Example COSHH risk assessment - Fruit farm

Important reminder

This example risk assessment shows the kind of approach a small business might take. Use it as a guide to think through some of the hazards in your business and the steps you need to take to control the risks. Please note that it is not a generic risk assessment that you can just put your company name on and adopt wholesale without any thought. This would not satisfy the law - and would not be effective in protecting people.

Every business is different - you need to think through the hazards and controls required in your business for yourself.

Company name: Fruit farm Department: Top fruit store and packing
Step 1 Substance	Step 2	Step 3			Step 4 Action
Whats the hazard?	What harm, and who?	What are you doing already?		What improvements do you need?	Who	When	Check
Low oxygen area in fruit store	Dangerous to life
	Sampling fruit - sampler	Sample hatch and grabber		Oxygen alarm
	Removing fruit - driver	Full ventilation of fruit store		Oxygen alarm
Breathing in fork lift truck exhaust fumes (LPG)	Carbon monoxide - poisonous gas
	Everyone	Regular maintenance of FLT engine fit catalytic converter		Instructions to warn of strange smells from engine
Fruit washing - wet work, skin contact	Dermatitis (irritant)
	Packers	Waterproof gauntlets.		Skin inspections. Get skin-care products. Dry hands thoroughly.

Also:		Action taken		Action needed
Thorough examination & test - COSHH		Check alarms		Before every use
Supervision
Instruction and training				Skin inspection training
Emergency plans				Plan rescue procedures
Health surveillance		None
Monitoring		None
Step 5 Review date:			Review your assessment - make sure you are not sliding back. Any significant change in the work? Check the assessment and change it if necessary
Other hazards needing attention: vehicle movements, manual handling