COSHH Assessment for Cleaning Chemicals: What You Need to Know

TL;DR: If you run a cleaning business, every chemical you use that carries a hazard warning needs its own COSHH assessment. That includes bleach, toilet cleaner, degreaser, disinfectant — even the multi-surface spray you buy from the supermarket. You need to get the Safety Data Sheet for each product, identify the hazards and H-codes, decide on control measures (ventilation, PPE, safe storage), and write it all down. This guide walks you through the entire process with real examples, real H-codes, and plain-English explanations of what everything means.

Introduction: Why Cleaners Need COSHH Assessments

If you own a cleaning business — even if it is just you with a mop and a caddy — you are working with hazardous substances every single day. That is not an exaggeration. It is a legal fact.

Bleach is corrosive. Toilet cleaner contains hydrochloric acid. That lemon-scented degreaser you use on kitchen hobs is alkaline enough to burn skin on contact. Even the multi-surface spray most cleaners take for granted contains surfactants that are classified as hazardous under the CLP Regulation (Classification, Labelling and Packaging).

The law does not care whether a product is “industrial strength” or something you picked up in Tesco. If it has a hazard pictogram on the label — one of those red-bordered diamond symbols — it falls under COSHH, and you need to assess it.

In the United Kingdom, this obligation comes from the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. In Ireland, the equivalent is the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2001, enforced under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

Both sets of regulations say the same thing in different words: if you use hazardous substances at work, you must assess the risks and put controls in place. If you employ anyone — even one person — you must record your assessments in writing.

And if you are a sole trader? You still need to do the assessment. You may not be legally required to write it down if you have no employees, but you are still required to carry out the process. In practice, most sole traders write them down anyway, because clients and letting agents increasingly ask to see them.

If you are new to COSHH and want a broader overview of what it involves, our complete COSHH assessment guide covers the fundamentals across all industries. This article focuses specifically on the chemicals you will encounter in a cleaning business.

Which Cleaning Chemicals Need a COSHH Assessment?

The short answer: any product with a hazard pictogram on the label. The slightly longer answer: almost everything in your cleaning caddy.

Here is a breakdown of the most common cleaning chemicals that require a COSHH assessment, along with their typical hazard classifications and the H-codes you will find on their Safety Data Sheets.

Chemical	Active Ingredient(s)	Common H-Codes	Key Hazard	PPE Required
Bleach	Sodium hypochlorite	H314, H400	Corrosive to skin/eyes; toxic to aquatic life	Nitrile gloves, eye protection
Multi-surface cleaner	Various surfactants (e.g. alkyl polyglucoside)	H319, H412	Eye irritant; harmful to aquatic life	Nitrile gloves
Kitchen degreaser	Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide	H290, H314, H318	Corrosive; causes serious eye damage	Nitrile gloves, eye protection, apron
Toilet cleaner	Hydrochloric acid	H290, H314, H335	Corrosive; may cause respiratory irritation	Nitrile gloves, eye protection, ventilation
Glass cleaner	Isopropanol, ammonia	H225, H319, H336	Flammable; eye irritant; may cause drowsiness	Nitrile gloves, ventilation
Disinfectant	Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs)	H302, H314, H400	Harmful if swallowed; corrosive; aquatic toxicity	Nitrile gloves, eye protection
Floor polish/stripper	Solvents (e.g. 2-butoxyethanol)	H302, H312, H332	Harmful by all routes of exposure	Nitrile gloves, ventilation, eye protection
Limescale remover	Phosphoric acid, citric acid, sulphamic acid	H290, H314	Corrosive to metals and skin	Nitrile gloves, eye protection

Do not assume “mild” products are exempt

This is where a lot of cleaning business owners come unstuck. You might think that because a product is sold in a supermarket, it must be safe enough to skip the paperwork. That is not how COSHH works.

Look at the back of any branded bleach bottle. You will see the corrosion pictogram (the symbol showing liquid dripping onto a hand and a surface). That single pictogram means the product is classified as corrosive under CLP, and you are legally required to assess it.

The same goes for washing-up liquid in bulk quantities, antibacterial sprays, and even some air fresheners. If the label has a hazard pictogram, it needs a COSHH assessment. No exceptions.

A note on “own brand” and trade-name products

If you buy products from a cleaning supplies wholesaler under a trade name, the same rules apply. The manufacturer or supplier is legally obliged to provide you with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for every hazardous product they sell. If they cannot provide one, do not buy from them.

Where to Find Safety Data Sheets

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is the single most important document you need for each cleaning chemical. It is a standardised document — usually 8 to 16 pages — that tells you everything about a product’s hazards, safe handling, storage requirements, and emergency procedures.

You need an SDS for every hazardous chemical you use. Without it, you simply cannot complete a COSHH assessment.

How to get them

There are three main ways to obtain Safety Data Sheets:

Ask your supplier. Under both UK and Irish law, suppliers are legally required to provide an SDS for any hazardous product they sell. If you buy your chemicals from a wholesaler or distributor, ask for the SDS at the time of purchase. Most good suppliers will include them automatically or have them available on their trade accounts.
Check the manufacturer’s website. Most major cleaning product manufacturers publish their SDS documents online. Search for the exact product name followed by “Safety Data Sheet” or “SDS.” For example, searching “Domestos Professional Original Bleach SDS” will usually take you straight to the document.
Contact the manufacturer directly. If you cannot find an SDS online, phone or email the manufacturer. They are legally obliged to provide one.

Your legal right to an SDS

This is worth emphasising: you have a legal right to receive a Safety Data Sheet for any hazardous product you purchase for use at work. Under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 — which still applies in both the UK (as retained EU law) and Ireland — suppliers must provide an SDS free of charge, in the official language of the country, and in the most up-to-date version.

If a supplier refuses to provide one, or claims they do not have one for a hazardous product, that is a red flag. Find another supplier.

How to Read a Safety Data Sheet

A Safety Data Sheet has 16 sections, laid out in a standardised format. You do not need to memorise all 16, but you do need to understand the ones that feed directly into your COSHH assessment.

The 16 sections at a glance

Identification of the substance/mixture and of the company
Hazards identification
Composition/information on ingredients
First-aid measures
Fire-fighting measures
Accidental release measures
Handling and storage
Exposure controls/personal protection
Physical and chemical properties
Stability and reactivity
Toxicological information
Ecological information
Disposal considerations
Transport information
Regulatory information
Other information

The sections that matter most for COSHH

For the purpose of completing a COSHH assessment, focus on these three:

Section 2 — Hazards Identification. This is where you find the GHS classification, the hazard pictograms, the signal word (Danger or Warning), the H-codes (hazard statements), and the P-codes (precautionary statements). This section is the backbone of your COSHH assessment.

Section 7 — Handling and Storage. This tells you how to handle the product safely (ventilation requirements, temperatures, incompatible materials) and how to store it (away from sunlight, away from acids, upright, in a locked cupboard, etc.). This feeds directly into your control measures.

Section 8 — Exposure Controls / Personal Protection. This specifies the Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) if applicable, and tells you exactly what PPE the manufacturer recommends: glove type and material, eye protection standard, respiratory protection requirements, and protective clothing.

A practical tip

Print out Section 2, Section 7, and Section 8 for each product. Keep them in a folder alongside your COSHH assessments. When an inspector asks to see your assessments, having the relevant SDS pages to hand shows you have done the work properly — not just ticked a box.

Step by Step: Filling in a COSHH Assessment Form

Let us walk through a complete COSHH assessment using bleach (sodium hypochlorite) as a worked example. This is one of the most common chemicals in any cleaning business, and it is a good one to start with because the hazards are well-documented and straightforward.

If you want a broader understanding of the COSHH assessment process across different industries, see our general COSHH assessment guide.

Step 1: Identify the substance

Product name: Domestos Professional Original Bleach (or whatever brand you use)
Active ingredient: Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), typically at 3-5% concentration
Supplier: Purchased from [your wholesaler]
SDS obtained: Yes / date obtained

Step 2: Record the hazards (from the SDS)

From Section 2 of the SDS:

GHS Classification: Skin Corr. 1A (H314); Aquatic Acute 1 (H400)
Hazard pictograms: Corrosion (GHS05), Environment (GHS09)
Signal word: Danger
H-codes:
- H314 — Causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage
- H400 — Very toxic to aquatic life
P-codes (key ones):
- P280 — Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection
- P301+P330+P331 — IF SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting
- P305+P351+P338 — IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing

Step 3: Identify who is at risk

Cleaning operatives using the product
Other people in the building during cleaning (building occupants, office workers)
Vulnerable groups: anyone with asthma, eczema, or skin conditions

Step 4: Assess the level of risk

Consider:

Route of exposure: Skin contact (splashes during use), eye contact (splashes), inhalation (chlorine fumes, especially in poorly ventilated areas like bathrooms), ingestion (accidental — unlikely but possible if decanted into unmarked containers)
Frequency of use: Daily
Duration of exposure: 15-30 minutes per cleaning session
Concentration: Used diluted as per manufacturer’s instructions (typically 1:10 or 1:5 with water)
Risk level: Medium (corrosive product used frequently, but diluted and with controls in place)

Step 5: Decide on control measures

This is the most important part. Use the hierarchy of controls (covered in detail below):

Elimination: Can you stop using bleach altogether? In most cases, no — it is needed for sanitisation.
Substitution: Can you use a less hazardous alternative? Consider whether a hydrogen peroxide-based product would work for some tasks.
Engineering controls: Ensure adequate ventilation. Open windows in bathrooms. Do not use in enclosed spaces without airflow.
Administrative controls: Train staff on correct dilution ratios. Never decant into unmarked containers. Display the SDS in the chemical storage area. Include bleach in your COSHH training for new starters.
PPE: Nitrile gloves (minimum standard EN 374). Safety glasses or goggles when there is a splash risk. Apron if decanting or diluting from concentrate.

Step 6: Record emergency procedures

Skin contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Wash skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
Eye contact: Rinse immediately with clean water for at least 15 minutes. Hold eyelids open. Seek immediate medical attention.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, seek medical attention.
Spillage: Ventilate the area. Absorb with inert material (sand, vermiculite). Do not wash into drains.

Step 7: Review date

Set a review date — at least once a year, or sooner if you change products, change how you use them, or if someone has an incident.

Our Cleaning Business Kit includes individual COSHH assessments for 8 common cleaning chemicals — each with real H-codes, GHS classifications, and control measures already filled in. It saves you the work of building each assessment from scratch.

GHS Hazard Pictograms and H-Codes Explained

If you have ever looked at a Safety Data Sheet and felt overwhelmed by codes like H314 or H400, you are not alone. These codes are part of the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of classification and labelling, and once you understand the logic, they are actually quite simple.

The pictograms

There are nine GHS hazard pictograms. The ones you will encounter most often in cleaning are:

GHS05 — Corrosion (liquid dripping on hand/surface): The product can burn skin, damage eyes, or corrode metals. Found on bleach, toilet cleaner, degreasers, and limescale removers.
GHS07 — Exclamation Mark (exclamation mark): The product is an irritant — it may cause skin irritation, eye irritation, or respiratory irritation. Found on many multi-surface cleaners and some disinfectants.
GHS08 — Health Hazard (silhouette of a person): The product may cause serious long-term health effects such as organ damage, cancer, or respiratory sensitisation. Less common in everyday cleaning products, but found on some industrial solvents.
GHS09 — Environment (dead fish/tree): The product is toxic to aquatic life. Found on bleach and many disinfectants.
GHS02 — Flame (flame symbol): The product is flammable. Found on glass cleaners containing isopropanol and some floor polish strippers.

How H-codes work

H-codes (hazard statements) are standardised phrases that describe the nature and severity of a hazard. They follow a simple numbering system:

H2xx — Physical hazards (e.g. H225 = Highly flammable liquid and vapour)
H3xx — Health hazards (e.g. H314 = Causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage; H335 = May cause respiratory irritation)
H4xx — Environmental hazards (e.g. H400 = Very toxic to aquatic life)

Common H-codes in cleaning chemicals

H-Code	Statement	Where You Will See It
H225	Highly flammable liquid and vapour	Glass cleaners, some floor strippers
H290	May be corrosive to metals	Toilet cleaners, limescale removers, strong degreasers
H302	Harmful if swallowed	Disinfectants, some floor polishes
H314	Causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage	Bleach, toilet cleaner, degreasers, limescale removers
H318	Causes serious eye damage	Strong alkaline degreasers
H319	Causes serious eye irritation	Multi-surface cleaners, glass cleaners
H335	May cause respiratory irritation	Toilet cleaner (hydrochloric acid), bleach in enclosed spaces
H336	May cause drowsiness or dizziness	Glass cleaners, solvent-based strippers
H400	Very toxic to aquatic life	Bleach, many disinfectants
H412	Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects	Multi-surface cleaners, some disinfectants

When you see these codes on an SDS, copy them directly into your COSHH assessment. They form the factual basis of your hazard identification.

Control Measures for Cleaning Chemicals

Once you have identified the hazards, you need to decide what controls to put in place. The law requires you to follow the hierarchy of controls — a ranking system that puts the most effective measures first and PPE last.

The hierarchy of controls

1. Elimination — remove the hazard entirely. Can you stop using the chemical altogether? For a cleaning business, this is rarely possible for core products, but you might eliminate certain chemicals from your kit. For example, if you carry a separate limescale remover and a separate toilet cleaner, could you consolidate to one product that does both?

2. Substitution — replace with something less hazardous. This is often the most practical first step. Can you switch from a solvent-based floor stripper to a water-based one? Can you use a hydrogen peroxide disinfectant instead of a bleach-based one? Check the H-codes on alternatives — fewer codes and lower severity means a less hazardous product.

3. Engineering controls — physically reduce exposure. For cleaning work, this mainly means ventilation. Open windows and doors when using products that produce fumes (bleach in bathrooms, floor strippers in enclosed areas). If you are spraying products, use trigger sprays on a stream setting rather than a fine mist setting — this reduces the amount of airborne chemical you inhale.

4. Administrative controls — change the way people work. This covers a wide range of practical measures:

Train all staff on safe dilution ratios (over-concentrated solutions are more hazardous and wasteful)
Display COSHH information and SDS summaries where chemicals are stored
Never decant chemicals into unmarked containers
Rotate tasks so no single person is exposed to the same chemical all day
Include COSHH in your induction training for new staff

5. PPE — personal protective equipment. PPE is the last line of defence, not the first. You should always use it alongside other controls, not instead of them. But it is still essential — see the next section.

For more on how COSHH assessments fit into your wider health and safety obligations, read our guide to health and safety for cleaning businesses.

PPE Requirements for Common Cleaning Chemicals

Personal protective equipment for cleaning work does not need to be complicated or expensive. But it does need to be the right type, and your staff need to actually wear it.

Gloves

Nitrile gloves are the standard for cleaning chemicals. They resist most acids, alkalis, and solvents. Latex gloves are not recommended — they offer less chemical resistance and many people are allergic to latex.

For general cleaning tasks (multi-surface sprays, glass cleaners, light disinfection), standard disposable nitrile gloves are adequate. For heavier work involving bleach, degreasers, or toilet cleaners, use reusable nitrile or rubber gloves that extend past the wrist. Look for gloves rated to EN 374 (protection against chemicals).

Eye protection

Eye protection is required whenever there is a risk of splashes. In practice, this means:

Decanting or diluting concentrates
Using corrosive products (bleach, toilet cleaner, degreaser, limescale remover)
Spraying products overhead or above eye level
Any task where the SDS recommends eye protection (check Section 8)

Safety glasses to EN 166 are the minimum. For higher-risk tasks like diluting concentrates from large containers, use chemical splash goggles.

Respiratory protection

For most day-to-day cleaning tasks with properly diluted products in ventilated spaces, respiratory protection is not required. However, you should consider it in these situations:

Using bleach or toilet cleaner in small, poorly ventilated bathrooms
Spraying products as a fine mist (e.g. using a compression sprayer for disinfection)
Using floor strippers or solvent-based products in enclosed areas
Any situation where you can smell strong chemical fumes

A simple FFP2 respirator mask is usually sufficient for short-duration tasks. For prolonged exposure to fumes, a half-face respirator with organic vapour/acid gas cartridges (type A1B1) provides better protection.

Protective clothing

An apron or overall provides a barrier against splashes when decanting, diluting, or using corrosive chemicals in large quantities. For most routine cleaning tasks, normal work clothing is acceptable provided it covers the arms and legs.

Chemical Mixing Dangers

This section could save a life. It is not an exaggeration.

Never mix cleaning chemicals together. Even if you think you know what you are doing, the consequences of getting it wrong can be fatal.

Bleach + acid cleaners = chlorine gas

If you mix bleach (sodium hypochlorite) with any acid-based cleaner — including toilet cleaner (hydrochloric acid), limescale remover (phosphoric acid), or vinegar (acetic acid) — you produce chlorine gas. Chlorine gas attacks the respiratory system. At low concentrations, it causes coughing, chest tightness, and breathing difficulty. At high concentrations — easily achieved in a small bathroom — it can cause pulmonary oedema and death.

This is the single most common chemical mixing accident in cleaning. It happens when someone uses bleach to clean a toilet and then follows up with a toilet cleaner, or vice versa, without rinsing thoroughly in between.

Bleach + ammonia = chloramine vapour

If you mix bleach with ammonia-based products (including some glass cleaners and multi-purpose cleaners), you produce chloramine vapour. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, and nausea. In severe cases, it can cause fluid in the lungs.

The golden rules

Never mix products. Use one product at a time. Rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water before applying a different product.
Never decant into containers that held a different product. If you pour bleach into a bottle that previously contained toilet cleaner, residual acid in the bottle can react immediately.
Train every member of staff on these dangers. This is not a “nice to have” — it is a core part of your COSHH training obligation.
Display warning signs in your chemical storage area: “DO NOT MIX CHEMICALS.”

Storage and Disposal Requirements

How you store and dispose of cleaning chemicals matters — both legally and practically.

Storage

Keep chemicals in their original containers with labels intact. Never decant into unmarked bottles, food containers, or drink bottles.
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
Keep incompatible chemicals separate. At minimum, store acids (toilet cleaner, limescale remover) separately from alkalis (bleach, degreasers). If they are in the same cupboard, place acids on a lower shelf so they cannot drip onto bleach below.
Keep chemicals locked away if there is any risk of access by children, unauthorised persons, or vulnerable adults (particularly relevant if you clean in care homes, schools, or residential properties).
Store below eye level where possible to reduce the risk of splashes when removing bottles from shelves.
Use a drip tray or bund under large containers to contain any leaks or spills.

COSHH storage in your vehicle

If you transport chemicals in your car or van, store them in a sealed, ventilated container (a plastic crate with holes works well) in the boot or a separate compartment. Keep them upright and secured so they cannot fall over. Never store chemicals in the passenger compartment.

Disposal

Never pour chemicals down drains unless the SDS specifically confirms it is safe to do so after dilution.
Follow your local authority’s guidance on chemical waste disposal. In most areas, small quantities of household-type cleaning chemicals can go to a household waste recycling centre. For larger quantities or commercial waste, you may need a licensed waste carrier.
Keep a record of how you dispose of chemicals, particularly if you use large volumes. This may be relevant during an inspection.

Common Mistakes Cleaners Make with COSHH

After working with hundreds of cleaning businesses, these are the mistakes we see again and again:

1. Not having any COSHH assessments at all

This is by far the most common issue. Many cleaning business owners assume COSHH does not apply to them because they are “just cleaning.” It does. Every chemical with a hazard pictogram needs an assessment.

2. Downloading a generic template and not filling it in properly

A blank or half-completed COSHH assessment is almost as bad as not having one. An inspector will not be impressed by a form that says “bleach” under the substance name and nothing else. You need the specific product name, the H-codes from the SDS, the routes of exposure, the control measures, and a review date.

3. Not having Safety Data Sheets

You cannot complete a COSHH assessment without the SDS. If you do not have them, get them — today. Your suppliers are legally required to provide them.

4. Using one assessment for all chemicals

Each hazardous substance (or group of very similar substances) needs its own assessment. “Cleaning chemicals” is not a COSHH assessment. “Domestos Professional Original Bleach — sodium hypochlorite 4.5%” is.

5. Never reviewing or updating assessments

COSHH assessments must be reviewed regularly — at least annually, or whenever you change products, change how you use them, or have an incident. A COSHH assessment from three years ago for a product you no longer use is worthless.

6. Mixing chemicals

We have covered this above, but it bears repeating. Mixing bleach with acid or ammonia-based cleaners is genuinely dangerous. Make sure every person who works for you understands this.

7. Not providing PPE — or providing the wrong type

Latex gloves do not offer adequate chemical protection. Thin disposable gloves are not suitable for decanting corrosives. Make sure your PPE matches the hazards identified in your COSHH assessment.

8. Not including COSHH in staff training

Under both UK and Irish law, you must ensure that anyone who works with hazardous substances has received adequate training and information. This includes:

What chemicals they will be using and the risks involved
How to use them safely (dilution ratios, ventilation, contact times)
What PPE to wear and how to use it
What to do in an emergency (spill, splash, inhalation)
Where to find the COSHH assessments and SDS documents

9. Forgetting about the cleaning chemicals your clients provide

If a client asks you to use their products instead of your own, you still need a COSHH assessment for those products. Ask the client for the SDS, or look it up yourself. Do not assume it is safe just because the client provided it.

Your COSHH assessments should sit alongside your other health and safety documentation. If you have not yet completed a risk assessment for your cleaning work, our cleaning company risk assessment template is a good place to start.

Summary

A COSHH assessment for cleaning chemicals is not optional — it is a legal requirement under the COSHH Regulations 2002 (UK) and the Chemical Agents Regulations 2001 (Ireland). Every cleaning chemical with a hazard pictogram on the label needs its own assessment.

Here is what you need to do:

List every chemical you use that has a hazard warning on the label.
Get the Safety Data Sheet for each one from your supplier or the manufacturer’s website.
Read Section 2 (hazard identification), Section 7 (handling and storage), and Section 8 (exposure controls/PPE) of each SDS.
Complete a COSHH assessment for each product — recording the hazards, who is at risk, your control measures, emergency procedures, and a review date.
Put the controls in place — proper PPE, ventilation, safe storage, clear labelling, and staff training.
Review your assessments at least once a year, or sooner if anything changes.

It is not complicated. It is not expensive. But it is absolutely essential — for your legal compliance, for your staff’s safety, and for the professional reputation of your business.

If you want to see what a properly completed COSHH assessment looks like before you start writing your own, download our free sample document — it includes a real worked example you can use as a reference.