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Free COSHH Assessment Template

COSHH assessments record the hazardous substances on your job and the controls you have in place to protect workers. Use the template structure below, or let The Site Book create your COSHH assessments automatically from our substance library.

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No credit card required. Your first project is free.

What is a COSHH assessment?

COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. The COSHH Regulations 2002 require every employer and self-employed person to assess the risks from hazardous substances used at work and put control measures in place to protect workers.

In construction, hazardous substances are everywhere — cement, adhesives, solvents, paints, silica dust, wood dust, expanding foam, and dozens of trade-specific chemicals. Each one needs a COSHH assessment that identifies the health risks, the routes of exposure, and the specific controls you will use to reduce the risk.

A COSHH assessment is not the same as a general risk assessment. It focuses specifically on substances that can harm health through inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, or injection. The information usually comes from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS), which you can upload directly to The Site Book.

What goes in a COSHH assessment

Here are the key sections every COSHH assessment should include.

Substance details

Product name, manufacturer, form (liquid, powder, gas, dust), and where and how it is used on site. The foundation of every COSHH assessment.

Hazard classification

The GHS hazard statements and pictograms from the product label and safety data sheet. What harm this substance can cause — irritant, corrosive, toxic, carcinogenic, sensitiser.

Exposure routes

How workers can be exposed — inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, or injection. Different substances pose different risks through different routes.

Control measures

The practical steps to reduce exposure, following the hierarchy of controls — elimination, substitution, engineering controls (LEV, wet cutting), administrative controls, and PPE as a last resort.

PPE requirements

The specific personal protective equipment required — not just 'wear appropriate PPE' but the actual type of gloves, mask, eye protection, and protective clothing needed for this substance.

Storage and handling

How to store the substance safely — ventilation, temperature, incompatible materials, and maximum quantities. Plus safe handling procedures to minimise exposure during use.

Spill and emergency procedures

What to do if the substance is spilled or a worker is exposed. First aid measures, containment procedures, disposal requirements, and when to seek medical attention.

Health surveillance

Whether workers using this substance need health monitoring — skin checks for cement users, lung function tests for silica exposure, and what records to keep.

Common substances that need COSHH assessments

If you use any of these on site, you need a COSHH assessment for each one. The Site Book’s substance library covers all of these and hundreds more — search by name, brand, or trade nickname.

CementSilica dustWood dustPVA adhesiveGrab adhesiveExpanding foamSolvent-based paintWhite spiritChemical paint stripperFlux (soldering)Pipe cementEpoxy resinTile adhesivePlasterboard joint compoundCleaning chemicals

Frequently asked questions

When do I need a COSHH assessment?

You need a COSHH assessment whenever you or your workers are exposed to a substance that could harm health. In construction, this is more common than you might think — cement, adhesives, solvents, paints, wood dust, silica dust, expanding foam, and cleaning chemicals all require COSHH assessments. If a product has a hazard warning on the label, it needs recording. Under the COSHH Regulations 2002, you must assess the risks before the work starts and put control measures in place.

What is a COSHH assessment?

COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. A COSHH assessment is a document that identifies the hazardous substances used on a job, assesses the risks they pose to workers, and sets out the control measures to reduce exposure. It covers what the substance is, how workers might be exposed (breathing it in, skin contact, swallowing), what harm it can cause, and what you will do to prevent that harm — from elimination and substitution through to PPE.

Is this COSHH template free?

Yes. The Site Book lets you create COSHH assessments for your first project completely free — no credit card required. Our substance library covers hundreds of common construction products. Search for the substance, review the safety information, and it is added to your documents automatically. Unlike a blank template, the assessment is pre-populated with hazard data, control measures, and PPE requirements from the manufacturer's safety data sheet.

Related guides and templates

COSHH Guide for Builders

A practical guide to COSHH assessments in construction.

COSHH Assessment Software

Smart substance search and SDS upload — COSHH made simple.

Sample Documents

See real example documents created by The Site Book.

Free RAMS Generator

COSHH assessments are included in your RAMS automatically.

COSHH assessments — sorted in minutes

No credit card. No blank templates. Search for the substance, review the safety data, and your COSHH assessment flows into every document automatically.

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