Example COSHH risk assessment - Office

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: Architects office Department:
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
Breathing in solvent vapours - wide format inkjet printer	Irritation
	Everyone in the office	Leave prints in well-ventilated room to dry		Move printer to ventilated room
Skin contact with ink	Anyone filling printer cartridges	Skin cleanser provided		Get sealed cartridges
Skin contact with solvent	Anyone cleaning a print head - skin damage	Use nitrile gloves and lidded bin for waste		Begin skin checks
Indoor air quality	Everyone from time to time - irritation
	Sore eyes / throat, stuffy nose			Better fresh air provision. provide plants to increase humidity Use questionnaire
Photocopier - breathing in emissions	Toner dust (not harmful), odour (not ozone)
	Anyone nearby	Change filter and corona wires		Vacuum up dust. Get a new copier.

Also:		Action taken		Action needed
Thorough examination & test - COSHH
Supervision
Instruction and training
Emergency plans				Spill of print-head cleaner
Health surveillance		None		Skin checks
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: slips and trips, lifting, electrical appliances