What COSHH stands for in the UK
In the UK, COSHH stands for ‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health’.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, employers need to either prevent or reduce their workers’ exposure to substances that are hazardous to their health.

What does COSHH Cover?
COSHH covers most substances that are hazardous to health. It’s very important to be aware that these ‘substances’ can take many forms and include:
- Chemicals
- Fumes
- Dusts
- Vapours
- Mists
- Nanotechnology
- Gases (including Asphyxiating Gases)
- Biological agents
- Germs that cause disease
It’s worth noting that COSHH does not cover some harmful agents, such as lead, asbestos or radioactive substances.
COSHH Hazard Symbols | Related Products
What COSHH Stands For | Learn More
To learn more about how to protect your employees with regard to COSHH, you might like to check out our COSHH Assessment Guide and our post on managing Construction Dust.
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