COSHH requires employers to:

• assess the risks to health from chemicals and decide what controls are needed;
• use those controls and make sure workers use them;
• make sure the controls are working properly;
• inform workers about the risks to their health;
• train workers.

The law requires that all staff who may come into contact with hazardous substances must receive appropriate training, and that proper COSHH assessments must be carried out. Hazardous substances come in every conceivable form, and include not only labelled products, but the by-products of work like fumes and dust, and infectious pathogens.