Educational checklist examples for safety, equipment and operational tasks — what a checklist covers, who uses it and how it connects to forms, inspections and training. Informational only — template examples to adapt, not official documents or legal advice; completing a checklist does not guarantee compliance and employers remain responsible.
What a COSHH checklist is
A COSHH checklist is a structured list used to confirm that substances hazardous to health — such as cleaning chemicals, solvents, dusts and fumes — are identified, assessed and controlled, with safety data sheets, labelling, storage and protection in place. It supports, but does not replace, a proper assessment of each substance.
This page is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template, not jurisdiction-specific and not legal advice — the employer decides what assessing and controlling hazardous substances requires.
Purpose
- Confirm hazardous substances in use are identified and listed.
- Check that an assessment and safety data sheets are available.
- Verify control measures, storage, labelling and PPE are in place.
- Provide a prompt so substances are not used without controls.
Who completes it
- A competent person appointed by the employer, with input from users.
- Drawing on safety data sheets and the substance assessment.
- Reviewed within the employer’s own hazardous-substances process.
- It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the assessor is competent.
When it is used
- Before a new substance or process is introduced.
- When a substance, supplier or method changes.
- On a periodic review cycle defined by the employer.
- After a spill, exposure or near miss involving a substance.
Typical items
- Substance, task or area, date and the person completing the check.
- Safety data sheet available and assessment in place.
- Control measures, ventilation and PPE identified and used.
- Correct labelling, containers and segregated, secure storage.
- Spill and first-aid arrangements, and sign-off.
- Example items only — adapt to your substances, assessment and the applicable law.
Common mistakes
- Using a substance with no assessment or safety data sheet to hand.
- Decanting into unlabelled containers.
- Relying on PPE alone instead of controlling at source.
- Storing incompatible substances together or insecurely.
Document workflow
A COSHH checklist follows the substance risk assessment and works alongside hazardous-waste, spill-prevention and PPE checks. Findings feed instruction and training, and a spill or exposure can trigger an accident report and a review.
See the related documents below for what is commonly used with and after a COSHH checklist.
Retention (high level)
Records relating to hazardous substances are typically kept for a period set by the applicable law and the employer’s data-protection duties, and some health records may need to be kept for a long time. This page does not state a period — confirm with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
COSHH checks are commonly completed and stored as PDFs alongside assessments and safety data sheets. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make the check official or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Identify and assess substances hazardous to health before use.
- Control exposure at source, using PPE as a last line of defence.
- Keep safety data sheets, labelling and storage in order.
- Provide information, instruction and training to users.
Worker notes
- Know the substances you use and where the safety information is.
- Use the controls and PPE the assessment specifies.
- Report spills, leaks or symptoms of exposure promptly.
Country considerations
Rules for assessing and controlling hazardous substances, labelling and record-keeping vary by country, and the official authority differs. This page is general and high-level — not a statement of any country’s law and not legal advice.
Confirm current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for assessing and controlling exposure to hazardous substances, informing and training workers, and compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not determine what your assessment must contain or transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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