Free COSHH risk assessment template (Word download)

If your work involves paints, solvents, adhesives, cleaning chemicals, cement, or dust and fumes created by the job itself, you need a COSHH assessment. Principal contractors often ask for one alongside your RAMS.

Download the COSHH risk assessment template (.docx)

[DISCLAIMER — DRAFT, FOR SOLICITOR REVIEW] This template is a starting point only. You are responsible for assessing the risks of your own work, and for making sure any document you produce from it is suitable and sufficient for the task, the site and the people involved. It is not health and safety advice.

What's in the template

1. Document control
2. Substance details — product, supplier, hazard classification, exposure limit
3. Use and exposure — how it's used, how often, who could be exposed and how
4. Control measures — worked through in order, from eliminating the substance to PPE
5. Risk rating — before and after controls, on a 5 × 5 scale
6. Storage and handling
7. Spills and disposal
8. First aid and emergency
9. Monitoring and health surveillance
10. Information, instruction and training
11. Briefing record — sign-off sheet

What COSHH means

COSHH is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Employers must assess the risk from hazardous substances at work and either prevent exposure or keep it adequately controlled. That covers chemicals and products containing them, and also dusts, fumes, vapours, mists and gases produced by the work. Lead, asbestos and radioactive substances have their own separate regulations and aren't covered by a COSHH assessment.

Use the safety data sheet

Most of what the assessment needs is in the supplier's safety data sheet. These are the sections to look at:

Controls, in order

1. Eliminate — can the job be done without the substance?
2. Substitute — is there a less hazardous product, or a safer form (paste instead of powder, for example)?
3. Engineering controls — local exhaust ventilation, enclosure, on-tool extraction, wet cutting.
4. Administrative controls — limit how long and how many people are exposed, signage, washing facilities.
5. PPE and RPE — only for the risk left after the steps above. Tight-fitting masks need face-fit testing.

If you rely on local exhaust ventilation, most systems need a thorough examination and test at least every 14 months.

One assessment per substance

Complete a separate assessment for each product or substance, and list them in the hazardous substances section of your RAMS so the site can see what you're bringing on and how it's controlled.