without adequate control measures, such as gloves, they could develop chemical burns, skin/eye irritation or dermatitis – in fact, up to 70% of hairdressers develop the latter.
Construction is another potentially dangerous occupation because employees may be exposed to paint, sealants, carbon monoxide, adhesive, wood and metal dust, and fumes.
Note: Hazardous substances can get in the body in three ways: inhaled through the lungs, direct contact with skin or ingested through the mouth. It’s also worth remembering that the COSHH doesn't cover exposure to the potentially fatal substances lead, asbestos or radioactive material, so you’ll need to adhere to the relevant regulations.
Firstly, exposure to hazardous substances can have harmful health impacts on your team or lead to injury. For example, employees who don’t use gloves when handling acids/chemicals, including some cleaning products, may experience burns and/or irritation.
It’s not just man-made substances that are a risk, either. The regulation also covers exposure to biological agents (‘germs’), so diseases and infections may be transmitted to healthcare workers if they don’t have the right PPE (personal protective equipment) and/or follow the correct cleaning procedures.
As well as the impact on individuals, failing to follow COSHH regulations also opens up organisations to legal action, fines and reputational damage. In one case, a solderer based in Gloucester developed asthma after being exposed to solder fumes from 1995 to 2004. The investigation found the manufacturing firm didn’t have any fume extraction equipment and didn’t substitute the material, leading to a £100,000 fine and further £30,000 costs.
Employees have a responsibility to follow COSHH policies/processes but ultimately compliance with COSHH is the employer’s obligation – you’ll need to know how to safeguard the workplace and protect your team.
COSHH requires employers to conduct a risk assessment for each hazardous substance used/produced. This is critical and provides evidence of compliance. As part of the assessment, you’ll need to identify all the hazardous materials in your workplace – including products (e.g. for cleaning), and by-products such as dust.
According to section six of the COSHH regulations, COSHH assessments should include:
Where a hazardous substance can be replaced by something non-hazardous, it should be if possible. For example, oil-based timber treatments could be replaced by a water-based solution, which contains none or lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Alongside substitution, the law highlights other adequate control measures:
Not all substances require the same safeguards which is why your risk assessment is so important – it highlights the level of risk and an appropriate response.
It’s all good and well having the policies and processes in place – but employers need to follow them and raise any concerns quickly.
For example, if you notice a team member not using the right PPE, call it out immediately to prevent injury. Business owners and managers should also offer further training/advice or introduce penalties for repeat offenders. It’s also your job to ensure any equipment, such as ventilation or PPE, is in perfect working condition and regularly checked.
If a workplace injury/illness occurs, record it quickly and accurately, and update your risk assessment.
New starters should receive regular health and safety training covering COSHH, appropriate to their role and responsibilities, so they’re aware of any potential risks and how to reduce them.
It helps to provide specific examples/stories of incidents and visuals, including video, along with any documents that they can refer back to easily. You could appoint COSHH champions to monitor processes and provide support.
Where the risk is high, some workplaces offer health assessments and surveillance. This can include return-to-work assessments after illness, health checks before starting the job or referral to an occupational health GP. If an employee suffers from a condition, either one related to their work or pre-existing, it’s vital that you take steps to avoid any exposure that could exacerbate it.
COSHH Schedule 6 states health surveillance is needed if the employee is exposed to:
The full list of substances can be found on the government website.
When an accident happens, you’ll need to act quickly to deliver the right level of case – administering first aid, and calling 999 (emergency) or 111 (non-emergency). You may also need to engage specialist cleaners in the event of a toxic substance spill, and evacuate people from the affected area.
It’s critical that you have an emergency plan in place and employees are aware of what to do if an incident occurs. COSHH Section 13 states employers need to take the following steps:
Compliance with COSHH is an ongoing process – and shouldn’t be treated as a tick-box exercise.
At Skillcast, we offer a wide range of health and safety training, which covers COSHH to help you and your team stay up to date with the regulations, and create a safe and compliant workplace.