COSHH Course: Control of Substances Training

COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. The COSHH Regulations 2002 require employers to prevent or adequately control employee exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. These regulations apply to a vast range of substances — from industrial chemicals and biological agents to common construction materials that produce harmful dust or fumes.

For electricians, COSHH is directly relevant to your daily work. Every time you open a tin of PVC solvent cement, apply flux before soldering, use spray paint to mark cable routes, or drill into concrete producing silica dust, you are working with substances that fall within the scope of the COSHH Regulations. Without proper awareness and controls, repeated exposure to these substances can cause serious health problems including dermatitis, occupational asthma, chemical burns, and long-term respiratory disease.

The COSHH Regulations sit within the broader framework of UK health and safety law. The BS 7671 wiring regulations address electrical safety, but your overall wellbeing on site depends equally on understanding chemical and substance hazards. COSHH training is not optional — it is a legal requirement for anyone who uses or may be exposed to hazardous substances at work.

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Electricians work with a surprising number of hazardous substances during typical installation and maintenance work. Understanding what you are handling and the risks involved is the first step towards protecting yourself.

PVC solvent cement is used daily for joining plastic conduit and trunking. It contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including tetrahydrofuran and cyclohexanone that evaporate rapidly, producing vapours that can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Prolonged or repeated exposure without adequate ventilation can lead to liver and kidney damage.

Soldering flux used for terminating cables contains zinc chloride or rosin which produces toxic fumes when heated. Inhalation of soldering fumes can cause occupational asthma — a condition that, once developed, means permanent sensitivity and potentially the end of soldering work. Electricians carrying out inspection and testing work should also be aware of flux residues on older installations.

Drilling dust from concrete, brick, and blockwork contains respirable crystalline silica. Long-term exposure to silica dust causes silicosis — an irreversible lung disease. Even short-term high-level exposure can cause immediate respiratory problems. Every electrician who drills holes, chases walls, or cuts channels needs to understand the risks of construction dust.

Cable-pulling compounds, resin termination kits, expanding foam sealants, and adhesives all present their own chemical hazards. Some expanding foam sealants contain isocyanates — one of the leading causes of occupational asthma in the UK. The asbestos awareness course covers another critical substance hazard for electricians working in pre-2000 buildings.

A COSHH assessment is the cornerstone of substance safety on site. It is a systematic process of identifying hazardous substances, evaluating the risks they present, and determining the controls needed to protect workers. The COSHH Regulations require that assessments are carried out before any work with hazardous substances begins.

Step 1 — Identify the hazardous substances. List every substance you will use or encounter during the work activity. Include substances you bring to site (solvent cement, flux, spray paint) and substances generated by the work itself (dust, fumes, vapours). Obtain the safety data sheet (SDS) for every manufactured product.

Step 2 — Evaluate the hazards. The SDS provides detailed information about the dangers of each substance, including GHS classification, hazard statements (H-phrases), and precautionary statements (P-phrases). Determine the routes of exposure: inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, or ingestion.

Step 3 — Assess who is at risk and how. Consider not only the person using the substance but anyone else who could be exposed — other workers in the area, building occupants, or members of the public. Assess the duration, frequency, and level of exposure.

Step 4 — Determine control measures. Apply the hierarchy of control: eliminate the substance if possible, substitute with a less hazardous alternative, use engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation), implement safe working procedures, and provide appropriate PPE as a last line of defence.

Step 5 — Record, implement, and review. Document the assessment, ensure all workers understand the controls, and review the assessment regularly or whenever circumstances change. Recording your CPD activities including COSHH training demonstrates ongoing professional competence.

The hierarchy of control is the fundamental principle for managing exposure to hazardous substances. PPE should always be the last resort, not the first option. Understanding this hierarchy is essential for completing COSHH assessments correctly.

Elimination means removing the need for the hazardous substance entirely. For example, using push-fit conduit fittings instead of solvent-welded joints eliminates the need for PVC solvent cement altogether.

Substitution means replacing a hazardous substance with a less dangerous alternative. Water-based adhesives can sometimes replace solvent-based products, and mechanical fixings can replace chemical anchors.

Engineering controls include local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to capture fumes at source, dust extraction systems on power tools, and enclosed processes. When soldering in confined spaces, portable fume extraction units protect against flux fume inhalation.

PPE selection must match the specific hazard. Nitrile gloves resist solvents better than latex. Safety goggles (not just glasses) are needed when there is a splash risk. FFP3 respirators are required for silica dust exposure. Half-face respirators with A1 organic vapour cartridges protect against solvent fumes. The Elec-Mate course covers PPE selection for every common electrical scenario.

Whether you are working on a domestic installation or a large commercial project, the same COSHH principles apply. The scale may differ but the duty to assess and control remains the same.

Despite best efforts at prevention, incidents involving hazardous substances can occur. Knowing the correct emergency response could prevent a minor incident from becoming a serious injury.

Skin contact: Remove contaminated clothing immediately and flush the affected skin with large quantities of clean water for at least 15 minutes. Do not use solvents to remove chemicals from skin — this can increase absorption. Check the SDS for any substance-specific first aid measures.

Eye contact: Irrigate the affected eye with clean water or eyewash solution for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelids open. Do not rub the eye. Seek medical attention immediately for any corrosive substance splash.

Inhalation: Move the affected person to fresh air immediately. If they are having difficulty breathing, call 999 and administer oxygen if available and trained to do so. Solvent vapours and fumes from fire-related incidents can both cause acute respiratory problems.

Spillage: Ventilate the area, prevent the spill from spreading (use absorbent materials or bunds), and keep ignition sources away from flammable substances. Refer to the SDS for specific spill response guidance. Report all incidents and near misses as required under RIDDOR where applicable.

Interactive emergency procedure scenarios

The Elec-Mate COSHH course includes scenario-based assessments where you practise responding to chemical spills, splash injuries…

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