Example COSHH risk assessment - Engineer

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: Engineering workshop - fixings Department: Turning lathes
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
Oil-based fluid + fines (sump, 4 lathes) - skin contact	Dermatitis from high-refined oil, damage from fines
	Metalworkers, turning	0.4 mm nitrile gloves* fluid stops when machining stops		Improve washing facilities, get skin-care products
		Check oil, temperature, fines <100 ppm, once a week		Daily appearance checks, fit sump thermometer
		Change overalls once a week (to laundry)		Keep oily rags out of pockets
Skin contact with swarf	Skin damage
	Metalworkers, swarf removal	Thick protective gloves		Get tongs
Skin contact - sump cleaning	Skin damage, contamination
	Sump Cleaner	Permit to work, chemical gloves
Skin contact - degreasing	Skin damage
	Anyone	Basket for parts washing		0.4 mm nitrile gloves*

Also:		Action taken		Action needed
Thorough examination & test - COSHH
Supervision		Yes
Instruction and training		Yes
Emergency plans		Spills clearance		Practice
Health surveillance		Skin checks		Improve record keeping
Monitoring
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: Cleanliness to avoid slips or trips. Manual handling, heat

*The wearing of gloves increases the risk of entanglement and is never acceptable near rotating parts of machinery such as lathes, milling machines and drills.