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.
Face fit testing
Mask and respirator fit testing for anyone who wears tight-fitting RPE.
Trusted by organisations across the South West
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].