What Is a COSHH Assessment?

At Work Wallet, we understand that safety is not just a box to tick. It is a cornerstone of operational excellence. A COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) assessment is a fundamental type of risk assessment, tailored specifically to hazardous substances. It is a legal requirement and vital for safeguarding employees, visitors, and your business. Effectively managing these risks is where robust RAMS software can transform your approach.

What is a COSHH assessment?

A COSHH assessment is a specialised risk assessment that systematically identifies the hazards posed by chemicals and hazardous substances and puts in place strategies to control and mitigate associated risks.

It is a legal obligation for employers to conduct these assessments and implement control measures under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Non-compliance can result in criminal penalties, including unlimited fines.

What should a COSHH risk assessment include?

A comprehensive COSHH assessment should cover:

• The substance identity and classification
• Health effects and hazardous properties
• Substance use, tasks involved, and exposure duration
• Any occupational exposure limits that apply
• Control measures such as safe storage, handling, and emergency responses
• Monitoring and health surveillance
• Consideration of additional or combined exposure risks

Who is responsible?

Ultimately, employers must ensure a COSHH assessment is conducted. This can be carried out by a competent internal or external health and safety specialist. Once completed, the employer is responsible for reviewing and signing off on the assessment to confirm compliance.

How to conduct a COSHH assessment in 5 steps

1. Identify hazardous substances using product labels and safety data sheets (SDS).
2. Determine who might be harmed, including workers, visitors, and the public, while assessing exposure duration and routes.
3. Implement control measures. Eliminate or substitute hazardous substances where possible. If not, put measures in place to contain or reduce exposure, such as ventilation or safe systems of work.
4. Record findings and actions clearly and make sure they are implemented effectively.
5. Review and update assessments after incidents, when substances or processes change, or at least annually.

Why a dedicated COSHH assessment matters

Generic risk assessments cover a wide range of hazards, but COSHH assessments are specifically focused on hazardous substances. This ensures they capture the detail needed to remain compliant and, more importantly, to protect people from harm.

The role of RAMS software in COSHH assessments

Integrated RAMS software (Risk Assessment and Method Statement) helps you take control of COSHH assessments and wider safety documentation. With Work Wallet, you can:

• Create and store COSHH assessments alongside other safety records in one secure, central platform
• Use customisable templates and guided workflows to make assessments quicker and more accurate
• Maintain strong version control and audit trails to demonstrate compliance
• Give your teams instant access to the information they need, wherever they are

What do we think?

A COSHH assessment is a legal requirement, but more importantly, it is a vital safeguard for the health and safety of everyone in your workplace. With smart RAMS software from Work Wallet, you can simplify the entire process, ensure compliance, and bring together your COSHH, risk assessments, and method statements in one easy-to-use system.