Your responsibilities for health, safety and the environment

Substances covered by health, safety and environmental law

Special health and safety rules cover potentially dangerous substances. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), you need to protect employees and others who could be exposed to risks from the use of hazardous substances in your business.

Every business needs to think about the risks to people or the environment posed by:

• chemicals or hazardous substances classified as hazardous to health under the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002 (CHIP)
• substances produced by work activities - such as fumes from soldering or welding
• bacteria and other micro-organisms
• dust - if its concentration in the air exceeds a set level
• hazardous substances including pesticides, medicines and asbestos

See our guides on special requirements and approved codes of practice and how to protect employees and the environment from dust and fumes.

Any hazardous substances you buy should be appropriately labelled. Suppliers of hazardous substances should also provide you with a safety data sheet which will give you the information you need to carry out your risk assessment. Download guidance on safety data sheets from the HSE website (PDF).

For every hazardous substance, you must decide if any risks arise and how you will minimise them. You may be able to eliminate the risk by changing the process or activity involved so that the substance isn't needed.

If this isn't possible you might use the substance in a less hazardous form. Ultimately you must implement measures to control exposure to such substances. You can find out about steps to control exposure to hazardous substances on the COSHH Essentials website.

You must also ensure that employees follow the health and safety procedures which you specify as a result of your risk assessment. Download the guide to the COSHH Regulations from the HSE website (PDF).

Remember too, the risks that materials may pose to the environment - for example when you dispose of chemicals or if your production process releases fumes. You must also consider the storage of goods and materials to ensure you control any potential risks and comply with regulations. For information on the storage of materials, see our guide to storing goods and materials.

For information about your environmental responsibilities, see the page in this guide on how to comply with key environmental rules.

Get information on health and safety issues affecting businesses in Northern Ireland at the HSENI website or contact the HSENI Enquiry Line on Tel 0800 0320 121.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Comply with key health and safety rules
• Comply with key environmental rules
• Who ensures that health and safety and environmental law is being complied with?
• Do I need to license or register my business?
• Make sure your business is properly insured
• Substances covered by health, safety and environmental law
• Activities covered by health and safety laws
• Maintain high standards of occupational health
• Health, safety and the environment in specific sectors
• Checklist: protecting health, safety and the environment
• Here's how my business approaches health and safety issues

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