A COSHH assessment is a type of risk assessment specifically for the use or production of a hazardous substance. It is a health and safety document required by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations. The purpose of a COSHH assessment is to identify the hazards and assess and control the risks from hazardous substances in the workplace. The assessment should not just be a paperwork process, but a way of communicating controls and emergency arrangements. The assessment should tell you (and others) about the hazards that are present and the risks involved with the substance(s) used or produced in the process. The assessment should provide details of the actions taken to protect the health of the people exposed to the substance(s) used or produced in the process.
A COSHH assessment is needed to identify the hazards and to assess and control the risks from hazardous substances in the workplace. If your business uses or creates substances, or carries out processes which might cause harm to health, the law requires you to control the risks to workers. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) apply to most harmful substances but lead and asbestos are covered by separate regulations.
A COSHH assessment helps you to identify the hazards and risks from hazardous substances in your workplace. You only need to carry out a COSHH assessment if hazardous substances are likely to be present in your workplace. There are 5 steps to a COSHH assessment:
- Collect information on the substances you use and your work practices.
- Evaluate the health risks.
- Decide what precautions are needed.
- Record your findings and implement them.
- Monitor performance and review your assessment.
Before you start your COSHH assessment, you need to determine who will carry it out. As an employer, it’s your duty to nominate a ‘competent’ person to complete it. This may be yourself, an employee, or an outside consultant. You are legally required to record the results of your COSHH assessment if you have 5 or more employees. However, it’s good practice to record your findings even if you have fewer than 5 employees. You must regularly monitor your COSHH assessment to confirm that your control measures are still effective.
