COSHH and hazardous substances (UK)
A list of checks and obligations with their cadence, ready to add to your agenda.
For employers in Great Britain who use, produce or generate substances hazardous to health: chemicals, dusts, welding fume, biological agents. Covers the COSHH assessment and its review, thorough examination and testing of local exhaust ventilation every 14 months, health surveillance, exposure monitoring, UK REACH safety data sheets and DSEAR duties on explosive atmospheres. Does NOT cover asbestos, lead and ionising radiation, which have their own regulations, nor the carriage of dangerous goods (ADR).
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Ask what is in the manuals, how often the maintenance is due and what it takes to do it.
What it already has at hand
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- 9 planned checks, the most frequent every month since the last inspection
Planned checks
Informative summary verified on 11/09/2026. It does not replace legal advice: the regulation cited prevails. If you spot an error, report it.
Some checks are only mandatory in certain countries: pick yours and the list follows.
In Italy this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In France this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Germany this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Switzerland this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Austria this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
- 01
Monitor employee exposure
Where necessary to ensure adequate control or to check compliance with a workplace exposure limit, the employer must measure employee exposure using suitable methods and keep the results. Monitoring records must be kept for 5 years, or 40 years where they relate to identifiable employees; evidence is the occupational hygiene sampling report. It is mandatory for the substances and processes in COSHH Schedule 5 (for example vinyl chloride, hexavalent chromium in electroplating) and whenever it is needed to demonstrate adequate control or compliance with a WEL (EH40).
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationControl of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2677) reg. 10 and Schedule 5United Kingdom onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 02
Inform and train workers on COSHH risks
The employer must provide suitable information, instruction and training on the risks from hazardous substances, the control measures, the correct use of PPE and the results of monitoring and health surveillance. Training must be refreshed when substances or processes change, and evidence is the training register with attendee signatures and the topics covered. Applies to all workers exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous substances, including agency staff and contractors working on site.
every 24 months since the last jobLegal obligationControl of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2677) reg. 12United Kingdom onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 03
Carry out COSHH health surveillance
Where workers are exposed to the substances and processes in COSHH Schedule 6, or where exposure may cause an identifiable disease detectable by valid techniques, the employer must ensure suitable health surveillance. For Schedule 6 substances medical surveillance takes place at intervals of not more than 12 months, or shorter if the relevant doctor requires, and the health record must be kept for at least 40 years from the last entry. Applies to exposure to Schedule 6 substances and processes (for example vinyl chloride monomer, nickel carbonyl, arsenic, 1-naphthylamine) or to substances that may cause occupational asthma, contact dermatitis, cancer or disease from biological agents.
every 12 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationControl of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2677) reg. 11 and Schedule 6United Kingdom onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 04
Review the COSHH assessment
The employer must assess the risks from substances hazardous to health before work starts and review the assessment regularly, and forthwith if there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid, if the work has changed significantly or if monitoring results make it necessary. Evidence is the dated and signed COSHH assessment with the substance inventory and control measures. Applies to all employers: with five or more employees the conclusions must be recorded in writing, below that threshold the duty to assess remains but not the duty to record.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationControl of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2677) reg. 6United Kingdom onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 05
Examine and test non-disposable respiratory protective equipment
Non-disposable respiratory protective equipment must be thoroughly examined and, where appropriate, tested at suitable intervals, with the results recorded; HSE guidance (HSG53, INDG479) points to at least a monthly check. Face fit testing must also be carried out on issue and whenever the wearer's face or the model changes, and records must be kept for at least 5 years. Applies only to non-disposable RPE (reusable half masks, full face masks, powered respirators): disposable filtering facepieces are outside the examination duty but still require a fit test. Cadence to be confirmed on the cited source.
every month since the last inspectionRecommendedControl of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2677) reg. 9(3) and reg. 9(4)United Kingdom onlySource - 06
LEV thorough examination and test every 14 months
Local exhaust ventilation plant must be thoroughly examined and tested by a competent person at least every 14 months, except for the Schedule 4 processes where shorter intervals apply. The report must state the measured airflows, the comparison with design performance and any defects found, and records must be kept available for at least 5 years. Applies to any local exhaust ventilation used as a COSHH control measure: hoods, downdraught benches, welding fume extraction arms, spray booths and wood dust extraction.
every 14 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationControl of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2677) reg. 9(2)(a) and reg. 9(4)United Kingdom onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 07
Carry out the DSEAR risk assessment and classify zones
The employer must identify the dangerous substances present (flammable, explosive, corrosive to metals, gases under pressure), assess the fire and explosion risks, classify areas where explosive atmospheres may occur, select equipment suitable for the zone, mark the areas and set up emergency procedures. Evidence is the DSEAR report with the hazardous area classification drawing. Applies to workplaces with flammable or combustible substances: fuel stores, spray painting, combustible dusts from wood, flour or metals, gas installations, lead-acid battery charging and solvents.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationDangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2776) reg. 5, reg. 6, reg. 7 and Schedule 2United Kingdom onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 08
Apply the shorter Schedule 4 LEV intervals
For the processes listed in COSHH Schedule 4 the examination and testing of the ventilation plant takes place at shorter intervals than the standard 14 months: 1 month for blasting in or incidental to the cleaning of metal castings and for jute cloth manufacture, 6 months for the grinding, abrading or polishing of metal articles other than gold, platinum or iridium using mechanical power for more than 12 hours a week in the same room, and for processes giving off dust or fume in the production of non-ferrous metal castings. Evidence is the examination report stating the correct frequency. Applies only to these four Schedule 4 processes: where none is present, the 14-month interval of reg. 9(2)(a) applies instead.
every 6 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationControl of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2677) reg. 9(2)(a) and Schedule 4United Kingdom onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 09
Obtain and keep UK REACH safety data sheets up to date
Suppliers of hazardous substances or mixtures must give the recipient a safety data sheet compliant with UK REACH Annex II; recipients must file them and use them as the basis of, not a substitute for, the COSHH assessment. SDS must be updated without delay when new hazard information emerges or the classification changes, and the updated version sent to everyone supplied in the previous 12 months. Applies to GB-established suppliers of substances and mixtures classified as hazardous and to downstream users keeping the sheets they receive; GB sheets follow GB CLP rather than EU CLP, so sheets from EU suppliers need checking.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationAssimilated Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (UK REACH) art. 31 and Annex II; REACH etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/758)United Kingdom onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026
In Spain this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Portugal this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In United States this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Other country this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
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