COSHH Assessment Records and Review
Records
When recording a COSHH Assessment (a record which many employers use as part of the information provided for employees, contractors, etc.) the employer needs to ensure that it shows:
- that all relevant factors have been considered;
- that an informed and valid judgement has been reached about the risks;
- the decisions he has reached about control measures;
- how control will be achieved and maintained; and
- any need for exposure monitoring and/or health surveillance.
Records Form
A model basic form in which a COSHH Assessment can be recorded is as follows:
- the work, workplace(s) and substance(s);
- name of person responsible for the assessment, sources of information and consultation undertaken with professionals and employees affected (or their representatives);
- the nature and degree of risks to health which can arise from exposure, including any factors that could increase risk (e.g. smoking);
- why substitution by a less hazardous substance is not reasonably practicable;
- the control measures adopted, the reasons for these and how to use them properly;
- precautions under non-routine conditions, including emergencies;
- (where appropriate) the reasons for any personal protective equipment or clothing, and the jobs where these are necessary;
- (where appropriate) exposure monitoring procedures, including arrangements for access to results and notification if a maximum exposure limit is exceeded;
- (where appropriate) the role of health surveillance, who must attend for health surveillance procedures, and arrangements for employee access to individual health records and the collective results of health surveillance;
- arrangements for further consultation with employees or their representatives and review of this assessment.
Review of COSHH Assessment
The employer must review any COSHH assessment immediately:
- if there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid, or
- if there has been a significant change in the work to which it relates.
The employer should in any event review COSHH assessments periodically as a matter of course.
If the review indicates any deficiency in the assessment, the employer must revise the record of the assessment and make any changes to his control measures or the like that are necessary to ensure continued compliance with COSHH (see A 3.1, Making and Recording Risk Assessments).