Written by Nicola Dobbie, Founder, The Site Book — Last reviewed
COSHH assessments without the headache
A COSHH assessment records the hazardous substances used on a job — cement, solvents, paints, dust — and the control measures that protect workers. Under UK COSHH regulations, you need one for any job using substances that can harm health, which covers most construction work.
How it works
Find substances in seconds. Upload data sheets when you need to. Everything flows into your documents automatically.
Search for the substance
Type 'Unibond' and it finds it. Spell it wrong and it still finds it. Search by brand name, trade name, chemical name, or what you actually call it on site.
Or upload a data sheet
Got a product that's not in our library? Drop the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet in — we extract the hazard warnings, PPE, first aid, storage, and disposal info automatically.
Review and approve
Check the health effects, control measures, and PPE requirements. Nothing goes into your documents without your approval.
It flows into everything
COSHH info appears in your RAMS, CPP, emergency plan, and induction automatically. You enter it once — every document stays in sync.
Find any substance in seconds
Our library has hundreds of common construction substances — cement, adhesives, solvents, paints, expanding foam, and more. Search by brand name, chemical name, or what you actually call it on site. Misspell it and we'll still find it. Results show health effects, PPE, first aid, storage, and disposal — everything you need in one place.
Upload a data sheet — we read it for you
Got a product that's not in our library? Drop the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet in — just the PDF. We extract the hazard warnings, what PPE you need, first aid measures, storage requirements, and disposal info. Review everything, hit approve, and it's saved to your library for every future job.
What's included
- Hundreds of common construction substances ready to pick from
- Smart search — handles typos, brand names, and trade nicknames
- Health effects, control measures, PPE, first aid, and disposal info
- Upload manufacturer Safety Data Sheets — we read them for you
- Flows into RAMS, CPP, emergency plan, and induction automatically
- Hazardous Materials Register included in your Audit Pack
- One-click substance lookup — no more Googling data sheets
- Custom substances saved to your library for every future job
What's included at each tier
| Feature | Starter£0 | Pro Monthly£39/mo | Pro Annual£30/mo | Business£99/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First project free | — | — | — | |
| RAMS generator | ||||
| PDF download | ||||
| Worker sign-off | ||||
| Unlimited projects | ||||
| CPP generator | ||||
| COSHH library | ||||
| Team members | — | — | ||
| Priority support | ||||
| Site inductions | — | |||
| Toolbox talks | — | |||
| Multi-site rollout | — | |||
| Save £108/yr vs monthly | — | — | — |
Common questions about COSHH
What counts as a hazardous substance on a building site?
More than you'd think. Cement, adhesives, solvents, paints, wood dust, silica dust, expanding foam, cleaning chemicals — all of these require COSHH assessments. If a product has a hazard warning on the tin, it needs recording. The Site Book's substance library covers hundreds of common construction products so you don't have to look anything up yourself.
Do I really need COSHH assessments?
If you're using any hazardous substance on site, yes. Under COSHH regulations, you must assess the risks to health from substances used at work and put control measures in place. In practice, most construction jobs involve at least cement, adhesives, or dust — so most jobs need COSHH records. The Site Book makes it a 2-minute job, not a research project.
What if I can't find my product in the library?
Upload the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — the PDF that comes with the product. We extract the hazard classifications, health effects, PPE requirements, first aid measures, storage, and disposal info. You review everything before it's saved, and once approved it's in your library for every future project.
How does the smart search work?
Type what you know — a brand name like 'Sika', a trade name like 'grab adhesive', even a misspelling. The search handles fuzzy matching, synonyms, and common nicknames used on site. Results show the full safety profile immediately — health effects, PPE, first aid, everything you need.
Does the COSHH info appear in my other documents?
Yes — that's the whole point. Once you add a substance to your project, the safety information flows into your RAMS, CPP, emergency plan, and site induction automatically. You enter it once. Every document stays in sync. No copying and pasting between spreadsheets.
Do plumbers need COSHH assessments?
Yes. Plumbers regularly work with substances that require COSHH assessments — flux, solder, pipe cement, thread sealant, cleaning chemicals, and jointing compounds. If you're doing gas work, there are additional substances to consider. The Site Book's substance library includes common plumbing products so you can add them in seconds, not spend an hour Googling data sheets.
Do painters need COSHH assessments?
Yes. Painters and decorators work with a wide range of hazardous substances — paint (especially solvent-based), white spirit, chemical paint strippers, fillers, sanding dust, and varnishes. Lead paint in older properties is a particular concern. Each of these needs a COSHH assessment documenting the health risks and control measures. The Site Book covers the most common painting products out of the box.
What substances need a COSHH assessment?
Any substance that could harm health through inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, or injection needs a COSHH assessment. In construction, this commonly includes cement, adhesives, solvents, paints, wood dust, silica dust, expanding foam, cleaning chemicals, welding fumes, and any product with a hazard warning on the label. If in doubt, check the product's Safety Data Sheet — if it lists hazard statements, it needs recording.
COSHH assessment template free
The Site Book includes COSHH assessments free on your first project — not a blank template, but a fully populated assessment created from our substance library. Search for the product, review the health effects and control measures, and it's added to your documents automatically. Your first project is completely free, no credit card required.
Honest pros and cons
Pros
- Smart substance search matched to HSE hazard categories
- Upload a Safety Data Sheet — we extract the key info
- Exposure routes, PPE, and control measures auto-proposed
- Worker sign-off captured digitally against each COSHH doc
Cons
- No live SDS vendor API integrations yet — uploads are manual
- EH40 workplace exposure limits not auto-applied (reviewed by user)
- Biological agents (HBV, HCV) need a manual assessment step
Why The Site Book
- Only UK construction compliance tool that ships RAMS + CPP + COSHH + inductions + worker sign-off in one flat-rate subscription.
- AI-generated documents are site-specific from a natural-language brief, not a template library you hand-fill -cuts writing a RAMS from 2 hours to under 5 minutes.
- Worker sign-off, PCPP import, cert tracking, and document checking are included at the entry tier, not locked behind an enterprise plan.
- Transparent flat-rate pricing starting at £30/mo -no per-seat surprise as the team grows.
COSHH sorted — try it now
No card needed. No catch. Add substances to your first project and see how the safety info flows into every document automatically.