COSHH Awareness Training: What Should Employees Learn?

Working with hazardous substances is part of the daily routine in many workplaces across the UK. Cleaning products, dust, fumes, vapours, gases, solvents, oils, paints, powders, mists and even some biological agents can pose real health risks if they are not properly identified, assessed and controlled. This is why COSHH Awareness Training is so important for companies wishing to protect workers, fulfil their legal responsibilities and improve workplace safety.

COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. The COSHH Regulations require employers to control exposure to substances hazardous to health and to take appropriate measures to prevent ill health. According to the HSE, workers must receive information, instruction and training when working with substances hazardous to health, including cleaning and maintenance staff.

A good COSHH awareness course should not be treated merely as a formality. It should help employees recognise hazards, understand the risks posed in their own workplace and apply appropriate control measures on a day-to-day basis.

What is COSHH Awareness Training?

COSHH Awareness Training is an introductory course on how to identify, understand and control hazardous substances in the workplace. Its aim is not to turn every employee into a technical assessor, but to ensure that workers know how to work safely, follow instructions and recognise when a situation needs to be reported.

In practice, awareness training should explain what substances hazardous to health are, how they can cause harm, what the duties of employers and workers are, how COSHH risk assessments work, and why control measures need to be applied consistently during day-to-day work associated with hazardous substances.

For many learners, this type of course is their first structured encounter with the COSHH Regulations. The language should therefore be clear, practical and linked to real-life situations, such as storing chemicals, using local ventilation, following label instructions, consulting safety data sheets and using PPE correctly where required. By the end of the course, learners should be better able to identify hazardous substances, recognise health risks and apply appropriate control measures to reduce workplace exposure.

Why is COSHH Training So Important?

The impact of hazardous substances is not always immediately apparent. Some effects can be acute, such as eye irritation, dizziness, chemical burns or breathing difficulties. Others may develop slowly, following months or years of exposure. These include occupational dermatitis, occupational asthma, lung diseases and certain types of cancer linked to past exposure.

The latest HSE data highlights the scale of the problem. In 2024/25, around 1.9 million workers in Great Britain were suffering from work-related ill health, while thousands of annual deaths from occupational lung disease are still linked to past workplace exposure.

These figures make it clear that health and safety training is not merely a paperwork requirement. When properly implemented, COSHH training helps to protect workers, reduce errors, improve safe behaviour and create a culture in which employees understand the importance of controlling risks before they cause harm.

Which Hazardous Substances Should Employees Be Able to Identify?

One of the key learning outcomes of any COSHH awareness course is to help employees identify hazardous substances in their workplace. Many people think only of chemicals with hazard labels, but the concept is broader.

Substances hazardous to health can include liquids, gases, vapours, dusts, fumes, mists, powders, gels and harmful microorganisms. Some appear as purchased, labelled products. Others are generated by processes such as cutting, sanding, welding, mixing, spraying, industrial cleaning or maintenance.

This means that employees need to look beyond the packaging. A common cleaning product may be safe under certain conditions, but dangerous if mixed with another. Dust generated during a process may be more significant than the original solid material. Proper awareness helps workers recognise these scenarios before exposure occurs.

What Should Employees Learn About COSHH Risk Assessments?

COSHH risk assessments are essential for controlling exposure. Not all employees need to know how to carry out a full assessment, but everyone should understand the aspects that affect their work.

Workers must understand the outcome of the risk assessment and what it means for them. This includes the hazards and risks, any applicable workplace exposure limits, the results of exposure monitoring, the overall results of health surveillance, and what to do in the event of a spill or emergency.

Employees should leave the training able to answer simple questions:

• What substance is being used?
• How can it cause harm?
• Who might be affected?
• What control measures must be followed?
• What should they do if something goes wrong?
• When should they report a fault, symptom or concern?

This understanding is essential because a COSHH assessment only works if it is applied in the real workplace. A well-written document does not protect anyone if employees do not understand the instructions or do not know how to implement the controls.

Control Measures: What Should Be Applied On a Day-to-day Basis?

Control measures are actions taken to eliminate or reduce exposure. They may include substitution with a less hazardous substance, closed systems, ventilation, local exhaust ventilation, safe working practices, correct storage, proper cleaning, signage, training and PPE.

An important point is that PPE should not be seen as the only solution. Gloves, masks, goggles and aprons may be necessary, but they depend on correct use, maintenance and replacement. Wherever possible, more effective control measures should reduce the risk at source.

Employees must also learn to follow simple yet critical procedures such as keeping containers closed, not removing labels, not mixing substances without authorisation, reporting spills, following storage instructions and using control equipment exactly as intended.

Workplace Exposure Limits, Monitoring and Health Surveillance

Some hazardous substances have workplace exposure limits, known as WELs. These limits specify the maximum concentrations of certain substances in the air, averaged over specific periods. The HSE maintains the official list in EH40, which sets out legally binding limits in Great Britain for substances covered by COSHH and supports wider compliance with workplace health regulations.

Where there is a significant risk of exposure, the company may need to carry out monitoring to check that the controls are working. In some cases, health surveillance may also be required, which serves to identify early signs of work-related health problems. This does not replace preventive measures; on the contrary, it reinforces the need to control exposure before harm occurs.

For employees, the key point is to understand why these processes exist and how to cooperate with them. Attending assessments, reporting symptoms and following safety instructions are all part of working safely in environments where hazardous substances are present.

Learning Outcomes of a COSHH Awareness Course

By the end of a COSHH awareness course, learners should understand the course aims and have sufficient knowledge to recognise risks and take appropriate action. The learning objectives typically include understanding the COSHH Regulations, identifying substances hazardous to health, recognising health risks, understanding COSHH assessments, following control measures and knowing when to seek guidance.

It is also important that employees understand their own responsibilities. Whilst the employer has clear legal duties, workers must also cooperate, use equipment correctly, follow procedures and report faults or unsafe situations.

In an online course, some providers may offer instant access, login details and a digital certificate after successful completion, sometimes with immediate download from the training platform. Certificate expiry dates and refresher training recommendations can vary by provider, risk level and employer policy. In face-to-face or instructor-led training, the benefit usually lies in direct interaction, discussion of real-life scenarios and the ability to link the content to specific workplace risks. The best format depends on the type of work, the level of risk and the company’s needs.

Who Should Undertake COSHH Awareness Training?

COSHH awareness is relevant to anyone who works with, near, or in environments where hazardous substances may be present. This includes cleaners, maintenance workers, industrial workers, technicians, laboratory staff, construction workers, oil and gas teams, supervisors, contractors and managers responsible for health and safety.

Evolve Training recommends its COSHH Awareness course for all staff, as it focuses on providing an effective understanding of the requirements for controlling substances hazardous to health in the workplace and supporting compliance. The course also covers COSHH Regulations, the duties of employers and employees, risk assessment, prevention and control of exposure, control methods, monitoring exposure, health surveillance, workplace exposure limits and PPE.

Why Choose Evolve Training?

Choosing the right training is essential for turning compliance into safe behaviour. Evolve Training offers a half-day COSHH Awareness course in Aberdeen, aimed at professionals who need to understand the requirements for controlling hazardous substances in the workplace.

The company also offers a wide range of approved and accredited health and safety courses, covering areas such as NEBOSH, IOSH and COSHH, with a focus on improving workplace safety and supporting professional development.

For organisations wishing to train employees in a clear and practical way, Evolve Training is a strong choice because it links legal requirements to real-life situations encountered at work. Its COSHH Awareness course is designed for all personnel and focuses on the practical control of hazardous substances in the workplace. Learners should not merely complete a course; they should leave with the confidence to identify hazards, apply control measures and work safely.

Employers can check available dates, discuss multiple learners or contact Evolve Training directly for course access, booking support or account help.

1 Day COSHH Assessor course available.

FAQ