Exactly which hazardous substances are covered by COSHH regulations?

COSHH covers a surprisingly wide range of substances — not just bottled chemicals. The regulations apply to anything that can harm health if workers breathe it in, touch it, or ingest it. This includes dusts, fumes, mists, vapours, gases, and even naturally-occurring materials like flour or wood dust.

Substances with Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) fall under COSHH, but so do biological agents, cleaning chemicals, welding fumes, isocyanates, adhesives, solvents, spray paints, and combustion by-products. One exception is asbestos — it has its own regulations, though COSHH still expects general control principles to be followed.

If a substance can cause asthma, dermatitis, cancer, breathing issues or irritation, it’s almost always covered.