I'm looking to implement an online COSHH assessment tool within our organisation, I am conscious that there are mixed views on the effectiveness. Would welcome any comment based on experience using such tool and recommendation that I should consider during my search.

Thanks I am aware of the HSE COSHH essentials, I would like to review my options prior to implementing an improvement change to what we have. I know there are various software options, some with occupational hygiene support.

Apart from recording the results of your risk assessment I would be extremely cautious about any 'on-line' system for COSHH assessments. COSHH is about how you control exposure to chemical hazards within the workplace. As I have said many times on this forum the hazards are those which occur as chemicals are used and are frequently quite different from those stated on the safety data sheet. So any risk assessment system based solely on the safety data sheet may not reflect what is really happening in the workplace. COSHH is task based, i.e. the risk assessment needs to reflect what is happening during the actual task. Two different tasks using the same chemicals can result in significantly different risks of damage to health. Just as a simple example, a chemical that is toxic but unable to be absorbed into the skin may represent one type of risk. Mixed with a solvent that can take the chemical into the skin the risk will be very different. I doubt whether either safey data sheet will really cover this. Maybe the Exposure Scenario for REACH might change this, but from what I have seen so far I have my doubts! Chris

Whilst the COSHH Essentials risk assessments meets the requirement for an actual COSHH assessment to be documented, i personally find it poor as its only as good as the information you input. As an example, it would allow my company to get away with general ventilation as a control method for exposure to MEK fumes, where as a task specific risk assessment highlighted the need for LEV.