Using chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can put people's health at risk so the law requires employers to control exposure to hazardous substances to prevent ill health.

To comply with COSHH you need to follow these 8 steps:

Step 1: Assess the risks to health arising from hazardous substances used in or created by your workplace activities.

Step 2: Decide what precautions are needed. You must not carry out work which could expose your employees to hazardous substances without first considering the risks and the necessary precautions, and what else you need to do to comply with COSHH.
 
Step 3: Prevent or adequately control exposure. You must prevent your employees from being exposed to hazardous substances. Where preventing exposure is not reasonably practicable, then you must adequately control it.
 
Step 4: Ensure the control measures are used and maintained properly, and that safety procedures are followed.
 
Step 5: Monitor the exposure of employees to hazardous substances, if necessary.
 
Step 6: Carry out appropriate health surveillance, and where your assessment has shown this is necessary or where COSHH sets specific requirements.
 
Step 7: Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances, where necessary.

Step 8: Ensure employees are properly informed, trained and supervised.

For more information access the Health and Safety Executive’s ‘COSHH: A Brief Guide to the Regulations’ guidance booklet.

The Health and Safety Executive’s website has a comprehensive section on COSHH.