What is a 'substance hazardous to health'?
COSHH covers substances that are hazardous to health. Substances can take many forms and include:
- products containing chemicals
- gases and asphyxiating gases and
- biological agents (germs). If the packaging has any of the hazard symbols then it is classed as a hazardous substance.
- germs that cause diseases such as leptospirosis or legionnaires disease and germs used in laboratories.
COSHH does not cover
because these have their own specific regulations.