What Does COSHH Stand For and What Does It Cover?

Let’s get straight to it.

COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

It’s one of those health and safety acronyms that gets thrown around a lot, often with a side of confusion. I’ve had clients say, “We don’t use chemicals, so COSHH doesn’t apply to us,” while standing next to a shelf of cleaning sprays and half a tub of paint stripper.

So let’s clear things up. I’m going to break down exactly what COSHH means, what it covers, and what kinds of substances and situations fall under it—because it’s more than just lab coats and warning signs.

Table of Contents

The clue’s in the name

Let’s unpack the acronym first.

Control – You’re expected to assess the risks and put proper measures in place to reduce harm. It’s not about banning things or shutting operations down. It’s about control—sensible, proportionate control.
Of Substances – We’re talking about things. Physical materials used in your workplace—liquids, powders, gases, fumes, vapours, etc. Anything that has the potential to cause harm when used (or misused) during work.
Hazardous – A substance is hazardous if it can cause harm. That might mean burns, breathing problems, skin irritation, long-term illness like asthma or cancer—anything that affects health.
To Health – That’s the focus. COSHH isn’t about things that are flammable or explosive (those fall under different regs). It’s about the effect substances can have on a person’s body—short-term or long-term.

So, what exactly does COSHH cover?

This is where things get interesting. COSHH applies to a huge range of substances—some obvious, some less so. Here’s a breakdown of the types of materials that fall under COSHH:

1. Chemicals and products containing chemicals

That includes:

Cleaning fluids
Bleach
Paints and varnishes
Solvents
Glues and adhesives
Descalers and degreasers
Disinfectants

If it has a warning symbol on the label (those red and white diamonds), it’s almost certainly a COSHH substance.

2. Fumes, vapours, and gases

Any time a product gives off fumes—think spray painting, welding, soldering, or even heavy-duty cleaning—you’ve potentially got a COSHH issue. Inhaling fumes can cause anything from dizziness to long-term lung problems.

Common examples:

Exhaust fumes
Paint vapours
Cleaning mist
Welding fumes

3. Dusts and powders

This one catches people out. Dust doesn’t always seem dangerous—but if it’s fine enough and you’re breathing it in every day, it can cause serious problems.

Things like:

Wood dust (from cutting, sanding, sawing)
Flour dust (yes, bakeries fall under COSHH too)
Cement dust
Plaster dust
Silica (common in construction materials)

Occupational asthma and lung disease are big risks here, even with substances that seem harmless on the surface.

4. Mists and sprays

Aerosols and sprays can create a fine mist that’s easily inhaled or absorbed through the skin. If you’ve ever sprayed something and immediately felt it catch the back of your throat, that’s why COSHH cares.

Even hand sanitisers (especially in spray form) might count if used heavily in a work setting.

5. Biological agents

Not just a hospital or lab problem—this includes:

Blood and bodily fluids (in healthcare, tattooing, beauty)
Moulds and fungi (in damp or dirty environments)
Bacteria from waste handling
Legionella (if you’ve got water systems like showers, spa baths or cooling towers)

If your work could expose you or your team to germs that could cause infection or illness, that falls under COSHH.

6. Nanomaterials and emerging tech

If you’re working in research, specialist manufacturing, or high-tech sectors, you might be dealing with nanomaterials—extremely small particles that behave differently to larger ones and can be hazardous in ways we’re still learning about.

COSHH covers those too.

What doesn’t COSHH cover?

Good question. COSHH doesn’t cover every type of hazard out there. It only deals with health risks caused by substances. So things like:

Asbestos (that’s covered by its own regs)
Lead (also has its own separate legislation)
Explosive or flammable risks (that’s DSEAR)
Physical risks like slips, trips, or working at height

If the risk isn’t about health and it’s not substance-related, it probably doesn’t fall under COSHH.

Real-life examples of COSHH in small businesses

Just to make this all a bit more relatable, here are some examples of how COSHH crops up in everyday settings:

Hairdressers and beauty salons – Hair dyes, sprays, nail products, disinfectants
Cleaners – Bleach, toilet cleaner, descaler, polish
Cafés and bakeries – Oven cleaners, flour dust, dishwashing chemicals
Construction workers – Cement dust, paint, glue, sealants
Tattoo studios – Inks, skin cleaning products, potential exposure to blood

In each of these cases, the businesses don’t need to stop using these products—they just need to assess the risk and control it.

That might mean wearing gloves, improving ventilation, switching to a less hazardous product, or giving staff proper training.

So if I use any of these, I need to do a COSHH assessment?

Exactly. If you use, store, or handle any substance that could be harmful to health, you’re legally required to carry out a COSHH assessment.

That doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. It can be a short, sensible document that explains:

What the substance is
How it’s used
What the risks are
What you’re doing to keep people safe

If you’re not sure how to write one, I offer templates and remote consultancy to help you get sorted quickly and properly. No waffle, no scare tactics, just realistic advice.

What about products I bought from the supermarket?

Still counts. Just because a product is available on the high street doesn’t mean it’s automatically safe for regular, work-based use.

A big difference between domestic and professional settings is exposure. You might use a toilet cleaner at home once a week. If your cleaner is using it 20 times a day, the risk is higher.

So if you’re using anything regularly in a work environment, it needs to be assessed—even if you bought it from Tesco.

Final thoughts (without sounding like a lecture)

If you take nothing else from this post, take this:

COSHH applies to more businesses than you think, and it’s not about banning substances or overcomplicating things. It’s about understanding what you’re using and making sure nobody’s getting hurt in the process.

Whether you’re running a bakery, a salon, a cleaning business, or something completely different, chances are COSHH is something you need to think about.

And if you want help figuring out what substances in your workplace are covered—or how to do a COSHH assessment without losing the will to live—just shout.