Every substance we hold has one of these in the COSHH file - the hazards off the safety data sheet, the PPE we actually use, storage and disposal, and a risk rating before and after controls. When the auditor asks, it's all there and consistent.
This form template is supplied in fully editable MS Word format and can be easily customised and edited. The document uses pre-defined style formatting throughout, with all text in Calibri font for improved readability.
The following document labelling is included in the footer:
- Form number and title
- Information-classification
- Version
- Page number / total pages
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Further guidance on COSHH and hazardous substances:
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COSHH Assessment Form
The F-HS5 COSHH Assessment Form is an editable template for assessing and recording the risks from substances hazardous to health, one assessment per substance. It gives you a consistent, repeatable format for documenting what a substance is, the hazards it presents, who could be exposed, and the controls and personal protective equipment needed to use it safely.
Substances hazardous to health are covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), which require employers to assess the risks from those substances and put suitable controls in place. A documented assessment for each substance is the practical evidence that you have done this, and it supports clause 6.1.2 of ISO 45001 where hazards are identified and risks assessed.
Built for ISO 45001 and COSHH compliance
The form is structured around what a COSHH assessment actually has to capture:
- Identify the substance and the hazards it presents
- Record the routes of exposure and who is at risk
- Document the control measures and PPE needed for safe use
- Assign an inherent and a residual risk rating so dangerous substances are clearly flagged
- Confirm that exposure is adequately controlled and risk is at an acceptable level
What's included in this form template
The form walks through a single substance from identification to sign-off:
- Product identification and properties - a clear layout for the trade name, manufacturer and the physical properties of the substance
- Hazard classification and labelling - editable hazard symbol graphics, where any symbols that do not apply can simply be deleted
- PPE specification - space to detail the personal protective equipment required for safe use
- Storage and disposal notes - room to record handling, storage and disposal information
- Final confirmation section - an inherent risk rating for the substance, a residual risk rating once safe use and controls are taken into account, and confirmation that exposure is adequately controlled at an acceptable level
The form is fully editable so you can adapt it to your own substances and house style.
Working from the safety data sheet
Each assessment is built from the manufacturer's safety data sheet (SDS) for the substance. The form gives you a clear place to capture the hazard classification, properties, exposure routes and controls from the SDS, turning it into a concise, auditable record rather than a data sheet filed away in a drawer.
Who needs a COSHH assessment form?
Any organisation that uses chemicals, cleaning products, fuels, solvents or similar materials needs to assess the risks before they are used. The form suits health and safety managers, ISO 45001 certified organisations and smaller businesses that need a straightforward way to demonstrate COSHH due diligence without specialist software.
Included in every ISO 45001 toolkit
This form is part of every alphaZ ISO 45001 toolkit and the wider integrated management system toolkits, and it is also included in the COSHH Toolkit alongside a selection of example COSHH assessments, registers, procedures and guidance.
Kept up to date
The form is maintained and revised as standards and good practice change. It was last updated in April 2026 to add the inherent and residual risk ratings and the final confirmation section. An alphaZ Subscription keeps you in ongoing access to this and every other document, with any future updates included.
Pairs with the F-HS4 COSHH Register
Use this form with the F-HS4 COSHH Register. The register keeps track of every hazardous substance in use across the business, and the assessment form is where each of those substances is individually assessed and signed off.
Please note - completed COSHH assessments should be reviewed and confirmed by a competent person before use.