COSHH by Area

COSHH for Maintenance

The Higher-Hazard Substances Behind Maintenance and Repair Work

Maintenance work brings in substances that are different from, and sometimes more hazardous than, the everyday cleaning chemicals used elsewhere. Drain unblockers, paints and solvents, adhesives, lubricants and aerosols, wood treatments, and the pool and plant room chemicals in larger hotels are all maintenance products, and they are used less often, by fewer people, and sometimes by outside contractors. That irregularity is itself a risk, because the controls are not part of a daily routine. This guide covers the substances maintenance staff and contractors use, the particular hazards they carry, and the controls that keep occasional, higher-hazard work safe.

Read a maintenance chemical safety data sheet See COSHH features

Key takeaways

Maintenance brings in higher-hazard substances such as drain unblockers, solvents, paints, aerosols, and pool chemicals.

Work is occasional, so staff are less practised in the controls than they are with daily cleaning.

Solvents, paints, and aerosols add a fire risk that everyday cleaning chemicals usually do not.

Contractor COSHH arrangements must be checked, not assumed, especially for drains, pools, and plant rooms.

Pool chlorine and acid must never be brought together and should be managed by a competent person.

The Maintenance Cupboard

A maintenance store holds a more varied and often more hazardous mix than a cleaning cupboard. Drain unblockers, frequently sodium hydroxide or sulphuric acid based, are among the most dangerous substances on any premises. Paints, primers, white spirit, thinners, and solvent-based adhesives give off flammable and irritant vapours. Aerosol lubricants and silicone sprays are flammable and propelled under pressure. Wood treatments and sealants can be irritant or sensitising. Larger hotels with pools and spas store pool chemicals such as chlorine and acid for pH correction, which are hazardous in their own right and dangerous if mixed. Plant rooms may hold treatment chemicals for boilers and cooling systems. Each of these needs a safety data sheet and a place in the COSHH assessment, and because they are used occasionally, the assessment is where staff and contractors will check the controls rather than relying on routine.

Why Occasional Work Carries Extra Risk

The hazard in maintenance is often heightened by the way the work is done. Tasks are intermittent, so staff are less practised in the controls than they are with daily cleaning. Work happens in awkward places, such as clearing a blocked drain in a confined yard or painting in an unventilated store, where vapours concentrate. Solvents and paints add a fire risk that cleaning chemicals usually do not. And much maintenance is done by outside contractors, whose own COSHH arrangements must be checked rather than assumed, especially for higher-risk jobs. Pool plant work is a specialist area where chlorine and acid must never be brought together and where a competent person should manage the chemistry. Recognising that maintenance substances are higher hazard but used infrequently is the key to setting controls that hold up when the work actually happens.

Controls for Maintenance Tasks

Substitution applies strongly here: choose water-based paints and lower-solvent products where they do the job, and a less aggressive drain treatment over a caustic unblocker where possible. Ventilate when painting or using solvents, and keep flammable products away from ignition sources and stored properly, with quantities kept small. Provide the right protective equipment for the specific job, which for drain clearance means chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection, and make sure staff use it even though the task is occasional. Where contractors do the work, ask for their risk and COSHH assessments before they start, particularly for drain, pool, and plant room jobs. Keep pool and plant chemicals in a dedicated, ventilated store with chlorine and acid kept apart, managed by a competent person. Brief maintenance staff on the products in the store and keep the safety data sheets with them.

What to do next

Inventory the maintenance store

List drain unblockers, paints, solvents, adhesives, aerosols, wood treatments, and any pool or plant chemicals, and collect each safety data sheet.

Substitute lower-hazard products where you can

Choose water-based paints, lower-solvent products, and less aggressive drain treatments to cut the risk of occasional high-hazard work.

Check contractor COSHH before higher-risk jobs

Ask contractors for their risk and COSHH assessments before drain, pool, or plant room work, rather than assuming they are in place.

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistake

Assuming contractors have COSHH covered

Instead

Contractors bring their own substances and methods onto your site. Check their COSHH and risk assessments before higher-risk work, particularly drains, pools, and plant rooms.

Mistake

Storing solvents and aerosols near ignition sources

Instead

Paints, solvents, and aerosol sprays are flammable. Store them properly in small quantities away from heat and ignition, and ventilate when using them.

Frequently asked questions

What COSHH substances does maintenance involve?

Drain unblockers, paints and solvents, adhesives, aerosol lubricants and sprays, wood treatments and sealants, and in larger hotels pool and plant room chemicals. These are higher hazard than everyday cleaning products but used less often.

Do contractors need their own COSHH assessment?

Yes. Contractors bring their own substances and ways of working, so they must have their own COSHH and risk assessments. For higher-risk jobs such as drains, pools, and plant work, ask to see them before the work starts.

Why are drain cleaners so dangerous?

Drain unblockers are often based on sodium hydroxide or sulphuric acid and are highly corrosive, so splashes can cause serious burns to skin and eyes. They need chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection, and careful handling.

How should pool chemicals be stored?

In a dedicated, ventilated store with chlorine and acid kept well apart so they cannot mix, managed by a competent person. Mixing pool chlorine and acid releases toxic gas, so storage and handling are tightly controlled.

Hazardous Substances in Hospitality