COSHH toolbox talk

A free COSHH toolbox talk on the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. It covers risk assessment, how substances can harm you, control measures and safe use, and the hazard pictograms to look for on labels.

What the COSHH toolbox talk covers

Work processes use hazardous substances, and many create them as dust or fumes. Being exposed without the right controls can damage your health. The PDF is three pages (TBT009, version 3/2025) and includes:

  • COSHH risk assessment
  • How substances get into your body
  • Examples of hazardous substances on site
  • Control measures and safe use
  • The nine hazard pictograms
  • Questions for your team and a sign-off sheet

COSHH risk assessment

The COSHH Regulations 2002 require a competent person to assess the risks from hazardous substances before work starts. The assessment should show whether:

  • exposure to the substance can be avoided altogether
  • a less hazardous substance can be used instead
  • a different way of working would reduce exposure

Whatever controls the assessment sets out, everyone using the substance needs to know them and follow them.

How hazardous substances get into your body

  • Breathing in dust, fumes or vapours (inhalation)
  • Eating contaminated food or smoking contaminated cigarettes (ingestion)
  • Chemicals getting in through the skin or cuts (absorption)
  • High-pressure fluids or contaminated sharp objects breaking the skin (injection)

Examples on construction sites include cement, hardwood dust, concrete admixtures, solvent fumes, resins, epoxy paints, welding fumes, contaminated ground, asbestos and diisocyanates. Never mix chemicals unless you are following a safe, authorised process.

COSHH control measures and safe use

  • Follow the safe system of work and the controls in the COSHH assessment for each substance.
  • Get trained before you use any hazardous substance, and follow the instructions on the label.
  • Wear the correct PPE where it is required, and get damaged PPE replaced.
  • Don’t eat, drink or smoke while handling hazardous substances.
  • Don’t expose other people to your fumes, dust or vapours.
  • Wash your hands at the end of each shift and before eating, drinking or smoking.
  • Return substances to secure storage after use. Don’t leave them lying on site.

Hazard pictograms to look for

The red diamond pictograms on packaging tell you what kind of harm a substance can do. There are nine: explosive, flammable, oxidising, toxic, serious health hazard, harmful or irritant, corrosive, gas under pressure, and hazardous to the environment. Check the label and the safety data sheet before using any product.

Questions to ask your team

  • Before using a substance, what do you need to consider?
  • What are the ways a substance can enter your body?
  • What should you do with substances at the end of your shift?
  • Where can you find information about the substance you are using?
  • What can you wear to protect yourself?
  • Name five hazardous substances you might find at work.

Download the coshh toolbox talk PDF

Free to print and use with your team. It includes the questions above and a confirmation sheet for signatures.

Training and support for this topic

COSHH training

Our COSHH and infection control course for staff who handle hazardous substances.

View the course

Face fit testing

Mask and respirator fit testing for anyone who wears tight-fitting RPE.

Book face fit testing

A new talk every month

Hassle Free customers get a new toolbox talk every month.

About Hassle Free

Trusted by organisations across the South West

“The Asbestos Awareness course I found really interesting/fascinating and worrying. I found the Statistics re: Asbestosis, really highlighted the problem & identification of materials containing asbestos was useful for my working environment.”

SN
Avon Archaeology Ltd

“Happy with the advice and support received. Roger is great at what he does and offers very practical advice.”

 

DC
Roland DG UK Ltd

“Excellent anecdotes, course was entertaining and the trainer had great knowledge”

SBK
Bristol University

Foundation Level Manual Handling: “Thank you. A really great day. Very enjoyable and informative. 10/10”

K
Gloucester City Homes

“I found the Train the Trainer update training excellent and very informative and I found Sarah an excellent trainer”

S
South Gloucestershire Council

Asbestos Awareness: “Course contents and delivery was excellent. 10/10”

M
Wellsway School

Foundation Level Manual Handling and First Aid at Work:

“We received the above training over two weeks which was much appreciated. Although we have filled in individual feedback forms on the day, I thought I would give some positive feedback with regards to the course itself and both Acorn trainers.
The first aid course was extremely enjoyable. Whilst going through the mandatory information for the course, the Acorn trainer was able to adapt some areas of the course to suit our service needs which was great.
His delivery was excellent and we were laughing whilst learning.
The Manual Handling course was informative, hands-on and very thorough.
The Acorn trainer came across very knowledgeable & confident about this area and delivered the course at exactly the right pace.
Overall feedback from all that attended was positive.
I have recommended Acorn to our Training Manager for further courses throughout GCH”

L
Gloucester City Homes

“The part of the Level 3 Paediatric Fist Aid training I found most helpful was the CPR section and, understanding it in more depth, it’s really clicked this time! It’s given me confidence and solidified my previous knowledge. I love the focus on simplicity, a great presentation in language I understand.”

H
KIDS

“I have had first aid training and now the IOSH course through Acorn. both courses were great very professional with both trainers being excellent getting the point across in a very relaxed way. Thanks Roger for an enjoyable course. I thought the pace, content and the way in which it was presented was first class. As an added bonus I thought lunch was great”

RW
HH Willis Physics Lab

“The part I found most helpful was learning about the different types of epilepsy and the way to administer the medication.  I feel confident I will know what to look out for now.”

BD
Aspirations

“We are very happy with the service that Acorn provide. They are knowledgeable and very helpful especially when it comes to writing new policies or assisting in queries.”

T
Nash Partnership

“The most effective manual handling training session I have undertaken.”

DJ
Carmarthen Dialysis Unit

“Best manual handling I’ve been on so far. Plenty of practice with different equipment and scenarios. 10/10”

LH
Bristol Community Health

Train the Trainer annual update course: “It was amazing!!! The training room and the trainer were great. It was lots of other professionals on the training (including an OT from South Glos) and it just felt really good! It also helped that they provided a yummy lunch”

R
United Response

“Attended the Level 3 Paediatric First Aid training: Big thank you to the Acorn trainer, fantastic trainer, passionate, caring & brought the training to life with his experience and personality.”

R
Survive

Administration of Medicines to Children in Schools: “Great – informative and professionally run course. 10/10. Thank you!”

M
Clevedon School

“I found all of the 12 hour Paediatric First Aid course helpful! It was good to hear all the information and it made me feel more confident. I found Linda extremely clear in her explanations and teachings. The facilities were good and it was organised very well.”

CE
Hambrook Primary School

Client Manual Handling: “Very helpful, knowledgeable trainer who contextualised and adapted training very well when thinking about the needs of our learners. 10/10”

R
Weston College

“The Administering Medication training was helpful in understanding about EpiPens and how to administer eye drops.”

PB
Appleford School

“I just wanted to thank you for arranging the Administration of Medicines to Adults in Care training for us: it was excellent quality and the trainer, Sarah, engaged all team members really well. The staff were actively participating and all seemed to really benefit from the day.”

L
Bright Green Light

“The Emergency First Aid course was helpful specifically using the defibrillator. I found the course good fun.”

F
Celador Radio Ashton

“The delivery of the IOSH Managing Safely course was perfectly blended between reading and discussion/participation.”

DC
Rolland DG UK Ltd

“Very competent service helping us see through some red tape, to ensure we understand what it is we must and should do and what other aspects would be good practice”

Hassle Free
Haven Day Centre

“Health & Safety at our premises has improved considerably over the past 12-18 months with help and support of Roger and Team at Acorn Safety. Roger has given me the confidence o improve many areas of H&S where we needed procedures etc. I would recommend Acorn. 10/10”

MB
Polar Bear Windows

“The trainer kept my interest all day. I learnt so much more because it was interesting”

SH
South Gloucestershire Council

Fire Marshal with Live Fire: “Very good. More interesting than previous training I have done”

M
Fidelius

“Each and every part of the Asbestos Awareness course showed how ignorant I was concerning asbestos. I will ensure that work done in our premises will be done and recorded properly.”

JT
St Ursula's Academy

“The First Aid at Work Re-qualification course was helpful in reviewing changes in practice over the last 3 years. The defibrillator training will potentially help more people sooner. The Acorn trainer made everyone feel at ease & the group integrated and engaged quickly”

RE
The Limes Children's Centre

“I just wanted to let you know that 10 of our volunteers attended first aid training on Friday 19th May 2017 and we really enjoyed it! The Acorn trainer was a very entertaining trainer who has the ability to make it fun yet still deliver the important content! We all came away feeling confident with our new skills! A huge thank you for accommodating our needs as an organisation, we really appreciate it, and will  definitely be looking into other courses. Acorn deliver.”

LP
South Gloucester Parents & Carers

Fire Marshal with Live Fire: “Trainer was great, really knowledgeable, and the practical exercise was really helpful. 10/10”

K
Arcadia

Need help with coshh safety?

Our consultants can review your risk assessments and safe systems of work, and our trainers run courses at our Warmley centre between Bristol and Bath or at your premises. Call 0117 958 2070 or email [email protected].

Share This