The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

Overview

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 set out requirements and offences in relation to substances that could cause harm. The regulations set out requirements to: 

• Assess of the risk to health created by work involving substances hazardous to health
• Prevent or control of exposure to substances hazardous to health
• Use control measures etc.
• Maintain, examine and test control measures
• Monitor exposure at the workplace
• Carry out health surveillance
• Provide information, instruction and training for persons who may be exposed to substances hazardous to health
• Ensure arrangements are in place to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies

Background

Every year, thousands of workers are made ill by hazardous substances in the workplace, resulting in lung diseases such as asthma and cancer, and skin diseases including dermatitis. These diseases cost many millions of pounds each year to: 

• Industry - to replace the trained worker
• Society - in disability allowances and medicines
• Individuals - who may lose their jobs

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), employers are required by law to control substances that are hazardous to health in the workplace by preventing or reducing workers’ exposure to them. Taking these measures to ensure workers remain healthy can also improve productivity as you will not be spending time dealing with incidents or losing time to injury or worker illness. 

You should note that Legionella does not fall under its own regulations, but instead falls under the COSHH regulations. For information about Legionella, please refer to our ACOP L8 Control of Legionella Bacteria in water systems.