Reading List

A curated Reading List to support and extend learning from COSHH for Pharmacy Teams.

The HSE resources below are the principal Great Britain sources for COSHH. Northern Ireland uses an equivalent framework through HSENI. These materials cover hazardous substances, risk assessment, control measures, training, labels, safety data sheets, and higher-risk medicines such as cytotoxics.

1. Core COSHH Guidance

• HSE - Working with substances hazardous to health: A brief guide to COSHH
  A practical HSE guide to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations and the steps employers should take to protect workers' health.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.htm

• HSE - COSHH basics: overview
  Explains what COSHH covers, the types of harmful substances involved, and the main duties to assess risk, provide controls, give training, and plan for emergencies.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/COSHH/basics/overview.htm

• HSE - How to carry out a COSHH risk assessment
  Guidance on identifying harmful substances, assessing exposure, applying the hierarchy of control, recording findings, and reviewing controls after change or incident.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/assessment.htm

• HSE - Training for employees working with substances hazardous to health
  Describes what employees need to know about risk assessment outcomes, hazards and exposures, safe work methods, and actions to take in an accident or spillage.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/training.htm

2. Labels, Safety Data Sheets, and PPE

• HSE - Chemical safety data sheets
  Explains the purpose of safety data sheets, what information they contain, and why they support but do not replace a local COSHH assessment.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/datasheets.htm

• HSE - Telling others about the classification: the hazard label
  Introduces chemical hazard labels and pictograms, and how labelling helps users handle substances safely and respond to incidents.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/chemical-classification/labelling-packaging/telling-others-classification-hazard-label.htm

• HSE - COSHH basics: Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  Explains why PPE is a last-resort control, and the need for correct selection, fitting, use and maintenance for it to be effective.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/ppe.htm

3. Higher-Risk Healthcare Tasks

• HSE - Safe handling of cytotoxic drugs in the workplace
  The HSE page explaining why cytotoxic drugs are hazardous under COSHH, who may be at risk, and the precautions required when these medicines are handled.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/safe-use-cytotoxic-drugs.htm

• GPhC - Standards for registered pharmacies
  Standards for pharmacy owners in Great Britain relevant to governance, safe systems, competent staff, and the environment in which pharmacy services are delivered.
  https://inspections.pharmacyregulation.org/standards

4. Northern Ireland Equivalent Framework

• HSENI - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
  The Northern Ireland overview of COSHH NI, what hazardous substances are covered, the main duties on employers, and the hierarchy of control.
  https://www.hseni.gov.uk/topics/control-substances-hazardous-health-coshh

• HSENI - COSHH (NI): A brief guide to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2003
  A brief guide to the COSHH regulations in Northern Ireland and what employers need to know about protecting staff from hazardous substances.
  https://www.hseni.gov.uk/publications/coshh-ni-brief-guide-control-substances-hazardous-health-regulations-2003

Use these readings to reinforce knowledge of COSHH duties, local risk assessment and control, appropriate PPE, emergency response, and the higher-risk situations some pharmacy teams may encounter.