COSHH Assessment Guide: Everything You Need to Know
COSHH Assessment Guide: Everything You Need to Know
If your business uses any substances that could harm health, you need a COSHH assessment. This guide explains what COSHH means, which substances are covered, and how to create a compliant assessment.
What is COSHH?
COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. It's the law that requires employers to control substances that can harm workers' health.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 requires employers to:
- Identify hazardous substances in the workplace
- Assess the risks from those substances
- Prevent or control exposure
- Ensure controls are used and maintained
- Monitor exposure and health surveillance where needed
- Inform, train and supervise employees
What Substances Does COSHH Cover?
COSHH covers a wide range of substances. If it can harm health, it's likely covered.
Common COSHH Substances
| Category | Examples | |----------|----------| | Chemicals | Cleaning products, solvents, paints, acids | | Dusts | Wood dust, silica, flour, metal fumes | | Biological agents | Bacteria, viruses, fungi | | Gases and vapours | Welding fumes, exhaust fumes, solvents | | Nanomaterials | Ultrafine particles |
Substances NOT Covered by COSHH
- Asbestos (covered by CAR 2012)
- Lead (covered by CLWR 2002)
- Radioactive substances (covered by IRR17)
- Simple asphyxiants (like nitrogen)
- Medicinal products in pharmacies
The COSHH Assessment Process
Step 1: Identify Hazardous Substances
Walk around your workplace and list all substances that could harm health.
Check:
- Product labels (look for hazard symbols)
- Safety data sheets (SDS) - required for all chemicals
- Work processes that create dusts, fumes, or vapours
- Biological materials
Step 2: Assess the Risks
For each substance, consider:
- Who is exposed? Workers, visitors, cleaners
- How are they exposed? Inhalation, skin contact, ingestion
- How often? Daily, weekly, occasionally
- How much? Small amounts, large quantities
- How long? Brief exposure, extended periods
Step 3: Decide on Controls
Use the hierarchy of controls:
- Elimination - Do you need the substance at all?
- Substitution - Can you use a safer alternative?
- Engineering controls - Local exhaust ventilation, enclosure
- Administrative controls - Reducing time exposed, training
- PPE - Respirators, gloves, goggles (last resort)
Important: PPE should never be the first solution. Always try to eliminate or control the hazard at source first.
Step 4: Record Your Assessment
Document your findings including:
- Substance name and hazard classification
- Who might be exposed
- Routes of exposure
- Control measures in place
- Monitoring and health surveillance needs
- Training requirements
- Review date
Step 5: Implement and Review
- Put controls in place
- Train employees
- Monitor effectiveness
- Review annually or when circumstances change
COSHH Hazard Symbols
The CLP Regulation uses these hazard pictograms:
| Symbol | Meaning | Examples | |--------|---------|----------| | ⚠️ Exclamation mark | Irritant, skin sensitiser | Bleach, some cleaners | | ☠️ Skull and crossbones | Acute toxicity | Pesticides, methanol | | 🔥 Flame | Flammable | Solvents, paints | | 💧 Corrosion | Corrosive | Acids, drain cleaners | | 🧪 Test tube | Health hazard/serious health effect | Carcinogens, mutagens | | 🌍 Environment | Hazardous to the environment | Some pesticides | | ⚡ Exploding bomb | Explosive | Certain chemicals | | 🔥 Flame over circle | Oxidiser | Certain cleaning agents | | 📦 Gas cylinder | Gas under pressure | Compressed gases |
Common COSHH Assessment Mistakes
- Not having a safety data sheet - Essential for all chemicals
- Assuming "safe" products don't need assessment - Even "eco" cleaners can be hazardous
- Ignoring generated substances - Dusts and fumes count too
- Not considering maintenance activities - Cleaning, repair work
- Outdated assessments - Must be reviewed regularly
- Missing training records - Staff must know the risks
- Inadequate controls - PPE alone is rarely enough
COSHH Assessment Template
A good COSHH assessment includes:
Essential Information
- Substance/product name
- Supplier details
- Hazard classification
- Safety data sheet reference
Risk Assessment
- Who uses it
- How it's used
- Where it's stored
- Routes of exposure
- Frequency and duration of use
Control Measures
- Engineering controls (ventilation, enclosure)
- PPE required (type, standard)
- Storage requirements
- Spill procedures
- First aid measures
Monitoring and Review
- Air monitoring if needed
- Health surveillance if required
- Training records
- Review date
Industry-Specific COSHH Examples
Cleaning Industry
- Bleach and disinfectants
- Floor cleaners
- Descaling products
- Hand sanitizers
Construction
- Cement and concrete
- Paints and solvents
- Wood dust
- Silica dust from cutting
Manufacturing
- Metalworking fluids
- Adhesives and sealants
- Welding fumes
- Resins
Hairdressing
- Hair dyes
- Bleaching products
- Cleaning products
- Nail products
Healthcare
- Disinfectants
- Laboratory chemicals
- Medicines
- Biological agents
Free COSHH Assessment Template
Need a COSHH assessment quickly? Our risk assessment generator includes COSHH templates for common substances.
Generate your COSHH assessment now - from just £9.
COSHH Training Requirements
All employees working with hazardous substances must be trained on:
- The hazards they work with
- Precautions they must take
- How to use PPE correctly
- Emergency procedures
- How to read safety data sheets
- Reporting problems
Training must be:
- Provided before starting work
- Updated when risks change
- Recorded and kept on file
Health Surveillance
For some substances, you must provide health surveillance:
When is it required?
- Exposure to substances that cause specific diseases
- Valid detection techniques exist
- Reasonable likelihood of disease occurring
Common examples:
- Respiratory sensitisers (isocyanates, flour dust)
- Skin sensitisers (cement, epoxy resins)
- Carcinogens (silica, hardwood dust)
- Blood-borne viruses (healthcare)
Enforcement and Penalties
HSE inspectors can:
- Enter premises at any time
- Investigate compliance
- Issue improvement notices
- Issue prohibition notices
- Prosecute for serious breaches
Penalties:
- Unlimited fines in Crown Court
- Up to £20,000 fine in Magistrates' Court
- Imprisonment for serious offences
Key Takeaways
- Most workplaces have COSHH substances - Check carefully
- Safety data sheets are essential - Get them from suppliers
- Prevention is better than protection - Eliminate where possible
- PPE is the last resort - Not the first solution
- Training is mandatory - All exposed workers must be trained
- Review regularly - At least annually
Related Resources
- 5 Steps to Risk Assessment
- Free Risk Assessment Template
- Healthcare Risk Assessment
- Cleaning Risk Assessment
Last updated: March 2024. This guide follows HSE guidance on COSHH.