Learn how to assess and control substances hazardous to health, build a suitable and sufficient task-based assessment, manage multiple substances and improvement actions, calculate initial and residual risk, load a worked example, save portable JSON, and produce a professional SPI report for review and approval.
A hazard is the inherent ability to cause harm. Risk depends on the likelihood, severity and actual exposure created by the task.
Include generated agents such as welding fume, metalworking mist, silica, wood dust, decomposition products, biological agents and cleaning residues.
Assess normal production, start-up, shutdown, sampling, decanting, mixing, maintenance, filter changes, cleaning, spill response and foreseeable failure.
Dust, fume, mist, vapour, gas, aerosol and fibres entering the respiratory system.
Direct contact, splash, contaminated surfaces, permeation through unsuitable gloves or deposition on skin.
Hand-to-mouth transfer, contaminated food, smoking, poor hygiene and accidental siphoning.
Sharps, punctures and high-pressure leaks that drive material through the skin.
The SDS is generic supply information. It does not know your quantity, task, ventilation, temperature, exposure duration or workforce.
PPE is usually the least reliable control. First consider elimination, substitution, enclosure, automation and extraction.
A control is not effective merely because it exists. Confirm capture, airflow, condition, use, maintenance, examinations, training and worker behaviour.
Use competent occupational hygiene support where measurement is needed to demonstrate control, investigate uncertainty, compare with a WEL or validate a control strategy.
Consider where residual exposure can cause an identifiable disease or adverse effect, there is a reasonable likelihood it may occur, and valid detection techniques are available. It is not a substitute for control.
Plan for spills, splashes, loss of extraction, uncontrolled reactions, releases, fire-related decomposition and rescue. Define alarms, isolation, first aid, eyewash/shower, evacuation and reporting.
Hazard group, physical form or dustiness/volatility, scale of use and task determine an indicative control approach.
Typical outcomes range from general ventilation, through engineering control and containment, to specialist advice. Use task- and industry-specific guidance where applicable.
| Source | Relevance | Practical application |
|---|---|---|
| COSHH Regulations 2002, as amended | Core GB legal framework for assessment, prevention/control, use and maintenance of controls, monitoring, health surveillance, information/training and emergency arrangements. | Use this app to document significant findings, actions, ownership, risk decisions and review triggers. Obtain competent advice where required. |
| HSE ACOP L5 | Approved Code of Practice and guidance on complying with COSHH. | Use when setting detailed company arrangements, competence and evidence expectations. |
| EH40 Workplace Exposure Limits | Lists current GB WELs. Limits are time-weighted airborne concentrations and do not by themselves cover all routes or guarantee absence of harm. | Record substance, CAS number, 8-hour TWA, 15-minute STEL, skin notation and monitoring strategy where relevant. |
| UK REACH and GB CLP | Supply-chain chemical information, classification, labels, SDS and exposure-scenario/risk-management information. | Verify current SDS, hazard statements, restrictions, authorisations and whether the identified use is covered. |
| ISO 45001 | Occupational health and safety management-system framework. | Supports hazard identification, hierarchy of controls, competence, operational control, emergency preparedness, monitoring and improvement. |
| ISO 14001 | Environmental management-system framework. | Coordinate releases, storage, waste, spill prevention and environmental obligations, while keeping health risk assessment distinct. |
| ISO 9001 / AS9100 | Operational control, competence, documented information, infrastructure, external providers and nonconformity controls. | Relevant where chemical controls affect product quality, special processes, contamination, traceability or customer requirements. |
Risk scoring supports prioritisation; it does not prove adequate control or compliance with a WEL.
Example interpretation: 1–4 Low, 5–9 Medium, 10–16 High, 17–25 Very High. Your organisation may use different thresholds.
| Name / agent | CAS / reference | Form | Hazards / H-statements | WEL | SDS date | Action |
|---|
| Action | Hierarchy level | Owner | Due | Status | Evidence / closure | Action |
|---|