Written by Nicola Dobbie, Founder, The Site BookLast reviewed
COSHH assessments
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. A “View SDS” link stays pinned to the substance, so the original sheet is always one tap away.
Assess it for your site
Add site-specific detail per substance — how much you're using and how, where on site, who's exposed, the control measures in place, and the residual risk. That's a real assessment, not a generic tick-box.
One COSHH document, or flow it everywhere
Generate a full, branded COSHH assessment as its own document — or let the same substances feed straight into your RAMS, CPP, emergency plan, and induction. Enter it once; everything stays in sync.
Find any substance in seconds
Search reviewed construction-substance entries for cement, adhesives, solvents, paints, expanding foam and more. Proposed entries stay hidden until reviewed, and published entries retain version history. Search by brand name, chemical name or the term you use on site; results can include health effects, PPE, first aid, storage and disposal. Check the exact product’s current SDS and review the assessment before use.
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. The original sheet stays attached too — a “View SDS” link keeps it one tap away whenever an inspector or client asks.
A proper COSHH register — and a document to prove it
Build and maintain a COSHH register for the whole project. For every substance you assess how much you're using and how, where on site, who's exposed, the control measures, and the residual risk. Then generate a full COSHH assessment as its own branded PDF — the standalone document principal contractors and clients so often ask for — or let the same substances flow straight into your RAMS and CPP. One register, everywhere it needs to be.
What's included
- Standalone COSHH assessment — a full, branded PDF document in its own right
- Project COSHH register — build and maintain every substance with site-specific detail
- Per-substance assessment: quantity, how it's used, location, who's exposed, controls, residual risk
- A construction-focused substance library where only reviewed entries appear in search — plus the ability to turn a manufacturer SDS into a site-specific assessment
- Workplace exposure limits checked against HSE EH40 (4th edition)
- Smart search — handles typos, brand names, and trade nicknames
- Upload manufacturer Safety Data Sheets — we read them for you, and a “View SDS” link stays attached
- Pick substances into a RAMS and assess them for that specific job
- Flows into RAMS, CPP, emergency plan, and induction automatically
- COSHH register and permits pulled into your audit-ready Audit Pack
- Custom substances saved to your library for every future job
Free Starter vs Pro
Your first project is free — no card needed. Pro removes the limits when you're ready to run every job through The Site Book.
Starter
£0
Get a feel for it on a real job, free.
- First project free
- RAMS generator
- CPP generator
- Site inductions
- PDF download
- Worker sign-off
Pro
£30/mo
billed yearly (£360/yr) · £39/mo monthly
Save £108/year on annual
Everything in Starter, plus:
- Unlimited projects
- COSHH library
- Toolbox talks
- Google Drive, Xero and Zapier integrations
- Save £108/yr vs monthly
Cancel online anytime. Export everything if you leave.
What's included at each tier
Starter
£0- Risk Assessments (RAMS)
- Construction Phase Plans (CPP)
- Site inductions
- Worker document signing (no per-signature charge)
Pro
£39/mo or £360/yr- Risk Assessments (RAMS)
- Construction Phase Plans (CPP)
- Site inductions
- COSHH assessments (standalone doc, SDS upload, site-specific register)
- Worker cert tracking and expiry alerts
- Right-to-work evidence records
- Subcontractor tracking
- Toolbox talks
- Worker document signing (no per-signature charge)
- Integrations (Drive, Xero, Zapier)
Business
£199/mo- Risk Assessments (RAMS)
- Construction Phase Plans (CPP)
- Site inductions
- COSHH assessments (standalone doc, SDS upload, site-specific register)
- Worker cert tracking and expiry alerts
- Right-to-work evidence records
- Subcontractor tracking
- Toolbox talks
- Worker document signing (no per-signature charge)
- Integrations (Drive, Xero, Zapier)
- Up to 10 internal team logins
- Site Supervisor: a field-only login for whoever runs the site
- Up to 50 active site portal users
- Site attendance check-in/check-out
- Multilingual worker inductions (9 languages)
- Optional 4-digit PIN for shared-link document sign-off
- Slack Site Ready readiness checks
Site Control
£675/site/mo- Risk Assessments (RAMS)
- Construction Phase Plans (CPP)
- Site inductions
- COSHH assessments (standalone doc, SDS upload, site-specific register)
- Worker cert tracking and expiry alerts
- Right-to-work evidence records
- Subcontractor tracking
- Toolbox talks
- Worker document signing (no per-signature charge)
- Integrations (Drive, Xero, Zapier)
- Up to 10 internal team logins
- Site Supervisor: a field-only login for whoever runs the site
- Up to 50 active site portal users
- Site attendance check-in/check-out
- Multilingual worker inductions (9 languages)
- Optional 4-digit PIN for shared-link document sign-off
- Slack Site Ready readiness checks
- Permanent entrance QR: guest sign-in and contractor self-join
- CSCS credential capture, review and expiry alerts
- Digital induction gating before check-in
- Live people-on-site, attendance and audit-grade exports
- Single sign-on (SSO) with Okta or Microsoft Entra
- Public REST API with scoped account keys
- Signed real-time webhooks into your own systems
Running live sites with subcontractors? Site Control is the per-site enterprise tier above Business — entrance QR sign-in, CSCS checks, induction gating, live attendance and audit-grade exports. From £675/site per month, plus £5,000 setup.
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 and cleaning chemicals can all require COSHH assessment. Check the current manufacturer Safety Data Sheet and how the product is actually used on your job. The Site Book's reviewed search entries and SDS upload help you build the assessment, but you still review the result before use.
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 structures the job-specific assessment and keeps the source SDS attached for review.
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.
Can I create a standalone COSHH assessment document?
Yes. As well as feeding your RAMS and CPP, The Site Book generates a full COSHH assessment as its own branded PDF document — the kind principal contractors and clients often ask for on its own. It's built from your project COSHH register, so it always reflects the substances you're actually using.
Can I record site-specific detail for each substance?
Yes. The project COSHH register lets you assess each substance for the actual job: how much you're using and how it's used, where on site, who could be exposed, the control measures in place, and the residual risk once those controls are applied. That's what turns a data sheet into a proper, site-specific COSHH assessment. When you add substances to a RAMS, you can capture the same detail so it flows straight into the document.
How up to date is the substance library?
Only entries that have completed the review workflow appear in substance search, and library entries keep version history. We do not publish a fixed catalogue count because proposed entries stay hidden until reviewed. Always check the current manufacturer SDS for the exact product and review the extracted data and site-specific controls before use.
Can workers sign a COSHH assessment in the portal?
No. Assigned workers can view the current COSHH assessment in the site portal, but COSHH assessments do not currently have their own worker sign-off workflow. Digital acknowledgement is available for inductions, toolbox talks, emergency plans and optional RAMS sign-off.
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.
Compared against the competition
How TheSiteBook stacks up
Best RAMS Software UK (2026)
Best overall for a typical 30-person UK builder: The Site Book Business.
See comparison →
Best COSHH Assessment Tools UK (2026)
The Site Book ranks first for builders: a standalone COSHH assessment document with its own branded PDF, a project COSHH register with site-specific per-substance detail, SDS upload and extraction, and construction-focused search entries that stay hidden until reviewed, all connected to RAMS and the CDM pack; Velappity and Evalu-8 suit broader EHS teams, while SafetyCulture is strongest for configurable inspections.
See comparison →
Construction Compliance Software UK: 10 Tools From £0
For builder-run UK firms from sole traders to teams of around 50, The Site Book is the best construction compliance software when the job is CDM paperwork plus practical site H&S operations: RAMS, CPP, COSHH, inductions, toolbox talks, worker sign-off, site attendance, site files, document reviews, subcontractor evidence and inspections/actions.
See comparison →
Related guides
Best RAMS Software UK
Compare tools that bundle RAMS, COSHH, CPP, and site inductions.
RAMS Software for Sole Traders
Find the lighter-weight options for one-person and small construction firms.
COSHH Guide for Builders
A practical guide to COSHH assessments in construction.
COSHH Assessment Example
A worked example of a COSHH assessment for construction.
Dust & Silica Guide
Managing silica dust and other dust hazards on site.
Where it helps and where it doesn't
Pros
- Generate a standalone COSHH assessment as its own branded document — or build it into your RAMS
- Upload a Safety Data Sheet — we extract the key hazard info and keep a View SDS link on the substance
- Site-specific register per substance: quantity, how it is used, who is exposed, controls and residual risk
- Construction-focused library entries that stay hidden until reviewed and retain version history once published
- Workers can view the current COSHH assessment from their assigned site portal
Cons
- SDS extraction runs on the sheets you upload — no live vendor SDS API yet
- EH40 workplace exposure limits are surfaced for review, not auto-applied
- Biological agents (HBV, HCV) need a manual assessment step
Why The Site Book
- UK construction compliance tool that ships RAMS + CPP + COSHH + inductions (readable and acknowledgeable in 9 worker languages on Business, with the language audit-recorded) + worker sign-off, including optional 4-digit shared-link PIN evidence on Business, plus site attendance, portal users, site files, document reviews, subcontractor evidence and inspections/actions.
- Generate a site-specific RAMS first draft from a natural-language brief in under five minutes, ready for competent-person review - not a template library you hand-fill.
- Controlled document workflow without an enterprise contract: version history and a recorded issue confirmation before a document is shared with a client or downloaded in the app on every plan, re-sign on revision with superseded signatures preserved plus PCPP import, cert tracking and document checking from the £39/month Pro plan - and on Business, optional named-approver routing (a designated approver accepts or rejects each version, with recorded reasons, before it can be issued) plus client approve/reject/request-changes via share links.
- Transparent pricing: Starter £0, Pro £39/month or £360/year, Business £199/month with 10 management logins and 50 active site portal users. Worker document signing has no per-signature charge; project workers count as active portal users while assigned.
- Build RAMS for any trade - add your own work types and method statements alongside the built-in library, reusable across projects, including a ready-made Commercial Solar PV group. Save a finished job as a reusable project template, or clone it, so the next job of the same shape starts from your own setup.
- COSHH goes deep: a standalone COSHH assessment document, upload-a-Safety-Data-Sheet extraction, a site-specific substance register and an expert-reviewed library - plus per-worker RAMS sign-off and a one-click Audit Pack covering documents, sign-offs, worker evidence, attendance, incidents, COSHH, permits and up to the latest 500 live Site Diary entries.
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.