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COSHH Complete Guide

Manage hazardous substance assessments with SDS uploads, AI assistance, approvals, acknowledgements, and exports.

Overview

COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) workflows in TheContractorsToolbox help teams assess substances, define controls, and evidence worker communication.

[SCREENSHOT: COSHH Dashboard]

Why It Matters

  • Protects workers from exposure-related harm.
  • Demonstrates control planning and communication.
  • Supports legal compliance and audit preparedness.

Step-by-Step Instructions

What COSHH is and why it matters

COSHH assessments cover:

  • hazard identification,
  • exposure routes,
  • control measures,
  • PPE requirements,
  • first aid and emergency steps.

Uploading SDS sheets

  1. Start a COSHH record.
  2. Upload the latest SDS from supplier/manufacturer.
  3. Confirm product name, revision date, and manufacturer match.

[SCREENSHOT: SDS Upload Panel]

AI-assisted COSHH assessments

The AI assistant can suggest:

  • hazard classes,
  • likely PPE categories,
  • handling/storage notes,
  • first aid prompts.

You can use suggestions to speed drafting, but a competent human reviewer must validate all final outputs.

[GIF: AI COSHH Suggestion Workflow]

Confidence scores and human review

  • High confidence: likely accurate, still verify.
  • Medium confidence: verify against SDS sections before approval.
  • Low confidence: treat as draft cue only and manually complete.

Always check AI suggestions against SDS source text and site reality.

Hazard classifications, PPE, and exposure limits

Document:

  • hazard statements and symbols,
  • task-specific PPE,
  • relevant WEL (Workplace Exposure Limits) where applicable.

Storage and first aid guidance

Define:

  • storage location and segregation rules,
  • spill response,
  • first aid response steps,
  • emergency contact process.

[SCREENSHOT: COSHH Emergency Guidance Block]

Approval workflows, acknowledgements, and PDF exports

  1. Submit for review and approval.
  2. Publish to affected teams.
  3. Track acknowledgements.
  4. Export PDF for toolbox talks and audits.

Templates

Build reusable templates for common substances:

  • adhesives and sealants,
  • paint systems,
  • cleaning chemicals,
  • dust suppressants.

Tips & Best Practices

  • Keep SDS files current and version-controlled.
  • Link COSHH assessments to actual task context, not just products.
  • Include supervisor briefing notes for high-risk substances.

Warnings / Important Notes

  • AI is an assistant, not an approver.
  • Never approve a COSHH record without SDS validation.
  • Reassess when products or working methods change.

FAQ

Does AI replace a competent COSHH assessor?

No. AI helps draft and structure content, but your competent reviewer remains responsible for correctness and approval.

What if confidence is low?

Use the suggestion as a prompt, then complete manually from the SDS and your operational controls.