The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 ( COSHH ) deal with the safe use of hazardous substances . The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 is a United Kingdom Statutory Instrument that states general requirements on employers to protect employees and other persons from the hazards of substances used at work by risk assessment , control of exposure , health surveillance and incident planning . There are also duties on employees ' to take care of their own exposure to hazardous substances and prohibitions on the import of certain substances into the European Economic Area .