What COSHH covers in pharmacy

COSHH covers substances that can harm health. In pharmacy this includes more than labelled hazardous chemicals: biological agents from contamination or waste, exposures created by processes, spillages, and some medicines that present higher risk in certain situations.

Examples of COSHH-relevant exposure in pharmacy

• Cleaning and disinfectant products: sprays, concentrates, wipes, descalers and other products used on counters, floors, consultation rooms, fridges or toilets.
• Spillages and leaks: broken containers, leaking deliveries, contaminated waste bags or unknown liquids found in stock, work or cleaning areas.
• Waste and decontamination products: chemicals or contaminated items handled during cleaning, disposal or incident response.
• Biological agents: harmful micro-organisms in blood, vomit, body fluids, sharps contamination or other contamination and waste-handling situations.
• Hazardous medicines where relevant: for example cytotoxic drugs, which HSE identifies as hazardous substances under COSHH.

Who may be exposed?

COSHH can apply to cleaners, maintenance staff, delivery drivers, stockroom staff, dispensary teams, supervisors and anyone asked to deal with spillages, waste or hazardous substances as part of their duties.

Managers and supervisors usually need greater detail because they may be responsible for COSHH assessments, controls, storage, review and incident follow-up. Front-line staff do not normally write assessments, but they must understand local assessments and what controls mean for their work.

COSHH is not limited to technical staff or obvious chemicals. In pharmacy it applies to anyone whose work brings them into contact with hazardous substances, contaminated materials or spill response.