COSHH Risk Assessment Template UK (Free, Step-by-Step)

This free COSHH risk assessment template follows the five-step approach recommended by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in its INDG136 guidance. Every UK business that uses, handles, stores, or decants hazardous substances — including everyday cleaning chemicals — must complete a suitable and sufficient assessment under Regulation 6 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). The result must be recorded and kept available to employees, safety representatives, and inspectors.

The 5 Steps of a Compliant COSHH Assessment

1. Identify the hazards. Check the supplier Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each product — Section 2 (hazard identification), Section 8 (exposure controls and PPE), and Section 13 (disposal) contain everything you need for the assessment.
2. Decide who might be harmed and how. Consider employees, contractors, visitors, and even members of the public, plus routes of exposure: inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, and eye contact.
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on controls. Apply the hierarchy of control: eliminate or substitute the substance first, then engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation, closed systems), then administrative controls, and finally PPE.
4. Record your findings and implement them. If you employ five or more people, the significant findings must be written down — this tool generates that document for you.
5. Review and update. Revisit the assessment whenever the process, substance, or legislation changes, and at a minimum every one to two years. An out-of-date assessment is a common HSE inspection failure.

What Should a COSHH Risk Assessment Include?

A well-structured COSHH assessment template contains the following sections — all of which are included in the generator above:

• The substance name and, where relevant, its UFI or EC/CAS number
• Hazard classification and GHS/CLP pictograms taken from the SDS
• The task or activity where the substance is used (e.g. decanting, spray cleaning, welding)
• Exposure route and duration — how often, how long, and by how many people
• Control measures in place and any additional actions required
• PPE requirements — gloves, eye protection, respiratory protection matched to Section 8 of the SDS
• First aid, spill response, and emergency procedures
• Reviewer name, signature, and review date

COSHH Risk Assessment Examples for Common Chemicals

Not sure where to start? These everyday scenarios show how a completed assessment looks in practice. Use the generator above to produce the same structure for your own inventory:

• Concentrated bleach (sodium hypochlorite): corrosive; risk of chemical burns and dangerous chlorine gas if mixed with acidic cleaners. Controls: nitrile gauntlets, eye protection, ventilation, and strict "never mix" training.
• Cleaning degreasers (alkaline concentrates): severe skin and eye irritation; risk during decanting into spray bottles. Controls: dilution stations, labelled secondary containers, chemical-resistant gloves.
• Isopropyl alcohol / sanitizers (flammable liquids): flash point below 23 °C; fire and inhalation risks in bulk storage. Controls: flammable storage cabinet (DSEAR), static-safe dispensing, FFP2 respirator for prolonged fogging.
• Silicone oils and lubricating sprays: slippery floors (slip risk) and aspiration hazards; controls include drip trays, absorbent spill kits, and spill signage.

Do I Need a Written COSHH Assessment if I Have Fewer Than 5 Employees?

Yes. Even sole traders and micro-businesses must carry out an assessment — the five-employee rule only removes the legal requirement to record it in writing. In practice, an HSE inspector will always ask to see your written COSHH register, so keeping a documented, signed assessment is the safest position for any business size.

Frequently Asked Questions