What to include in a COSHH assessment
Reviewed September 2026 · Written by Complys and checked against HSE and legislation.gov.uk guidance (sources below).
There's no legally prescribed COSHH assessment format, but complete assessments all cover the same ground. Use this as a checklist — if your assessment answers each of these for the actual task, it's suitable and sufficient.
Substance and hazard information
Each hazardous substance used or created, its hazard classification and pictograms (from the label and safety data sheet), and any workplace exposure limit that applies.
The task and who is exposed
What the work involves, how much substance is used and how often, and everyone who could be exposed — operators, people nearby, cleaners and maintenance staff — and by which route (inhalation, skin, ingestion).
Exposure and the control measures
How exposure will be prevented or controlled, set out in the right order: elimination or substitution, engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation, ways of working, and PPE/RPE to supplement them. State how you know any exposure limit won't be exceeded.
PPE, monitoring and health surveillance
The specific PPE and RPE required (with the standard), any exposure monitoring, and any health surveillance the substance or process calls for.
Emergencies, storage and disposal
First-aid measures, spill and emergency procedures, safe storage, and how waste and containers are disposed of.
Competence, sign-off and review
Who carried out the assessment (a competent person), the date, and a review date. Note there is no official HSE COSHH template — HSE provides guidance and worked examples, but the assessment must be specific to your work.
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Sources
- HSE — COSHH assessments
- HSE — COSHH, CLP and REACH (safety data sheets)
- HSE — EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits
This guide is general information, not legal advice. COSHH and chemical-classification rules change over time — always check the current HSE and legislation.gov.uk guidance for your work.
What to include in a COSHH assessment — FAQs
What should a COSHH assessment include?
Substance and hazard information, the task and who's exposed, exposure routes, control measures in hierarchy order, PPE/RPE, monitoring and health surveillance where needed, emergency and spill procedures, storage and disposal, and a review date.
Is there an official COSHH assessment template?
No. HSE provides guidance and worked example assessments through COSHH essentials, but there's no legally required template — your assessment must be specific to your substances and tasks.
What's the most common mistake in a COSHH assessment?
Filing the safety data sheet and calling it done. The data sheet is an input; the assessment has to evaluate your actual task, quantities, exposure and controls.