Welcome

Disinfecting with an unlabelled cleaning product

COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. In pharmacy practice, many staff handle or work near substances that can harm health if not identified, stored, used and controlled correctly. These include cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, waste and spillages, decontamination products, certain medicines, and biological material in some contamination or waste-handling situations.

Exposure can occur via skin contact, splashes to the eyes, inhalation, accidental ingestion, or contact with contaminated surfaces that spread the hazard beyond its source.

This course is intended for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dispensers, medicines counter staff, delivery and stockroom staff, cleaners, waste handlers, managers and supervisors who face realistic exposure to hazardous substances. Staff whose duties are solely office-based may only need local awareness-level instruction rather than full COSHH training.

The content follows current HSE guidance for Great Britain. Northern Ireland uses an equivalent COSHH framework through HSENI, so teams there should apply local legal requirements and workplace arrangements alongside the principles in this course.

Why This Course Matters

COSHH risks in pharmacy often arise from routine tasks: cleaning contaminated surfaces, using concentrated products, handling returned waste, opening deliveries, poor storage, or responding to a spill without knowing the hazard. These everyday activities can cause exposure unless appropriate controls are in place.

• Recognise hazardous substances: identify what COSHH covers in pharmacy and who may be exposed.
• Use controls properly: understand why risk assessment, correct storage, clear procedures and training matter more than relying on gloves alone.
• Respond safely to problems: know the immediate steps for spillage, leaks, exposure incidents and other emergencies.
• Work role-appropriately: appreciate why managers and higher-risk services need more detailed arrangements, while all exposed staff require clear, practical instructions.

How This Course Will Help You

On completion you should be better able to spot COSHH risks in pharmacy work, follow local control measures, interpret labels and safety information confidently, and respond safely to spills, waste and hazardous substances relevant to your role.