What does COSHH Regulation 6 require for workplace substance assessments?

COSHH Regulation 6 requires every employer to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to health created by work which is liable to expose employees to any substance hazardous to health. The assessment must consider the hazardous properties of the substance, the nature and degree of exposure, the quantity of the substance, the effect of control measures and preventive measures, the results of any monitoring or health surveillance, and any relevant information from the supplier Safety Data Sheet. The assessment must be recorded, reviewed regularly and updated when there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid.

How often should COSHH assessments be reviewed?

The HSE Approved Code of Practice recommends reviewing COSHH assessments at least annually. More frequent reviews are appropriate for high-risk substances such as carcinogens, mutagens and asthmagens. Immediate review is required if a new substance is introduced, the process changes, monitoring or health surveillance results indicate inadequate control, an incident or case of occupational ill health occurs, new WEL values are published, or new toxicological information becomes available from the supplier. Lower-risk assessments where nothing has changed may be reviewed every two years.

What is the difference between a COSHH assessment and a general risk assessment?

A COSHH assessment is specifically focused on the risks to health from exposure to hazardous substances and is required by the COSHH Regulations 2002. It considers substance-specific factors such as hazard classification, workplace exposure limits, routes of exposure, exposure monitoring and health surveillance. A general risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 covers all workplace hazards including physical, mechanical, electrical and ergonomic risks. The two assessments serve different regulatory requirements and, while they may be presented in a single document for a particular task, they address fundamentally different types of risk.

What substances are covered by COSHH?

COSHH covers any substance that is hazardous to health, including substances classified as dangerous under the CLP Regulation (with hazard statements such as H340, H350, H360, H334, H317), substances with a workplace exposure limit listed in EH40, biological agents, any dust at a concentration above the WEL for inhalable dust (10 mg/m3) or respirable dust (4 mg/m3), and any other substance that creates a comparable risk to health because of its chemical or toxicological properties and the way it is used at work. COSHH does not cover lead (covered by the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002), asbestos (covered by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012) or radioactive substances.

Is this COSHH assessment template free?

Yes. Download and use this COSHH assessment template at no cost. Open the file in your browser and use Print then Save as PDF for a paper copy. No MapTrack account is required. If you want digital COSHH assessments on mobile with SDS attachment, substance register management, health surveillance scheduling and compliance dashboards by department, MapTrack can do that. Book a demo to see how it works.

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Free COSHH assessment template (PDF-ready). Covers COSHH 2002 Reg 6 substance identification, exposure routes, control measures and health surveillance.

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 3 May 2026

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What is a coshh assessment template?

A COSHH assessment template is a structured document used to assess the risks to health from exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace as required by Regulation 6 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). It covers the identification of hazardous substances used, produced or encountered during work activities, the routes of exposure (inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, injection), the persons who may be exposed, the existing control measures in place, the adequacy of those controls measured against the workplace exposure limits (WELs) and the principles of good practice, and any additional controls, health surveillance or monitoring required. Each substance and activity is assessed individually with the findings recorded against the specific COSHH regulations.

COSHH is one of the most important health and safety regulations in the United Kingdom, covering substances that can cause harm through workplace exposure, including chemicals, dusts, fumes, vapours, mists, nanotechnology particles, gases, biological agents and any other substance that has a WEL, is classified as hazardous under CLP regulation, or creates a risk to health due to its properties and the way it is used. Regulation 6 requires employers to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to health created by work which is liable to expose employees to any substance hazardous to health. The assessment must consider the hazardous properties of the substance, the nature, degree and duration of exposure, the circumstances of the work, the quantity of the substance, the effect of control measures and the results of any monitoring or health surveillance. This template provides a comprehensive, regulation-aligned framework that ensures every element required by Regulation 6 is addressed and documented.

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Benefits of using this coshh assessment template

COSHH compliance: a completed assessment satisfies Regulation 6 and provides the documented evidence that HSE inspectors review when assessing an employer COSHH management programme.
Exposure prevention: systematic identification of exposure routes and the adequacy of controls helps prevent occupational diseases such as occupational asthma, dermatitis, cancer and respiratory sensitisation.
Substance management: the assessment process forces a review of every hazardous substance in use, often revealing opportunities to eliminate substances, substitute less hazardous alternatives or reduce quantities.
Health surveillance targeting: the assessment identifies which employees require health surveillance under Regulation 11, ensuring that surveillance programmes are focused on the right groups and the right health effects.
Employee information: sharing the assessment findings with employees satisfies the Regulation 12 duty to provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training on the substances they work with.
Legal defence: a thorough, documented COSHH assessment demonstrates that the employer has applied the principles of good practice set out in Schedule 2A, which is a key factor in HSE enforcement and civil liability decisions.

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What to include in a coshh assessment template

This coshh assessment template covers 10 key areas:

Assessment details: department, work activity or process, assessment date, assessor name and competence, review date, assessment reference number.
Substance identification: product name, chemical name or composition, CAS number (if known), supplier, Safety Data Sheet (SDS) reference, CLP hazard classification and hazard statements (H-phrases).
Hazardous properties: health hazards identified from the SDS and CLP classification, including acute toxicity, skin/eye irritation, respiratory or skin sensitisation, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity and specific target organ toxicity.
Exposure details: tasks or activities that involve or generate exposure, routes of exposure (inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, injection), frequency and duration of exposure, number of employees exposed, quantities used per task and per shift.
Workplace exposure limits: the relevant WEL(s) from EH40 for the substance or its components, both the 8-hour TWA and the 15-minute STEL where applicable.
Existing controls: current control measures in place, categorised by the hierarchy (elimination, substitution, engineering controls such as LEV, administrative controls, RPE and PPE), with an assessment of whether each control is adequate.
Risk evaluation: determination of whether exposure is adequately controlled, considering the existing controls, the WEL, the principles of good practice in Schedule 2A and any monitoring data or health surveillance results.
Additional controls: further measures needed to achieve adequate control, following the hierarchy of controls, with responsible person, target date and verification method.
Health surveillance and monitoring: determination of whether health surveillance is required under Regulation 11, and whether workplace exposure monitoring is required under Regulation 10, with details of what is needed.
Emergency procedures: action to be taken in the event of a spill, leak, uncontrolled release or accidental exposure, including first aid measures, spill response and reporting requirements.

How to use this coshh assessment template

Identify all hazardous substances used, produced, generated or encountered during the work activity by reviewing Safety Data Sheets, process descriptions and workplace observations.: Compile a list of every substance involved in the activity, including raw materials, intermediates, products, by-products (such as welding fume, wood dust, silica dust), cleaning agents and maintenance chemicals. Obtain the current Safety Data Sheet for each substance, paying particular attention to Section 2 (Hazard identification), Section 8 (Exposure controls) and Section 11 (Toxicological information). Walk the workplace to identify any substances that may not appear in the purchasing records but are present on site, such as legacy stocks, substances brought in by contractors, or naturally occurring hazards such as biological agents.
Determine the routes, frequency and duration of exposure for each substance, identifying all persons who may be exposed including employees, contractors and visitors.: For each substance, determine how workers are exposed: inhalation of dust, fume, vapour or mist; skin absorption or contact; accidental ingestion; or injection through high-pressure equipment or sharps. Assess how often the exposure occurs (daily, weekly, occasionally), how long each exposure episode lasts, and how many workers are exposed. Consider routine tasks, non-routine tasks (cleaning, maintenance, breakdowns) and foreseeable emergency situations. Identify any groups who may be especially at risk, such as young workers, pregnant workers, workers with pre-existing health conditions or workers whose English comprehension may affect their understanding of safety information.
Evaluate the existing control measures against the COSHH principles of good practice (Schedule 2A) and the relevant workplace exposure limits (WELs).: For each substance and exposure scenario, document the existing control measures and assess their adequacy. Apply the eight principles of good practice from Schedule 2A: design and operate processes to minimise emissions, take into account all routes of exposure, control exposure to the extent required by the principle, choose the most effective and reliable control options, use a combination of controls where necessary, review and update controls regularly, and inform and train employees. Where a WEL applies, determine whether exposure is below the limit, considering both the 8-hour TWA and the 15-minute STEL. If exposure monitoring data is available, use it to support the evaluation.
Determine whether additional controls, exposure monitoring or health surveillance are required, and record the actions needed.: If the evaluation concludes that exposure is not adequately controlled, identify additional control measures following the hierarchy: can the substance be eliminated or substituted; can engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation be improved or installed; can administrative controls such as reducing exposure duration or rotating tasks be introduced; and, as a last resort, can upgraded RPE or PPE provide adequate protection? Determine whether workplace exposure monitoring under Regulation 10 is needed to confirm the adequacy of controls. Determine whether health surveillance under Regulation 11 is required (mandatory for certain substances listed in Schedule 6 and whenever there is a reasonable likelihood of identifiable disease related to the exposure).
Record the assessment findings, share them with affected employees, and set a review date with clear triggers for earlier review.: Complete the COSHH assessment template with all findings, ensuring that every field is populated and every substance and activity has been individually assessed. Share the findings with all employees who may be exposed, in a form they can understand (Regulation 12). This may include simplified summaries, toolbox talks or translated documents for non-English speakers. Set a review date (at least every two years as good practice for high-risk substances, annually for others). Define the triggers for an earlier review: new substances, changes in quantity or frequency, changes in control measures, new monitoring or health surveillance data, incidents or near misses, and new guidance or WEL changes.

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How often should you complete this assessment?

COSHH Regulation 6 does not prescribe a fixed review interval, but requires the assessment to be reviewed regularly and immediately if there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid, if there has been a significant change in the work to which it relates, or if the results of monitoring or health surveillance show it to be necessary. The HSE Approved Code of Practice (L5) recommends that COSHH assessments are reviewed at least once a year.

In practice, higher-risk assessments involving carcinogens, mutagens, asthmagens or substances with very low WELs should be reviewed at least annually, and sooner if monitoring results or health surveillance findings indicate that controls may be inadequate. Lower-risk assessments may be reviewed every two years if the activity, substances and controls have not changed. Specific triggers for immediate review include the introduction of a new substance, a change in the process or task, a change in the quantity used, installation or modification of control equipment, a spill or uncontrolled release, a case of occupational ill health, new WEL values published in EH40, or new toxicological information from the supplier.

Frequently asked questions

What does COSHH Regulation 6 require for workplace substance assessments?: COSHH Regulation 6 requires every employer to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to health created by work which is liable to expose employees to any substance hazardous to health. The assessment must consider the hazardous properties of the substance, the nature and degree of exposure, the quantity of the substance, the effect of control measures and preventive measures, the results of any monitoring or health surveillance, and any relevant information from the supplier Safety Data Sheet. The assessment must be recorded, reviewed regularly and updated when there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid.
How often should COSHH assessments be reviewed?: The HSE Approved Code of Practice recommends reviewing COSHH assessments at least annually. More frequent reviews are appropriate for high-risk substances such as carcinogens, mutagens and asthmagens. Immediate review is required if a new substance is introduced, the process changes, monitoring or health surveillance results indicate inadequate control, an incident or case of occupational ill health occurs, new WEL values are published, or new toxicological information becomes available from the supplier. Lower-risk assessments where nothing has changed may be reviewed every two years.
What is the difference between a COSHH assessment and a general risk assessment?: A COSHH assessment is specifically focused on the risks to health from exposure to hazardous substances and is required by the COSHH Regulations 2002. It considers substance-specific factors such as hazard classification, workplace exposure limits, routes of exposure, exposure monitoring and health surveillance. A general risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 covers all workplace hazards including physical, mechanical, electrical and ergonomic risks. The two assessments serve different regulatory requirements and, while they may be presented in a single document for a particular task, they address fundamentally different types of risk.
What substances are covered by COSHH?: COSHH covers any substance that is hazardous to health, including substances classified as dangerous under the CLP Regulation (with hazard statements such as H340, H350, H360, H334, H317), substances with a workplace exposure limit listed in EH40, biological agents, any dust at a concentration above the WEL for inhalable dust (10 mg/m3) or respirable dust (4 mg/m3), and any other substance that creates a comparable risk to health because of its chemical or toxicological properties and the way it is used at work. COSHH does not cover lead (covered by the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002), asbestos (covered by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012) or radioactive substances.
Is this COSHH assessment template free?: Yes. Download and use this COSHH assessment template at no cost. Open the file in your browser and use Print then Save as PDF for a paper copy. No MapTrack account is required. If you want digital COSHH assessments on mobile with SDS attachment, substance register management, health surveillance scheduling and compliance dashboards by department, MapTrack can do that. Book a demo to see how it works.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Regulation 6
COSHH 2002, Schedule 2A (Principles of good practice)
EH40/2005 (Workplace exposure limits), as amended
COSHH Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L5)

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