Hello Alan, I haven't been an IOSH member for very long (first post) and I have been working in the H&S scene for only 8 months. It's Long and complicated story but I have found my calling. I was given a COSHH template from a very helpful chap who was undertaking an air/dust/fume monitoring survey of our site. I have modified it slightly to suit our needs and there is no reason why you wouldn't be able to do the same. I am happy to pass this onto you via email as an attachment if you would like to PM me your address. Kind regards Pete W

E Mailed you

I have to complete a COSHH assessment and then ensure any hazards I have found I write into a risk assessment adding the control measures

Alan. I am still confused by what you are asking / saying. It appears that you may be trying to duplicate something unnecessarily. This may be your organisational system, you may be unable to influence the output. However, this is the theory: The COSHH regulations require that harmful agents / chemicals are controlled, and that risks are assessed. The significant findings must be recorded, and (clear) information provided to those using or producing said substances. If the process or activity is also being generally 'assessed' (under the Mgt regs) which includes any specific risk areas - COSHH, MHO, lead - there is no need to replicate or overlap assessments; chose one and stick to it. Back to COSHH: Some organisations manage to make this really complicated. Refer to any hazard data sheets or other information about substances, consider how the work activity creates exposure and how this is to be controlled. Many people use their own specific form to record this 'translation' from hazard to risk. Often, this form is then given to employees, although I avoid this, as it is not usually a 'clear' communication method. Maybe it is this part - the safety information for employees - which is being asked to be transferred from one record (COSHH) to another (general risk) assessment information? Is this your situation?

My first thought was the COSHH assessment should be task specific. But thinking about it you may COSHH assess using adhesive to say put a sign up, but then also need to do this while working at height sometimes. ( So the COSHH activity become an element of a larger task) So all you need to do is list on the general risk assessment the adhesive as the hazard and then either just reference the COSHH assessment or retype the list of controls that the COSHH assessment requires onto the general risk assessment. The problem with the latter is that if you retype the controls from the COSHH assessment to the General risk assessment and then someone updates the COSHH, but not the general. You need to think how you will control this. Or have I misread your issue?