Part 6:
What Substances Are and Are Not Covered by COSHH
Since it’s your responsibility to protect your team from exposure events, you might be wondering which substances are and are not covered by COSHH. A substance hazardous to health is any substance which has the potential to harm employees depending on its material and how it’s being used. It’s important to note that some substances which may not normally be considered harmful, can have the potential to harm employees based on how they are interacting with them.
These substances can come in different forms such as:
Gases
Mists
Dusts
Vapours
Fumes
Chemicals
Products containing chemicals
Germs that may cause illness
Because they have their own special regulations, radioactive materials and those containing lead can also be assessed under COSHH:
Lead
Radioactive substances
A substance which is not covered by COSHH is asbestos.
Worker Collecting Samples for asbestos