COSHH Training Online - RoSPA & CPD Certified

COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. COSHH training teaches employees how to identify hazardous substances in the workplace, understand the health risks they present, and follow the correct procedures for safe handling, storage, and disposal. It covers the COSHH Regulations 2002, COSHH risk assessment, control measures, safety data sheets, hazard symbols, and what to do in the event of exposure or a spillage. This is awareness-level training — it gives staff the knowledge they need to work safely around hazardous substances.

Yes. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require employers to assess and control the risks from hazardous substances in the workplace. Regulation 12 specifically requires employers to provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction, and training to employees who are or may be exposed to hazardous substances. This applies to a far wider range of workplaces than most people realise — cleaning products, paints, adhesives, dust, fumes, and biological agents all fall under COSHH. If your employees come into contact with any of these, COSHH training is a legal obligation.

COSHH covers a wide range of hazardous substances including chemicals, products containing chemicals (such as cleaning agents, paints, adhesives, and solvents), fumes, dusts (including wood dust and flour dust), vapours, mists, gases, biological agents (bacteria, viruses, and fungi), and nanotechnology materials. It does not cover lead, asbestos, or radioactive substances, which have their own specific regulations. In practice, most workplaces — from offices using cleaning sprays to factories handling industrial chemicals — will have substances that fall under COSHH.

A COSHH risk assessment is a structured evaluation carried out by the employer to identify which hazardous substances are present in the workplace, how employees might be exposed, and what control measures are needed to prevent or reduce that exposure. It involves identifying the substances, checking safety data sheets, assessing who might be harmed and how, evaluating the level of risk, deciding on appropriate controls, recording the findings, and reviewing the assessment regularly. This course explains the COSHH risk assessment process step by step.

A safety data sheet (SDS) is a document provided by the manufacturer or supplier of a chemical product that contains detailed information about the substance, including its hazards, safe handling procedures, storage requirements, first aid measures, and emergency response guidance. Hazard symbols — now standardised under the GHS (Globally Harmonised System) and CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) regulations — are the red-bordered diamond-shaped pictograms found on product labels that indicate the type of hazard present, such as flammable, corrosive, toxic, or harmful. This course explains how to read and interpret both.

There are four main routes by which hazardous substances can enter the body: (1) Inhalation — breathing in dusts, fumes, vapours, mists, or gases. This is the most common route of exposure in the workplace. (2) Skin contact or absorption — direct contact with the substance or absorption through the skin. (3) Ingestion — swallowing the substance, often through contaminated hands or food. (4) Injection — the substance entering the body through a cut, puncture wound, or needle. This course explains each route clearly and how to protect against them.

Yes. This course is fully accredited by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the CPD Certification Service. The content has been independently reviewed and meets recognised standards for structured professional development. The dual accreditation provides strong, credible evidence of training for employers, auditors, insurers, and enforcement bodies.

Yes. The course is delivered entirely online. There are no scheduled sessions, classroom attendance, or booking required — you can start immediately after purchase and complete the training at a time and pace that suits you. You can pause at any point and pick up where you left off, making it easy to fit around a busy working day or shift pattern.

The course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. There are no time restrictions, so you can work through it at your own speed. This makes it practical for staff induction, refresher training, or rolling out COSHH awareness across an entire team without disrupting operations.

Yes. Upon successfully passing the final assessment, you will receive an instant digital COSHH Awareness Certificate confirming RoSPA and CPD accreditation. The certificate can be downloaded, printed, or stored electronically as part of your training records. There is no need to wait for anything in the post — your certificate is available immediately after you pass.

The certificate does not carry a fixed expiry date. However, the HSE recommends that COSHH training is refreshed regularly to ensure employees remain aware of the risks and know how to follow current safe working procedures. Many employers and industry standards require annual refresher training, particularly where employees are regularly exposed to hazardous substances. Given the low cost and short duration of this course, annual refresher training is a simple and effective way to stay compliant.