Managing Hazardous Substances in Funeral Homes

Funeral homes routinely use a variety of hazardous substances as part of day-to-day operations, from preservation and preparation chemicals to cleaning products and maintenance materials that can pose risks if not managed correctly. Understanding how hazardous substances are used and stored is an important part of keeping staff and visitors safe.

This guide, written by our Funeral Director Insurance experts, highlights common hazards found in funeral premises and the practical steps you can take to reduce risk.

What counts as a hazardous substance?

A hazardous substance is anything that could cause harm if inhaled, swallowed, or comes into contact with skin or eyes. In a funeral home, this may include:

• Cleaning chemicals such as bleach, disinfectants and descaling products
• Fuels, including petrol or diesel for vehicles or equipment
• Paints, solvents, adhesives and embalming-related products
• Dusts or fumes created during maintenance or building works
• Older substances that may have degraded or leaked over time

Some hazards have immediate effects, while others, such as fumes, dusts or asbestos, may not cause harm until years later.

Your legal responsibilities

If you employ staff, you have a duty of care to protect them and others on your premises. This includes complying with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations.

In practice, this means you should:

• Identify any hazardous substances used or stored on site
• Assess the risks they present
• Take steps to eliminate or reduce exposure where possible
• Ensure precautions are followed and maintained
• Provide staff with appropriate information, instruction and training

Further guidance on COSHH assessments is available from the Health and Safety Executive.

Common hazards to look out for

Hazardous substances are not always obvious. Areas worth checking include:

• Toilets, kitchens and staff areas where cleaning products are stored
• Garages, boiler rooms or workshops
• Stores containing old or unused chemicals
• Areas where dust, fumes or vapours may build up
• External spaces where waste, fuel or bird droppings may accumulate

Unlabelled containers, large quantities of substances, or evidence of spills can all indicate increased risk.

Practical precautions you can take

Many risks can be reduced with simple, sensible measures, such as:

• Using safer alternatives where available
• Storing only minimal quantities of hazardous substances
• Keeping chemicals securely locked away and clearly labelled
• Storing flammable liquids in appropriate fire-resistant cabinets
• Ensuring good ventilation when handling fuels or strong chemicals
• Disposing of unidentified or unused substances safely
• Providing suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) where required

For smaller funeral homes using mainly domestic products, following the manufacturer’s instructions and carrying out regular checks is often sufficient.

A good approach is to:

• Create an inventory of hazardous substances on your premises
• Check existing precautions and note where improvements are needed
• Assign responsibility for managing and reviewing these controls
• Inform and train staff so they know how to work safely
• Document your arrangements and review them regularly

Keeping records of risk assessments, training and inspections can be invaluable, particularly if you ever need to demonstrate what steps you have taken.

For further support, our Funeral Directors Risk Management Guide provides practical information on identifying, managing and reducing risks across your premises. With property protection and health and safety in mind, this resource is designed to help funeral directors take a proactive approach to risk management throughout the year.

These lists are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. This is intended for general information and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional or legal advice.

About SEIB

SEIB have been providing Funeral Director Insurance and Funeral Car Insurance for over 40 years. If you’d like further support or have questions about your insurance cover, call 01708 850000 or email info@seib.co.uk.