Hazcards, COSHH, and Risk Management

During the spring term, CLEAPSS engaged in discussions with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regarding a common Helpline query: whether Hazcards qualify as a COSHH assessment.

The simple answer is yes.

The HSE confirmed that CLEAPSS Hazcards serve as a model COSHH assessment. However, the HSE emphasized—and CLEAPSS agreed—the importance of users understanding that the provided guidance must be adapted to meet the needs of specific situations as part of the risk assessment process. The CLEAPSS guide About Hazcards (GL120) details how Hazcards should be used and adapted, while also outlining the various assumptions and calculations made by CLEAPSS during their creation and updates.

Moving Beyond the Hazcard

The HSE also stressed that schools should recognize that simply reading a Hazcard is not the final step. Other CLEAPSS resources offer additional information and context to supplement the guidance on Hazcards and further support the overall risk assessment process.

For those uncertain about how to conduct and manage a risk assessment, this topic is covered in the free, online Health and Safety for... self-study courses. These courses are designed for both teachers and technicians and can be accessed via the courses section of the CLEAPSS website.