Working with hazardous substances is part and parcel of many trade businesses - from painters and decorators using solvents, to builders handling cement and dust. But navigating the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations can feel overwhelming, especially for small teams without dedicated safety officers.
At Graftly, we’re here to make COSHH compliance simple, clear, and actionable for UK trades. This guide breaks down the essentials, links to official resources, and shows how our platform helps you stay safe and legal.
COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. These UK regulations require employers and self-employed workers to control substances that could harm workers’ health.
Examples include:
For a complete list and definitions, visit the official HSE COSHH basics page.
Ignoring COSHH can lead to:
For trades, COSHH isn’t just bureaucracy - it’s about protecting your team and your business’s future.
Check product labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for any hazardous chemicals or materials.
Access SDS documents from suppliers or manufacturers and keep them on-site and accessible.
The risk assessment should evaluate how substances are used, stored, and disposed of, and identify who might be harmed.
You can follow the HSE COSHH risk assessment guide here.
Use the COSHH Hierarchy of Control:
Regularly check that control measures work, especially after accidents, new substances, or process changes.
Graftly’s platform simplifies COSHH management by letting you:
COSHH compliance is vital - not just to tick a box but to safeguard your workers and business. By following this simple process and using tools like Graftly, UK trades can make COSHH manageable and effective.
For more on health and safety compliance, check out our other guides or sign up to get early access to our COSHH templates and training resources.
