COSHH assessment
A risk assessment specific to hazardous substances in GB workplaces, required under COSHH 2002 before work begins that may expose employees to hazardous substances. The assessment must identify the substances, evaluate the risks, and determine appropriate controls.
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
Exact equivalentRegulation 6 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2677) requires employers to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks created by work that may expose employees to hazardous substances. The assessment must be reviewed regularly and when there is reason to believe it is no longer valid.
Irish HSA
No equivalentNo equivalent in this jurisdiction.
US OSHA
No equivalentNo equivalent in this jurisdiction.
Note: COSHH assessment is a GB-specific instrument. Ireland uses a chemical agents risk assessment; OSHA uses hazard assessment for specific substance standards.
Practitioner note: Assess the task, not just the substance. The same chemical carries different risk depending on quantity, process and ventilation, so a generic per-product assessment rarely satisfies regulation 6.