Home / LEV Testing / Guide
COSHH - chemical storage
Most workplaces use hazardous chemicals - cleaning products, solvents, degreasers, process chemicals - and storing and handling them properly matters for safety and for COSHH compliance. The basics aren't complicated, but they need doing properly: know what you have, keep incompatibles apart, store safely, control exposure, and be ready for spills. Here is a plain overview. This is general information, not a substitute for your COSHH assessment or professional advice.
The short answer
Almost every workplace uses hazardous chemicals - cleaning products, solvents, degreasers, sanitisers, process chemicals. Storing and handling them properly matters both for safety (chemicals can harm health, cause fires, or react dangerously) and for COSHH compliance (the law requires hazardous substances to be controlled). The good news is the basics aren't complicated - but they need doing properly and consistently. Here's a plain overview. This is general information, not a substitute for your own COSHH assessment or professional advice. Know what you have. The foundation is knowing what chemicals you have and their hazards. For each hazardous chemical, get and keep the safety data sheet (SDS) - the document the supplier provides that sets out the chemical's hazards, how to store and handle it safely, the protective measures needed, and what to do in an emergency (spill, fire, exposure). And keep an inventory of the hazardous chemicals on site. So you know what's there, how much, and what the risks are - which is the basis for everything else (you can't control what you haven't identified). This also feeds your COSHH assessment. Store chemicals safely. Store chemicals safely and appropriately to the substance. Keep them in suitable containers - ideally their original, labelled containers, or properly relabelled if decanted (never in unlabelled or food containers). Store them somewhere secure (so they can't be accessed by the wrong people or knocked over), appropriate to the substance (cool and ventilated; flammables away from ignition sources and heat; following the SDS storage guidance). And provide containment - bunding, trays or spill pallets under liquids - so that if a container leaks, the chemical is caught and contained rather than spreading. Suitable, secure, contained storage is the core of safe storage. Keep incompatibles apart. Crucially, keep incompatible chemicals apart. Some chemicals react dangerously with each other - for example, acids and bleach (which can release toxic gas), or oxidisers and flammables (a fire risk). So incompatible substances must be stored separately, so they can't mix - not just kept in different bottles, but stored apart enough that they can't come together, even if both spilled. The safety data sheets flag incompatibilities. This is a common oversight (storing everything together for convenience) that can have serious consequences, so it's worth getting right. Control exposure when handling. When chemicals are handled - decanted, mixed, applied, used in a process - they can release fumes, vapours, mists or dusts that people breathe, or contact skin and eyes. Control that exposure, following the COSHH assessment and the hierarchy of control: use ventilation or local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to capture fumes, vapours and dusts at source for tasks that release them (LEV being the key engineering control for airborne exposure), and use the right personal protective equipment (gloves suitable for the chemical, eye protection, respiratory protection where needed) on top. So handling controls both the airborne exposure (ventilation/LEV) and the contact exposure (PPE). Be ready for spills. Spills happen, so be ready for them. Have spill kits appropriate to your chemicals (absorbents and equipment to contain and clean up a spill), placed where they're accessible, and a plan so people know what to do if a chemical spills - contain it, clean it up safely (with the right PPE), and dispose of it correctly. Being ready means a spill is dealt with safely and quickly, not a crisis. It underpins all of it: the COSHH assessment. Underpinning all of this is your COSHH assessment - the assessment that identifies the hazardous substances you use, the risks from them, and the controls needed (storage, handling, exposure control, emergency measures). The basics above are how the assessment's conclusions are put into practice. So the COSHH assessment drives it, and the storage and handling practices deliver it. The takeaway. So chemical storage and handling done properly comes down to: know what you have (safety data sheets, inventory), store it safely (suitable, secure, contained), keep incompatibles apart, control exposure when handling (ventilation/LEV and PPE), and be ready for spills - all driven by your COSHH assessment. None of it is complicated, but all of it needs doing properly and consistently. This is general information, not a substitute for your COSHH assessment or professional advice. This is general information.
Key points
Know what you have
The foundation of proper chemical storage and handling is knowing what chemicals you have and their hazards - you can't control what you haven't identified. For each hazardous chemical, get and keep the safety data sheet (SDS): the document the supplier provides that sets out the chemical's hazards, how to store and handle it safely, the protective measures needed, and what to do in an emergency (spill, fire, exposure). The SDS is the key reference for each substance.
And keep an inventory of the hazardous chemicals on site - what you have, how much, and where. So you know what's there and what the risks are, which is the basis for everything else: your storage arrangements, your incompatibility separation, your exposure controls and your spill readiness all depend on knowing what you're dealing with. The inventory and the safety data sheets also feed directly into your COSHH assessment. So know what you have - safety data sheets and an inventory - is the first basic: identify your hazardous chemicals and their hazards, via the SDS and an inventory. Everything else builds on it. So start by knowing your chemicals and their risks. This is general information, not a COSHH assessment. This is general information.
Store chemicals safely
Store chemicals safely and appropriately to the substance. Keep them in suitable containers - ideally their original, labelled containers, or properly relabelled if decanted (never in unlabelled containers, and never in food or drink containers, which invites dangerous mistakes). The label is what tells anyone what the substance and its hazards are, so keeping chemicals labelled is essential.
Store them somewhere secure - so they can't be accessed by the wrong people (children, unauthorised staff) or easily knocked over - and appropriate to the substance: cool and ventilated, with flammables kept away from ignition sources and heat, following the storage guidance on the safety data sheet. And provide containment: bunding, trays or spill pallets under liquid chemicals, so that if a container leaks, the chemical is caught and contained rather than spreading across the floor (or into drains). So safe storage is suitable containers (labelled), secure and appropriate location, and containment for leaks - the three together. So store chemicals safely - suitable, secure and contained - is the second basic: keep chemicals labelled, stored appropriately and securely, with leaks contained. Keeping incompatibles apart (next) is part of storing safely too. So store them properly, not just anywhere. This is general information. This is general information.
Keep incompatibles apart
Crucially, keep incompatible chemicals apart. Some chemicals react dangerously with each other: for example, acids and bleach can react to release toxic gas; oxidisers stored with flammables create a fire risk; and various other combinations react, generate heat, or produce harmful products. So incompatible substances must be stored separately, so they can't mix.
Separately means genuinely apart - not just in different bottles on the same shelf, but stored far enough apart (different areas, or separated storage) that they can't come together even if both containers spilled and the contents ran. The safety data sheets flag each chemical's incompatibilities (what it must be kept away from), so they tell you what can't be stored together. This is a common oversight - storing all the chemicals together in one cupboard for convenience - that can have serious consequences (a leak or a mistake bringing incompatibles into contact). So it's worth identifying your incompatibles (from the SDS) and arranging storage so they're kept apart. So keep incompatibles apart - chemicals that react must be stored separately - is a key part of safe storage: separate reactive chemicals so they can't mix, even in a spill. So don't store reactive chemicals together. This is general information. This is general information.
Control exposure when handling
When chemicals are handled - decanted, mixed, applied, or used in a process - they can release fumes, vapours, mists or dusts that people breathe, or contact skin and eyes. Proper handling controls that exposure, following the COSHH assessment and the hierarchy of control. For airborne exposure (fumes, vapours, dusts), use ventilation or, better, local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to capture the contaminant at source for tasks that release it - LEV being the key engineering control for airborne chemical exposure, drawing the fumes or dust away before people breathe them.
For contact and residual exposure, use the right personal protective equipment: gloves suitable for the specific chemical (not all gloves resist all chemicals), eye protection, and respiratory protection where needed (with face-fit testing). PPE sits below engineering controls in the hierarchy - it protects the individual wearing it, whereas LEV protects everyone in the area - so it's used alongside ventilation/LEV, not instead of it, following what the COSHH assessment specifies. So handling control addresses both the airborne exposure (ventilation/LEV) and the contact exposure (PPE), together. So control exposure when handling - ventilation, LEV and the right PPE - is the fourth basic: control airborne exposure with ventilation/LEV and contact with PPE, per the COSHH assessment. Where LEV is used, it should be tested regularly to confirm it works. So control what people breathe and touch. This is general information. This is general information.
Be ready for spills, driven by COSHH
Spills happen, so be ready for them. Have spill kits appropriate to your chemicals - absorbents and equipment to contain and clean up a spill - placed where they're accessible, and a plan so people know what to do if a chemical spills: contain it, clean it up safely (with the right PPE), and dispose of the waste correctly. The safety data sheet's emergency section guides spill response for each chemical. Being ready means a spill is dealt with safely and quickly, rather than becoming a hazard or a crisis.
Underpinning all of these basics is your COSHH assessment - the assessment that identifies the hazardous substances you use, the risks from them, and the controls needed (storage, handling, exposure control, emergency measures). The basics above - know what you have, store safely, keep incompatibles apart, control exposure, be ready for spills - are how the COSHH assessment's conclusions are put into practice. So the assessment drives the requirements, and the storage and handling practices deliver them. Doing chemical storage and handling properly means both: a proper COSHH assessment, and the everyday practices that carry it out consistently. So be ready for spills, driven by COSHH - spill readiness and the assessment behind it all - completes the picture: prepare for spills, and run the whole thing from your COSHH assessment. So assess the risks, then put the basics into practice. This is general information, not a substitute for your COSHH assessment or professional advice. This is general information.
Questions
Know what you have (safety data sheets and an inventory), store chemicals in suitable, labelled, secure containers appropriate to the substance with containment for leaks, and keep incompatible chemicals apart so they can't react - all guided by the safety data sheets and your COSHH assessment. The basics of storing chemicals properly are: know what you have, store safely, and keep incompatibles apart. Know what you have: get and keep the safety data sheet (SDS) for each hazardous chemical (which gives its hazards and storage guidance) and keep an inventory, so you know what's on site and its risks. Store safely: keep chemicals in suitable, labelled containers (ideally original, or properly relabelled - never unlabelled or in food containers); somewhere secure and appropriate to the substance (cool, ventilated, flammables away from ignition sources, per the SDS); and with containment (bunding or trays under liquids) so a leak is caught rather than spreading. Keep incompatibles apart: store chemicals that react dangerously together (like acids and bleach, or oxidisers and flammables) separately, so they can't mix even in a spill - the SDS flags each chemical's incompatibilities. All of this is guided by the safety data sheets and driven by your COSHH assessment. So it's: identify, store safely and appropriately, and separate reactives. So know them, store them safely, and keep reactives apart. This is general information, not a COSHH assessment. This is general information.
Because some chemicals react dangerously together - acids and bleach can release toxic gas, oxidisers and flammables create fire risk, and others generate heat or harmful products - so they must be stored separately enough that they can't mix even in a spill; the safety data sheets flag what can't be stored together. Incompatible chemicals must be kept apart because some chemicals react dangerously with each other. Examples: acids and bleach can react to release toxic gas; oxidisers stored with flammables create a serious fire risk; and various other combinations react, generate heat, or produce harmful products. If incompatible chemicals come into contact - through a leak, a spill, or a mistake - the reaction can injure people, release toxic fumes, or start a fire. So incompatible substances must be stored separately, so they can't mix. Separately means genuinely apart - not just different bottles on the same shelf, but stored far enough apart (different areas or separated storage) that they can't come together even if both containers spilled and ran. The safety data sheets flag each chemical's incompatibilities (what it must be kept away from), so they tell you what can't be stored together. This is a common oversight - storing everything together for convenience - with potentially serious consequences, so it's worth getting right. So because they can react dangerously, they must be separated so they can't mix. So because mixing them can be toxic or cause fire. This is general information. This is general information.
Follow the COSHH assessment and the hierarchy of control - use ventilation or local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to capture fumes, vapours and dusts at source, and the right PPE (chemical-suitable gloves, eye and respiratory protection) on top; LEV protects everyone in the area, PPE protects the wearer. When handling chemicals - decanting, mixing, applying, or using them in a process - they can release fumes, vapours, mists or dusts that people breathe, or contact skin and eyes. Control that exposure following the COSHH assessment and the hierarchy of control. For airborne exposure, use ventilation or (better) local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to capture the contaminant at source for tasks that release fumes, vapours or dusts - LEV being the key engineering control for airborne chemical exposure, drawing it away before people breathe it. For contact and residual exposure, use the right personal protective equipment: gloves suitable for the specific chemical (not all gloves resist all chemicals), eye protection, and respiratory protection where needed (face-fit tested). PPE sits below engineering controls in the hierarchy - it protects only the wearer, whereas LEV protects everyone in the area - so it's used alongside ventilation/LEV, not instead of it. So control airborne exposure with ventilation/LEV and contact exposure with PPE, as the COSHH assessment specifies. Where LEV is used, test it regularly to confirm it works. So use LEV for fumes and PPE for contact, per the assessment. So with ventilation/LEV and the right PPE. This is general information. This is general information.
It sets out a chemical's hazards, how to store and handle it safely, the protective measures needed, its incompatibilities, and what to do in an emergency (spill, fire, exposure); it's the supplier's key reference for each hazardous chemical and feeds your COSHH assessment. A safety data sheet (SDS) tells you the key safety information about a hazardous chemical - it's the document the supplier provides for each one. It sets out: the chemical's hazards (health, fire, environmental); how to store it safely (conditions, and what to keep it away from - its incompatibilities); how to handle it safely (the protective measures and controls needed); the personal protective equipment appropriate for it; and what to do in an emergency (how to respond to a spill, fire, or exposure - first aid, spill clean-up, firefighting). So the SDS is the key reference for each substance: it's where you find out what a chemical's risks are and how to store, handle and respond to it safely. This is why keeping the SDS for each hazardous chemical is the foundation of proper chemical management - it informs your storage arrangements, your incompatibility separation, your exposure controls, and your spill response. The safety data sheets also feed directly into your COSHH assessment. So the SDS is the supplier's safety guide for the chemical, underpinning how you manage it. So it tells you the chemical's hazards and how to handle it safely. This is general information. This is general information.
If you use hazardous substances at work, yes - COSHH requires an assessment identifying the hazardous substances, the risks, and the controls needed (storage, handling, exposure control, emergencies); the storage and handling basics are how the assessment's conclusions are put into practice. If you use hazardous substances at work - which most workplaces do (cleaning products, solvents, degreasers, process chemicals) - then yes, COSHH (the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations) requires you to assess and control the risks. The COSHH assessment identifies the hazardous substances you use, the risks from them (how they could harm health, and who's exposed), and the controls needed - covering storage, handling, exposure control, and emergency measures. It's the foundation that drives everything else: the storage and handling basics (know what you have, store safely, keep incompatibles apart, control exposure, be ready for spills) are how the assessment's conclusions are put into practice. So the assessment sets out what's required, and the everyday practices deliver it. The safety data sheets feed the assessment (providing each chemical's hazards and control guidance). So yes - a COSHH assessment is required where you use hazardous substances, and it underpins proper chemical storage and handling. This is general information, not a COSHH assessment itself - get proper advice for your workplace. So yes, if you use hazardous substances. This is general information.
LEV (local exhaust ventilation) is the key engineering control for airborne exposure - it captures fumes, vapours and dusts released when handling chemicals at source, before people breathe them, protecting everyone in the area; because it can degrade, it must be tested regularly to confirm it's still working. LEV (local exhaust ventilation) fits into chemical handling as the key engineering control for airborne exposure. When chemicals are handled - decanted, mixed, applied, or used in a process - many release fumes, vapours, mists or dusts into the air. LEV captures those contaminants at source (at the task releasing them), drawing them away before people breathe them. This makes it more effective than PPE for airborne exposure, because it removes the contaminant from the air and protects everyone in the area - not just an individual wearing a mask. So in the hierarchy of control, LEV (an engineering control) sits above PPE, and is used to control airborne chemical exposure, with PPE on top where needed. Crucially, LEV only protects while it's actually working, and it can degrade over time (a weakening fan, a clogging filter, a blocked duct) and stop capturing effectively while still running. So COSHH requires LEV to be thoroughly examined and tested regularly (typically at least every fourteen months for most systems) to confirm it's still working - proving the exposure control your chemical handling relies on. So LEV controls the airborne exposure at source, and testing keeps it proven. So it captures airborne contaminants at source, and must be tested. This is general information. This is general information.
Controlling exposure when handling chemicals often relies on LEV to capture fumes, vapours and dusts at source; we thoroughly examine and test LEV systems so the extraction your COSHH controls depend on is proven to be working - one part of handling hazardous chemicals safely and compliantly. Ask us to test your LEV. This is general information.
