COSHH: risk assessment template and guidance

You need to have risk assessments for the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH). Use our template to help you, plus see the rules on what your assessments need to cover and get tips on how to carry one out.

Last reviewed on 23 November 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 2899
Contents
  1. You must carry out COSHH assessments
  2. Download our risk assessment template
  3. How to do COSHH risk assessments

You must carry out COSHH assessments

As the employer in your school, you must make "suitable and sufficient" assessments of the risks created by hazardous substances.

This is set out in legislation (amended in 2003 and 2004).

Keep a record

If you have 5 or more employees, you need to record:

  • The significant findings of the risk assessments as soon as practicable
  • The steps you've taken to prevent or control exposure to hazardous substances

See section 2 of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on managing risks and risk assessments at work.

Review your assessments regularly

Plus, review an assessment immediately if:

  • You have reason to suspect that a current risk assessment is no longer valid
  • There's been a significant change in the work that the risk assessment relates to
  • Any regular monitoring you carry out of exposure to hazardous substances suggests that a review is necessary

You can use it for most day-to-day