COSHH Risk Assessment Tool
Share this course with friends and followers on social media.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require every employer to assess the risk from hazardous substances — chemicals, dusts, fumes, vapours, mists and biological agents — and to prevent or adequately control exposure. Even a low-risk office has COSHH duties: cleaning products alone count. The hard part isn't knowing the rule; it's working through every substance in a structured way and catching the gaps before an inspector — or an illness — does.
This tool builds a register of your substances and assesses each one against the COSHH framework and the hierarchy of control. It branches by work type (cleaning & general vs construction & industrial), takes the hazard classification straight off the safety data sheet, weighs exposure route, amount and frequency, and flags the failures the HSE acts on most often — relying on PPE or RPE first, a serious inhalation hazard controlled by procedure alone, health surveillance that's needed but missing, and tight-fitting RPE with no face-fit testing. You get a prioritised set of control actions in hierarchy order and a dated, printable assessment record for your file.
What it does
- Builds a multi-substance COSHH register in one assessment
- Applies the hierarchy of control — eliminate, substitute, engineering/LEV, safe systems, then PPE/RPE
- Detects the prosecuted failures: PPE-first, no LEV where needed, missing health surveillance, no face-fit testing, no SDS on file
- Flags Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) and health-surveillance duties (e.g. isocyanates, silica, sensitisers)
- Branches by work type for relevant substance prompts and controls
- Produces a dated, printable record with a 12-month review date
- Points you toward COSHH training to build competence in the team
Who it’s for
Employers, managers, supervisors and anyone responsible for assessing or controlling hazardous substances — from an office or cleaning store to construction, manufacturing and workshops.
How you get it
Instant digital download after purchase. A single HTML file — open it in any browser on a PC, Mac, tablet or phone. No software, no sign-up, works offline.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a substitute for a full COSHH assessment by a competent person?
No. It's an assessment aid that applies the COSHH framework and the hierarchy of control to your answers, helping you build a register, decide controls and record your findings. It does not replace a suitable and sufficient assessment by a competent person, and it is not the HSE's COSHH Essentials scheme. Higher-hazard substances — isocyanates, silica, lead, asbestos, biological agents — and any work near a Workplace Exposure Limit should be assessed and signed off by a competent occupational-hygiene or health-and-safety professional.
Do I really have COSHH duties if I only use cleaning products?
Yes. COSHH covers any substance hazardous to health, and ordinary cleaning chemicals are classified as hazardous. If substances are used, stored or generated at work, the duty to assess and control exposure applies — which is why the tool starts from a register of everything in use, however everyday it seems.
What is the hierarchy of control, and why does the order matter?
It's the order COSHH requires you to control exposure: first eliminate the substance, then substitute it for something safer, then use engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV), then safe systems of work, and only then PPE and RPE as a last resort. Relying on PPE or RPE first — ahead of the higher controls — is the most common COSHH failure the HSE acts on, and the tool flags it wherever it sees it.
Do I need to install anything or be online?
No. It's a single self-contained file that runs in any modern web browser. Once downloaded it works completely offline, with no software, account or subscription.
Is it based on official guidance?
Yes. The framework follows the COSHH Regulations 2002 and published HSE guidance (including HSG97 and the EH40 Workplace Exposure Limits). It is an independent tool built on that public guidance — it is not endorsed by or affiliated with the HSE, and it is not the HSE's COSHH Essentials scheme. The safety data sheet (SDS) remains your primary source for each substance. You can find COSHH training courses here.
Important. This is an assessment aid, not legal advice and not a guarantee of compliance. It helps you carry out and document your own assessment; it does not replace a suitable and sufficient assessment by a competent person. Outputs are indicative only and should be checked by a competent person. These tools are the property of drewmitchell.co.uk and are licensed for your own use; they may not be resold or redistributed.
This tool is part of a growing range of practical health & safety templates and tools — built to do the work for you, not hand you a blank form. Each one is an instant download that runs offline on any device, with no account or subscription. Browse all Health & Safety Templates & Tools.
You will instantly receive a confirmation email with your order details and your digital download will follow instantly.
These templates and tools are provided as general aids to help you organise and document your own health and safety arrangements. They are not legal, professional, or safety advice, and they do not guarantee compliance with any law, regulation, or standard.
You are responsible for deciding whether a template or tool is suitable for your specific workplace, activities, and circumstances, and for completing, adapting, and acting on it using competent judgment. Where the law requires a competent person, a formal assessment, or professional advice, you should obtain it.
Where a tool performs calculations or produces figures, ratings, action levels, or other results, those outputs are based on the information you enter and on general guidance, and are indicative only. They are not a site-specific assessment and must be independently checked by a competent person before you rely on or act on them.
Interactive tools run entirely in your browser; they do not store or transmit the data you enter.
These templates and tools are the property of drewmitchell.co.uk. They are licensed for your own use and may not be resold, redistributed, or republished without permission.
drewmitchell.co.uk accepts no liability for any loss, injury, damage, or non-compliance arising from the use of, or reliance on, these materials. Use is entirely at your own risk.