Perform Chemical Safety – COSHH Assessment using eAuditor
Perform Chemical Safety – COSHH refers to the process of managing and controlling the risks associated with hazardous substances in the workplace in accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, which are legal requirements in the UK. This process ensures that workers are protected from potential harm caused by exposure to chemicals, fumes, vapours, dusts, mists, or biological agents.
Performing Chemical Safety – COSHH Assessment using eAuditor ensures a thorough evaluation of hazardous substances present in the workplace while maintaining employee safety, legal compliance, and proper control of exposure risks as per UK Chemical Safety – COSHH regulations. The use of eAuditor enables organizations to digitize and streamline their COSHH assessments, ensuring comprehensive documentation, clear accountability, and continuous improvement in chemical safety management.
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Preparation for the COSHH Assessment
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Set Up a COSHH Assessment Template in eAuditor
The assessment process begins with configuring a dedicated COSHH Risk Assessment template tailored to the organization’s operational context. This template should be structured to include all essential components required under Chemical Safety – COSHH regulations, such as:
- Substance identification and classification.
- Potential health hazards (toxic, corrosive, irritant, carcinogenic, etc.).
- Exposure routes (inhalation, ingestion, skin contact).
- Control measures are in place.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements.
- Emergency response protocols (e.g., first aid, fire-fighting measures).
- Storage, handling, and disposal practices.
Templates can be customized using eAuditor’s drag-and-drop interface and saved for repeated use across multiple locations or departments.
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Upload Supporting Documents
Supporting documents such as Safety Data Sheets (SDS), existing chemical inventories, past incident reports, and equipment calibration records should be uploaded and linked to the respective chemical entries in eAuditor. This centralizes critical information and allows for instant reference during inspections.
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Assign Team Roles and Schedule Assessments
Define responsibilities for conducting assessments, reviewing data, and implementing controls. Roles such as safety supervisors, site managers, and compliance officers can be assigned within eAuditor. Recurring COSHH assessments can be scheduled using automated reminders, ensuring that no inspection is overlooked and that follow-up actions are completed on time.
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Conducting the Chemical Safety – COSHH Assessment
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Identify Hazardous Substances
Field inspectors use the eAuditor mobile app to identify and log each hazardous substance present on-site. For each substance:
- Enter chemical name, supplier information, batch number, and quantity.
- Record location of use or storage.
- Take and attach photographs of containers, labels, and storage conditions.
- Indicate whether someone has assessed the substance previously or whether they have newly introduced it.
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Evaluate Risk Factors
Each substance is evaluated for its risk to human health based on:
- The type and frequency of exposure.
- The form of the substance (liquid, gas, dust, vapor).
- The nature of the activity (e.g., pouring, spraying, mixing).
- Environmental conditions such as ventilation, temperature, and humidity.
Assessors select from predefined options or input custom responses to identify high-risk areas. Risk matrices within eAuditor can be used to calculate severity and likelihood, generating a quantitative risk rating.
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Assess Existing Controls
The effectiveness of current control measures is reviewed on-site. This includes:
- Engineering controls (e.g., extraction systems, isolators).
- Administrative controls (e.g., restricted access, safe work procedures).
- PPE usage and availability.
- Labelling and signage adequacy.
Inspectors note the condition and compliance of these controls and capture photographs for documentation. If they find deficiencies, they flag them for corrective action
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Assign Risk Ratings
eAuditor uses dynamic risk fields to calculate and display risk levels both before and after applying control measures.
This provides a clear comparison and highlights the effectiveness of existing safety protocols. Color-coded indicators (e.g., red for high risk, yellow for medium, green for low) offer instant visual cues.
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Implementing and Verifying Control Measures
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Recommend and Document Additional Controls
Where risks remain unacceptably high, assessors can:
- Recommend substitution with less hazardous substances.
- Suggest engineering improvements (e.g., fume hoods, sealed systems).
- Enhance training programs for safe handling and disposal.
- Introduce restricted access protocols or new SOPs.
Each recommendation can be assigned as a task within eAuditor, complete with responsible personnel, priority level, and due dates. This ensures visibility and accountability.
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Verify PPE and Emergency Preparedness
Inspectors confirm whether PPE is:
- Appropriate for the hazard.
- In good condition and readily available.
- Regularly inspected and maintained.
In addition, the presence and accessibility of emergency response equipment, such as spill kits, eye wash stations, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits—are verified and recorded. Emergency contact numbers and evacuation routes should also be checked and documented.
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Documentation and Reporting
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Generate Instant COSHH Reports
Upon completion, eAuditor allows for:
- Immediate generation of a Chemical Safety – COSHH Assessment Report in PDF format.
- Automatic email distribution to relevant stakeholders.
- Secure cloud storage for all historical assessments.
Reports can include signatures, photos, comments, and a summary of action items, ensuring a full audit trail and traceability.
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Track Performance and Trends
Using eAuditor’s Analytics dashboard, safety managers can:
- Monitor trends in chemical risk levels over time.
- Identify frequent issues, such as lack of PPE or improper storage.
- Analyze completion rates of assigned tasks and follow-ups.
- Compare performance across departments or sites.
This data-driven insight supports proactive decision-making and continuous improvement.
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Maintain Audit-Ready Documentation
All changes made to assessments, templates, and reports are time-stamped and user-logged, creating a transparent and auditable trail that satisfies regulatory requirements. During external audits or inspections, relevant COSHH assessments can be accessed and presented instantly via the mobile app or web dashboard.
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Ongoing Compliance and Continuous Improvement
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Schedule Periodic Reviews
COSHH assessments should be reviewed:
- At regular intervals (e.g., every 6 or 12 months).
- When introducing new substances or changing processes.
- Following incidents or near-misses involving chemicals.
eAuditor can schedule these reviews and send automatic reminders to designated personnel, reducing the risk of compliance gaps.
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Integrate Training and Certification Records
Each COSHH entry or template can include attached training logs, certification documents, and instructional videos, ensuring workers are properly trained and competent in handling hazardous materials.
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Enable Field-Level Hazard Reporting
eAuditor empowers staff at all levels to report:
- Spills, leaks, or labeling issues.
- Improper use of chemicals or unsafe storage.
- Suggestions for process improvements.
This encourages a proactive safety culture and enables organizations to identify and mitigate risks in real-time.
Summary
Performing Chemical Safety – COSHH Assessments using eAuditor transforms a traditionally manual and paper-based process into a dynamic, digital workflow that enhances both efficiency and compliance. From identifying hazardous substances to evaluating controls, documenting findings, and implementing corrective actions, eAuditor provides a centralized platform for real-time chemical safety management. It empowers organizations to not only meet their legal obligations under COSHH regulations but also foster a culture of continuous safety improvement, accountability, and transparency.