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TBT-02: COSHH — Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Reference: TBT-02 | Issue Date: 14/03/2026 | Review Date: Sep 2026 Applicable Standards: ISO 45001 Cl. 8.1.2 | COSHH Regulations 2002 Related Documents: HPOL04, HPROC15, HREG16, HFORM12

Role-Specific

This toolbox talk applies to staff who visit client manufacturing sites, chemical processing facilities, or any environment where hazardous substances may be present. If you only work from your home office, this is for awareness only.

What Is COSHH?

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require employers to control exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. As CRGI engineers visiting client sites, you may encounter hazardous substances that are controlled under these regulations.

COSHH applies to substances that are: toxic, corrosive, irritant, sensitising, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or harmful to health in any other way — including dust, fumes, vapours, gases, and biological agents.

Hazardous Substances You May Encounter

Food Production Facilities

  • Cleaning chemicals (caustic soda, chlorinated cleaners, sanitisers)
  • Ammonia from refrigeration systems
  • Dust from dry ingredients (flour, powders — also an explosion risk)
  • Carbon dioxide in carbonation or modified atmosphere packaging areas

Pharmaceutical Facilities

  • Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)
  • Solvents and reagents (isopropanol, ethanol, acetone)
  • Cleaning validation chemicals
  • Cytotoxic substances in specialist manufacturing areas

Chemical Processing Sites

  • Raw chemicals and intermediates (varies by site)
  • Process gases and vapours
  • Waste streams and effluent treatment chemicals
  • Catalyst materials

Manufacturing and Engineering Facilities

  • Cutting fluids, coolants, and lubricants
  • Welding fumes
  • Paint, coatings, and solvents
  • Adhesives and sealants
  • Dust from machining operations

Your Responsibilities on Client Sites

Before Your Visit

  • Ask about hazardous substances present in areas you'll be working in or passing through
  • Review the site's COSHH assessments and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for relevant substances
  • Confirm what PPE is required for the specific areas you'll access
  • Complete any site-specific COSHH training or induction modules

During Your Visit

  • Follow the site's COSHH control measures at all times
  • Wear the specified PPE — no shortcuts
  • Know the location of emergency eyewash stations, safety showers, and spill kits in your area
  • Don't eat, drink, or smoke in areas where hazardous substances are present
  • Don't handle any substances unless specifically authorised and trained
  • If you smell, taste, or feel anything unusual (irritation, dizziness, nausea), leave the area immediately and report it

Hazard Symbols (GHS)

Learn to recognise the standard GHS hazard pictograms on labels and SDS:

  • Skull and crossbones — Acute toxicity (fatal or toxic)
  • Exclamation mark — Irritant, harmful, narcotic
  • Corrosion — Corrosive to skin, eyes, or metals
  • Flame — Flammable
  • Flame over circle — Oxidiser
  • Gas cylinder — Compressed gas
  • Health hazard — Serious long-term health effects (carcinogen, mutagen, sensitiser)
  • Environment — Hazardous to the aquatic environment
  • Exploding bomb — Explosive

If you see a symbol you don't recognise, ask the site contact before proceeding.

Emergency Response

If You're Exposed

  1. Remove yourself from the source of exposure
  2. Remove contaminated clothing if safe to do so
  3. Wash affected skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes
  4. Eye exposure — Irrigate with clean water for at least 15 minutes, holding eyelids open
  5. Inhalation — Move to fresh air, rest in a comfortable position
  6. Seek medical attention — Even if symptoms seem minor. Tell medical staff what substance was involved.
  7. Report — To the site supervisor and to CRGI via HFORM03

If You Witness a Chemical Spill

  1. Do not attempt to clean it up unless you're trained and equipped
  2. Alert others in the area
  3. Notify the site supervisor or emergency response team
  4. Move upwind if outdoors, or leave the building via the nearest safe exit
  5. Report to CRGI

CRGI COSHH Register

CRGI maintains a COSHH Register (HREG16) covering substances used in our own operations. For a virtual consultancy, this is limited, but it includes: printer toner/ink, cleaning products used in home offices, and any materials handled during site visits. The register is reviewed annually.

For any substances you encounter on client sites, the client holds the COSHH assessment and SDS. You should request access to these documents for the areas you'll be working in.

COSHH Assessment Form

If your work involves introducing a new substance to CRGI operations (e.g. specialist materials for testing or prototyping), complete a COSHH Assessment Form (HFORM12) before use.

Key Takeaways

  • Know what hazardous substances are present before you enter a site area
  • Follow the site's control measures and wear specified PPE
  • Don't handle substances you haven't been trained and authorised to use
  • Know where emergency equipment is located
  • If exposed, decontaminate and seek medical attention — don't wait to see if symptoms develop
  • Report all exposures and near misses

CRGI Solutions HSQE Department | HSQEMS v2.0 | Classification: CRGI Information