Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) on farm

COSHH regulations aim to reduce the risk of exposure to harmful substances able to affect the health of workers, livestock and even the environment. These include materials which are not necessarily labelled as ‘hazardous’ but can cause serious ill health, e.g. grain dust, animal diseases and fumes or gas produced by other processes. 

Substances covered by COSHH regulations 

• Pesticides and herbicides  

• Fertilisers (especially nitrogen-based fertilisers or those containing ammonium nitrate) 

• Veterinary medicines (e.g. antibiotics, wormers) 

• Fuel and oil (e.g. diesel, lubricants) 

• Dusts (e.g. grain, silage, animal feed) 

• Slurry gases (e.g. hydrogen sulphide, methane, ammonia) 

• Cleaning agents and disinfectants 

• Micro-organisms (e.g. leptospirosis, cryptosporidium)

Please note Lead and asbestos are covered by other more specific regulations.

 

What the regulations require  

1. Identify hazardous substances

List all substances used or produced on the farm with the potential to pose a health risk. 

2. Assess the risk

Understand how staff might be exposed (e.g. inhalation, skin contact), the frequency of exposure and the potential health impacts, before determining what controls need to be put in place. 

3. Control exposure

Implement appropriate control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk: 

• Wear PPE (gloves, masks, overalls) correctly and minimise the handling of harmful materials 

• Use closed systems for transferring materials (e.g. animal feed), put lids on bins and install adequate ventilation, including dust extraction. Check ventilation equipment is working correctly at least every 14 months   

• Store substances correctly – see below box on handling and storing pesticides and other chemicals 

• Substitute with less harmful substances or processes where possible 

4. Provide information and training

All farm staff must know how to handle substances safely and the risks they pose if not. This includes proper storage, handling and disposal procedures, referring to safety data sheets where necessary.  

5. Monitor exposure 

In some cases, it may be necessary to monitor exposure to prevent potential health impacts and protect health, such as for those in contact with grain dust or pesticide vapours. Almost all farmers, whether on livestock or arable farms, are exposed to dust from grain, hay, haylage and silage, and can result in conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and farmer’s lung. Grain dust exposure must remain below the workplace exposure limit (WEL) of 10mg/m3. 

6. Maintain records

COSHH risk assessments and health surveillance records must be kept up to date and accessible. If you have more than five employees, this is a legal requirement but good practice whatever the size of your team. 

7. Plan for accidents and emergencies

Have procedures in place for dealing with spills, leaks or accidental exposures. These should be explained in your staff training and include notifying contractors or temporary workers. 

Further information: Advice sheets about keeping farm staff safe through compliance with specific aspects of the COSHH regulations are available from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). 

 

Handling and storing pesticides and other chemicals  

A chemical store is one of the most dangerous places on a farm. These products should always be used and stored with care: 

• Have a safety plan and control measures for storing chemicals on your farm, including a maintenance log and up-to-date inventory. 

• Always follow the manufacturer’s storage recommendations and safety data sheets Check if the product has a danger label, whether it produces any harmful by-products and how to minimise them. 

• Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face shields, gloves and overalls. 

• First aid equipment must be provided and, when handling chemicals, eyewash kits are a simple and effective way to give immediate treatment if splashes occur. You must ensure none of the medical supplies are out of date. 

• Beware of flammable substances and those which give off clouds of dust. 

• Consider installing dust extractors/fresh air blowers.  

• Provide training for all operators, including how to use and store each chemical safely and what to do in the event of a spillage. 

• Store chemicals in leak-proof, fire-resistant buildings or cupboards, which should always be locked. 

• Use shelving within a store to allow adequate space between products for easy access and identification. Powders and granulated products should be stored above liquids. 

• Check a suitable bund of non-fragile, impermeable material, such as metal, concrete, bricks or stone slabs is in place. 

• Use licensed waste disposal sites or contractors to dispose of chemicals and contaminated materials safely and legally. 

Taken from the Cornish Mutual farm information guide: Safety on the farm 

 

Further information on handling and storing pesticides 

• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) (COSHH)  

• Plant Protection Products Regulations 2011 and the Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012  

• The Biocidal Products Regulations and the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA)