Health and Safety Executive

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Example COSHH risk assessment - Engineer

Important reminder

This example risk assessment shows the kind of approach a small business might take. Use it as a guide to think through some of the hazards in your business and the steps you need to take to control the risks. Please note that it is not a generic risk assessment that you can just put your company name on and adopt wholesale without any thought. This would not satisfy the law - and would not be effective in protecting people.

Every business is different - you need to think through the hazards and controls required in your business for yourself.

Company name: Engineering workshop - fixings
Department: Turning lathes 		Date assessment made:
Date discussed with employees:
Step 1
Substance		 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Action
Whats the hazard? What harm, and who? What are you doing already? What improvements do you need? Who When Check
Oil-based fluid + fines (sump, 4 lathes) - skin contact Dermatitis from high-refined oil, damage from fines          
  Metalworkers, turning 0.4 mm nitrile gloves* fluid stops when machining stops Improve washing facilities, get skin-care products      
    Check oil, temperature, fines <100 ppm, once a week Daily appearance checks, fit sump thermometer      
    Change overalls once a week (to laundry) Keep oily rags out of pockets      
Skin contact with swarf Skin damage          
  Metalworkers, swarf removal Thick protective gloves Get tongs      
Skin contact - sump cleaning Skin damage, contamination          
  Sump Cleaner Permit to work, chemical gloves        
Skin contact - degreasing Skin damage          
  Anyone Basket for parts washing 0.4 mm nitrile gloves*      
 
Also: Action taken Action needed      
Thorough examination & test - COSHH          
Supervision Yes        
Instruction and training Yes        
Emergency plans Spills clearance Practice      
Health surveillance Skin checks Improve record keeping      
Monitoring            
Step 5
Review date:
  1. Review your assessment - make sure you are not sliding back.
  2. Any significant change in the work?  Check the assessment and change it if necessary
Other hazards needing attention: Cleanliness to avoid slips or trips.  Manual handling, heat

*The wearing of gloves increases the risk of entanglement and is never acceptable near rotating parts of machinery such as lathes, milling machines and drills.

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2013-03-28