COSHH and RIDDOR Awareness

Course Overview

COSHH and RIDDOR are two of the most frequently misunderstood pieces of workplace health and safety legislation in the UK. Not because they are complicated, but because most people have only ever encountered them as an induction slide or a poster on a staffroom wall. They know the acronyms. They do not always know what the regulations actually require of them.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) place clear legal duties on employers and, in many cases, on employees directly. Failure to comply is not a paperwork issue. It can mean workers exposed to substances that cause long-term ill health, incidents going unreported that should have been investigated, and organisations facing enforcement action from the Health and Safety Executive that was entirely avoidable.

COSHH and RIDDOR Awareness Training gives learners a clear, practical understanding of what these regulations require, how they apply in their specific workplace, and what their responsibilities are day to day. It is suitable for any sector where hazardous substances are used or where accidents, incidents, and near misses occur, which covers virtually every workplace in the UK.

The course reflects current legal requirements under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, and aligns with guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Course Details

  • Duration: Typically 2 to 3 hours, adaptable to requirements
  • Delivery: In-person at your venue, or live online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams
  • Certificate: CPD-accredited certificate of achievement
  • Validity: 3 years. Refresher recommended sooner if workplace substances, processes, or reporting procedures change
  • Group size: Flexible for team training

Who This Course Is For

This course is right for anyone working in an environment where hazardous substances are present or where accidents and incidents could occur, including:

  • Employees in any sector who work with or around hazardous substances
  • Health and social care staff handling cleaning products, medications, or biological materials
  • Facilities, cleaning, and maintenance teams
  • Construction, manufacturing, and industrial workers
  • Hospitality and catering staff
  • Managers and supervisors with responsibility for risk assessments or incident reporting
  • Health and safety representatives
  • Employers with RIDDOR reporting obligations

No prior health and safety knowledge is needed.

Why This Training Matters

Hazardous substances are present in almost every workplace. Cleaning products. Disinfectants. Biological fluids. Dusts. Fumes. Solvents. The HSE estimates that tens of thousands of workers in Great Britain are made ill by their work every year, with occupational lung disease, skin conditions, and chemical exposure among the leading causes. Many of those cases are preventable. COSHH exists precisely to prevent them, by requiring employers to assess the risks, put controls in place, and ensure staff understand what they are working with and how to protect themselves.

RIDDOR sits alongside this as the legal framework for reporting. Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, certain injuries, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to the HSE within defined timescales. Many organisations are unaware of exactly which incidents fall within scope, and many reportable incidents go unreported as a result. That is a legal breach, and in the event of an HSE investigation, an unreported incident that should have been reported significantly worsens the organisation’s position.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all employees. Training staff to understand COSHH and RIDDOR is a core part of meeting that duty. It also protects the organisation. An employer who can demonstrate that staff were properly trained and that robust systems were in place is in a significantly stronger position than one who cannot, if something goes wrong.

What You Will Learn

By the end of the session, learners will be able to:

  • Explain what COSHH and RIDDOR are and what each regulation requires
  • Identify hazardous substances in their workplace and understand the associated risks
  • Recognise the routes of exposure, including inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion, and how to reduce them
  • Understand what a COSHH assessment is, what it must cover, and how control measures are applied
  • Handle, store, and dispose of hazardous substances safely and in line with COSHH requirements
  • Identify which injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences are reportable under RIDDOR
  • Understand reporting timescales, who is responsible for reporting, and how reports are submitted to the HSE
  • Record incidents accurately and in a way that supports investigation and learning
  • Understand their individual responsibilities under both sets of regulations

Course Content

Content is adapted to your sector and workplace, but typically covers:

  • COSHH Regulations 2002: purpose, scope, and what they require of employers and employees
  • Identifying hazardous substances: chemicals, cleaning agents, biological agents, fumes, dusts, and more
  • Routes of entry and health effects: how substances enter the body and the short and long-term consequences
  • COSHH risk assessments: what they are, what they must include, and how they inform safe working practice
  • Control measures: substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment
  • Safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances in practice
  • RIDDOR Regulations 2013: purpose, scope, and what must be reported
  • Reportable injuries: fatal accidents, specified injuries, and over-seven-day incapacitation injuries
  • Reportable occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences
  • Reporting timescales and responsibilities: who reports, when, and how
  • Record keeping and incident investigation: what to record and why it matters
  • The HSE’s role in enforcement and what an investigation looks like in practice

How the Course Is Delivered

Sessions are practical, grounded in real workplace situations, and designed to make the legal framework genuinely accessible rather than abstract.

Delivery includes:

  • Clear explanation of both regulations with workplace-relevant examples across different sectors
  • Practical exercises applying COSHH principles to substances and scenarios relevant to learners’ own working environments
  • Discussion of RIDDOR reporting obligations, including worked examples of what is and is not reportable
  • Time for questions, because COSHH and RIDDOR consistently generate them once people start applying the regulations to their own roles

Certification and Validity

On completion, learners receive a CPD-accredited certificate of achievement in COSHH and RIDDOR Awareness, valid for 3 years.

A refresher is recommended within that period if there are changes to the substances used in the workplace, changes to working processes, updates to HSE guidance, or following any significant incident or near miss. For organisations subject to HSE inspection, up-to-date training records are an important part of demonstrating compliance.

In-House and Bespoke Training

We adapt delivery to your workplace, your sector, and the specific hazards your team encounters.

We can build content around:

  • The specific substances and hazards present in your workplace, using your own COSHH assessments and data sheets
  • Your internal incident reporting systems and how they align with RIDDOR obligations
  • Sector-specific risks, such as biological agents in health and social care, chemical exposure in manufacturing, or cleaning products in hospitality and education
  • Management-level sessions with a stronger focus on COSHH assessment, risk management, and RIDDOR reporting responsibilities
  • Combined delivery with Health and Safety Awareness, Manual Handling, or Fire Safety Awareness for a broader compliance programme

Course Location and Service Areas

We deliver in-house training at your workplace or chosen venue across Manchester, Greater Manchester, and the wider North West. We also deliver nationally, including North England, South England, London, and Surrey.

For teams in multiple locations or with remote workers, this course is available live online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, with no drop in quality or interaction.

All sessions are led by experienced Prima Cura Training instructors. Every trainer holds an Enhanced DBS certificate.

FAQs

Is this a legal management qualification?

No. This is an awareness course that supports understanding of COSHH and RIDDOR responsibilities. It does not replace formal health and safety management qualifications or the requirement for employers to carry out their own COSHH assessments. Employers remain legally responsible for ensuring COSHH assessments are completed, control measures are in place, and RIDDOR reporting obligations are met.

Does every workplace need COSHH assessments?

Yes, if hazardous substances are present. The COSHH Regulations 2002 require employers to assess the risks from hazardous substances and put appropriate control measures in place. This applies across all sectors, including offices, care settings, schools, and hospitality environments, not just industrial or manufacturing workplaces. If your team uses cleaning products, disinfectants, or any substance with a hazard warning label, COSHH applies.

What types of incidents are reportable under RIDDOR?

Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, reportable incidents include work-related fatalities, specified injuries such as fractures and amputations, over-seven-day incapacitation injuries, certain occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences. Not every workplace accident is RIDDOR-reportable, but knowing which ones are, and within what timescale, is a legal requirement. This course covers that in practical detail.

Is this course suitable for staff who are not involved in risk assessments?

Yes. Frontline staff who work with hazardous substances or who may be involved in or witness an incident need to understand their responsibilities under both regulations, even if they are not the person completing the COSHH assessment or submitting the RIDDOR report. The course is structured to be relevant at every level of an organisation.

Can this be adapted for our specific workplace hazards?

Yes. We regularly build delivery around the specific substances, processes, and reporting systems relevant to a particular organisation. If you want learners to leave the session understanding how COSHH and RIDDOR apply to their actual working environment rather than a generic one, we can make that happen.

Related Courses

Book or Enquire

To book COSHH & RIDDOR Awareness training or to discuss a tailored option for your organisation, please get in touch with us using the form on this page or call.. We’re happy to advise on delivery options, group sizes, and suitability for your workplace.

Our Commitment to Quality and Compliance

At Prima Cura Training, all courses reflect current UK guidance and best practice.

All trainers are experienced professionals with relevant qualifications and ongoing CPD. Because many of the organisations we support work with vulnerable individuals, all trainers hold Enhanced DBS checks.

This course is reviewed against updates from the Health and Safety Executive, current UK health and safety legislation, including the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

You can read more on our Quality Assurance and Compliance page.

Reviewed by Stephanie Austin, Owner and Lead Trainer, Prima Cura Training 25+ years in health and social care | 15+ years as a trainer | Last reviewed: April 2026 | Next review: April 2027

This page is for general guidance only and reflects current UK health and safety legislation and HSE guidance as of the date of review. It does not constitute legal advice. This course is an awareness-level programme and does not replace the legal requirement for employers to carry out suitable and sufficient COSHH risk assessments, implement appropriate control measures, or fulfil their RIDDOR reporting obligations. Employers remain responsible for ensuring full compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, and all other applicable health and safety legislation. Where legal or technical advice is required, organisations should seek independent professional guidance. Prima Cura Training accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of this content alone.

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