How to work safely with hazardous substances

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated its guidance on working with hazardous substances, helping businesses understand how to protect workers’ health.

The updated Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) webpages offer advice on managing exposure to harmful substances like chemicals, dust, and biological agents. The guidance covers essential steps, including how to carry out a COSHH risk assessment and train employees effectively.

An HSE spokesperson said, “Understanding how to control exposure to hazardous substances is key to keeping workers safe. Our COSHH resources provide practical steps to help employers identify and manage these risks.”

The COSHH guidance includes:

• Risk assessments – How to identify, assess, and control hazardous substance risks.
• Control measures – Advice on reducing exposure to harmful substances in different industries.
• Workplace exposure limits – Approved limits to help protect workers’ health.
• Chemical safety data sheets – Information to help assess the risks of specific products.
• Training resources – Guidance on educating workers about hazardous substances.

The guidance also addresses industry-specific risks and how to handle exposure to bacteria and viruses at work.

The full COSHH guidance and resources are available on the HSE website.