COSHH Risk Assessment Step 1: Assess the risks

Your first step is to identify the hazardous substances in your workplace covered by COSHH and assess how they could harm people's health. You should specifically include a consideration of the presence of any of the hazardous substances discussed below.

Products with labels and product safety data sheets

Substances or mixtures that are harmful to health are covered by the GB CLP Regulation, or in Northern Ireland, the EU CLP Regulation. See the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures Regulation and COSHH.

Under these regulations, harmful products must contain labels and have safety data sheets giving important information about a product's contents, hazards, and safe use.

Labels show key warnings and instructions, while safety data sheets (SDS) provide detailed safety, handling, and emergency information for workers and consumers. You can also speak to the manufacturer or supplier.

Airborne substances exceeding Workplace Exposure Limits

Hazardous airborne substances that exceed the workplace exposure limits(WELs) are covered under COSHH.

WELs are set to help protect workers' health. They show the maximum amount of a harmful substance that can be in the air at work, averaged over a set period of time.

Biological agents

Biological agents that are harmful to health include bacteria, viruses, fungi, hazardous cell cultures, and parasites. However, they are only covered by COSHH when the risk of exposure is work-related, not when it has no connection to the work being done.

Similarly, COVID-19 is only considered a hazardous substance in the workplace if work activities could cause direct infection. Only in that case should your COSHH risk assessment specifically address the management and control of COVID-19 risks.

More information

The HSE's Approved Code of Practice gives detailed guidance on the hazardous substances that should be considered when identifying risks in the workplace.