Can anyone advise on a provider of Chemical/haz substance RA/MSDS software or service? Desperately need to et away from paper, its drowning us... G

Try searching the system for electronic records or similar - there have been a number of posts recently. We have just signed up with Health+Safety (Effective) and there is a good COSHH module and chemical management module in the system. Their website is - http://www.healthplussafety.com/ I haven't used this module yet so cannot comment on how good it would be for you but it is worth a look. Also many H&S management systems provide a COSHH module so may be worth an internet search. Hope this helps

Be careful with an electronic system that purports to carry out the risk assessment. These are usually based purely on the safety data sheet and do not generate what is a valid risk assessment. Risk assessments for COSHH must be task based, i.e. require a workplace visit to identify (a) what is happening to the chemical when it is used and (b) what level of exposure occurs. (a) is important as when you use a chemical you may well change its properties and therefore the hazard. As a result the data in the safety data sheet may well not be relevant. (b) is important as the same chemical used in different (but often nominally identical) tasks can represent different risks of damage to health. If you want examples of this PM me. Electronic storage of COSHH risk assessments is fine, but must reflect the real risk based on the real hazard and the real exposure. Chris