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COSHH Risk Assessment Form

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COSHH RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

WHEREAS / RECITALS

WHEREAS: Client Name: has engaged the Assessor to carry out a Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) risk assessment for the activities and substances described in this document.

WHEREAS: Assessor Name: will identify hazardous properties, evaluate exposure risk, and specify control measures in accordance with the employer's duty to protect persons from health risks arising from hazardous substances.

WHEREAS: This assessment records current controls, evaluates residual risk, and sets actions, responsibilities and review arrangements required to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.

Assessment Details

Assessment Date:    Location / Department:

Substance / Process Identification

Quantity on site:   Frequency of use:

Inhalation    Skin contact    Ingestion    Eyes

Persons at Risk

Existing Controls

Risk Evaluation

Likelihood (before controls):

Severity (before controls):

Low    Medium    High

Additional Controls / Action Plan

Emergency Procedures / First Aid

Storage, Transport and Disposal

Training and Communication

Review & Monitoring

Next Review Date:    Review Frequency:

Administrative Provisions

Confidentiality: The Assessor and Client shall treat all confidential business information disclosed in connection with this assessment as confidential and shall not disclose such information except to persons who need to know for implementation of controls or as required by law.

Entire Agreement: This document, together with any attachments, constitutes the entire written record of the COSHH risk assessment and supersedes prior oral or written representations relating to the matters assessed.

Assessment Declaration

I confirm that, to the best of my knowledge, the information recorded in this assessment is accurate and that the recommended actions have been identified to reduce exposure and health risk to persons at the premises named above.

Assessor Name:

By:

Date:

Responsible Manager:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What the COSHH Risk Assessment Form Is and Why It Exists

The COSHH Risk Assessment Form documents hazards, exposure routes, control measures, and review actions for substances hazardous to health. Although COSHH is a UK regulatory framework, the form is widely used as a structured chemical-risk checklist in laboratories, maintenance operations, and facilities management. In U.S. workplaces the form often complements OSHA Hazard Communication (HazCom) programs and internal chemical safety procedures by providing a consistent record of risk evaluation, controls, and training. This guidance explains how to complete, store, and e-submit the form while addressing eSignature and retention considerations.

Why a Formal COSHH Risk Assessment Form Matters

A structured COSHH form creates a clear record of hazard identification, exposure controls, responsibilities, and review dates, which reduces workplace incidents and supports regulatory inspections and internal audits.

Why a Formal COSHH Risk Assessment Form Matters

Who Typically Completes and Signs This Form

The COSHH Risk Assessment Form is completed by staff with operational responsibility for hazardous substances and reviewed by management or safety teams prior to use.

  • Health and Safety Officers — prepare assessments, set control measures, and ensure training is assigned.
  • Laboratory and Technical Managers — document procedures, PPE, and monitoring requirements for staff.
  • Facilities and Maintenance Supervisors — record permit conditions, safe handling, and storage controls.

Use the form for new processes, new chemicals, changes in control measures, or annual reviews to keep records current and defensible.

Core Elements to Include in a Professional COSHH Risk Assessment Form

A professional form balances concise hazard details with operational controls and a clear review schedule so it can be used as both an active checklist and an audit record.

Hazard ID

Name the substance, supplier, and relevant hazard classifications or safety data sheet (SDS) entries so reviewers can verify chemical properties and legal classifications.

Exposure Routes

Describe how people might be exposed (inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, injection) plus likely affected tasks and workers to prioritize controls.

Control Measures

List engineering, administrative, and PPE controls in order of effectiveness and note any containment, ventilation, or substitution measures implemented.

Monitoring & Limits

Record occupational exposure limits, monitoring schedule, and results thresholds that trigger corrective actions or additional controls.

Training & Competency

Specify required training, refresher interval, and who verified competency to ensure staff understand risks and safe procedures.

Review & Sign-off

Provide signature blocks, job titles, effective date, and next review date so responsibility and accountability are recorded for compliance and audits.

Essential Fields to Capture on the COSHH Risk Assessment Form

Assessor: Name and role
Date: MM/DD/YYYY
Substance: Chemical name
SDS Reference: Supplier + revision
Controls: List measures
Review Date: Next scheduled review

Step-by-Step: How to Complete the COSHH Risk Assessment Form

Follow this logical sequence to complete the form accurately and ensure it is ready for review and signature.

  • 01
    Gather SDS: Collect the current safety data sheet before assessing hazards.
  • 02
    Identify Tasks: List tasks where the substance is used, handled, or stored.
  • 03
    Record Controls: Document engineering and administrative measures and required PPE.
  • 04
    Sign and Review: Obtain assessor and manager signatures and set a review date.

Where to File, Send, and Store Completed Assessments

A consistent filing and routing process ensures assessors, supervisors, and safety teams can find and act on records quickly.

  • Internal EHS Folder: Store a master copy in the environmental health and safety document repository.
  • Supervisor Copy: Provide the immediate supervisor a signed copy for operational reference.
  • Employee Access: Make a read-only copy available to affected staff.
  • Auditor Package: Include signed assessment and SDS in audit-ready files.

How to Share the Form Securely and Meet Technical Requirements

Choose a platform that supports PDF/Word upload, audit trails, and industry integrations to preserve record integrity.

  • File Formats: PDF, DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365
  • Security: TLS 1.2/1.3, AES-256

Typical Online Workflow Settings for Completing and Routing the Form

Configure fields, signers, and notifications to match your internal review and audit requirements before sending the form.

Field Configuration
Assessor Signature Required, date-stamp enabled
Manager Approval Sequential signer, email auth
Attachment Attach SDS as required file
Retention Auto-archive to EHS repository

Timelines and Review Deadlines to Include on the Form

Set clear review frequencies and triggers so the assessment remains current and aligned with operational changes.

Initial Assessment Date:

Record assessment effective date when first completed.

Periodic Review:

Schedule reviews annually or when processes change.

Post-Incident Review:

Reassess immediately after exposure incidents or near-misses.

Training Update:

Ensure retraining within 30 days of control changes.

Record Retention:

Retain assessments according to legal and company policy.

Common Mistakes When Preparing a COSHH Risk Assessment Form

  • Using generic or vague control descriptions that do not translate into operational procedures or measurable checks.
  • Failing to attach or reference the correct safety data sheet (SDS) version, causing mismatched hazard information.
  • Omitting exposure frequency and duration details, which hinders accurate monitoring and prioritization.
  • Skipping signatures or dates, leaving the assessment unverifiable during inspections or incidents.

Consequences of an Incomplete or Incorrect Assessment

Health Risk: Increased injury or illness
Regulatory Exposure: Fines or enforcement action
Operational Downtime: Work stoppages or remediation
Liability Claims: Civil litigation risk
Insurance Impact: Higher premiums or denial
Reputational Harm: Stakeholder trust erosion

Realistic Use Cases for the COSHH Risk Assessment Form

Practical examples show how the form supports safe operations and documented decision-making across scenarios.

Laboratory Changeover

A lab introduced a new solvent. Assessor updated the SDS reference and controls

  • Task exposure was limited to weekly 2-hour operations
  • The form recorded ventilation upgrades and retraining, preventing repeated near-misses during the first quarter.

Maintenance Work

A maintenance crew used a degreaser on heavy equipment. Assessor listed confined-space risks

  • PPE and lockout procedures applied
  • Sign-off and a 30-day review were documented and stored in the EHS repository for audit readiness.

Comparing eSignature Pricing and Core Features for This Form

Basic vendor pricing and core features relevant to signing and storing COSHH assessments are shown to help compare operational costs and compliance capabilities.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Varies
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year No cap noted No cap noted No cap noted

Frequently Asked Questions About Completing and Submitting the Form

Answers to common questions about accuracy, e-signatures, retention, and regulatory considerations when using the COSHH Risk Assessment Form.


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