A full COSHH compliance process for hazardous substances used in small business operations.

Includes:

• Identifying hazardous substances

• Obtaining and reviewing safety data sheets (SDS)

• Conducting COSHH risk assessments

• Identifying exposure routes and risk levels

• Implementing control measures (eliminate, substitute, control, PPE)

• Ensuring compliant storage and segregation

• Assessing health surveillance requirements

• Maintaining a hazardous substance register

• Training and competence requirements

• Emergency response planning

• Annual and change triggered COSHH reviews

Without a COSHH compliance process, hazardous substance handling becomes unsafe, undocumented, and legally risky. 

Symptoms:

• No formal risk assessments

• SDS documents stored but never used

• PPE used incorrectly or as the only control

• No central register of hazardous substances

• Outdated assessments never reviewed

• No emergency response plan

Root Causes:

• Assuming COSHH doesn’t apply to small businesses

• Lack of structured documentation

• No exposure assessment process

• No training or briefing for users

• No annual review cycle

• No system for identifying changes in substances or processes

This checklist eliminates compliance gaps and operational risks caused by informal hazardous substance handling.

Pain Points Solved:

• Inconsistent safety processes

• Exposure risks from unassessed chemicals

• Compliance failures during inspections

• Insurance claim vulnerabilities

• Incorrect storage of incompatible substances

• Missing documentation for audits

• No evidence of due diligence

• Unsafe reliance on PPE alone

• COSHH substance identification

• SDS review and classification

• Full COSHH risk assessment template

• Exposure control hierarchy

• Storage and segregation compliance checks

• Health surveillance assessment

• Hazardous substance register structure

• Training and competence requirements

• Emergency response procedures

• Annual review and compliance maintenance

• Troubleshooting guide

• Continuous improvement actions

• Identify all hazardous substances

• Obtain SDS for each substance

• Conduct a documented COSHH risk assessment

• Identify exposure routes (inhalation, skin, ingestion)

• Assess quantity, frequency, and duration of use

• Apply exposure control hierarchy

• Consider substitution before controls

• Implement engineering controls (ventilation, extraction)

• Specify PPE as last line protection

• Check storage guidance and segregation requirements

• Confirm storage quantity limits

• Assess health surveillance needs

• Maintain a COSHH register

• Record assessment dates and review cycles

• Brief all users on risks and controls

• Document spill and exposure response procedures

• Keep first aid guidance accessible

• Review assessments annually or when circumstances change

Hazardous substances pose risks including skin irritation, respiratory exposure, chemical burns, flammability, and toxicity.

PPE is required as a final layer of protection after engineering and procedural controls have been applied.

Gloves, masks, eye protection, and ventilation equipment must match the specific hazards identified in each COSHH assessment. 

• UK based Etsy sellers

• Solo makers and crafters

• Resin artists

• Jewellery makers using UV resin

• Micro‑brands using solvents or spray finishes

• Small businesses hiring their first employee

• Anyone needing formal COSHH compliance

This checklist supports compliance with COSHH regulations, HSE requirements, ISO aligned safety governance, and internal audit standards by ensuring:

• Documented risk assessments

• Evidence of exposure controls

• Updated SDS and hazard classifications

• Centralised hazardous substance register

• Training records and competence checks

• Emergency response documentation

• Annual review cycles

• Audit ready documentation for inspectors, insurers, or clients

• Assuming COSHH doesn’t apply

• SDS documents filed but never assessed

• Informal, undocumented risk assessments

• Over‑reliance on PPE

• No hazardous substance register

• Assessments never reviewed

• No training for users

• No spill or exposure response plan

Before:

A resin jewellery maker introduced new UV resin without assessing its hazards.

SDS was downloaded but never reviewed, PPE was used inconsistently, and no documentation existed.

Storage was informal, and exposure risks were unknown.

After:

Using the checklist, the SDS was reviewed, a COSHH risk assessment identified skin and respiratory irritation risks, ventilation and nitrile gloves were implemented, and the assessment was added to the COSHH register.

Six months later, the annual review confirmed the controls were still effective and compliant.

How do I know if COSHH applies to my small Etsy business?

Many small businesses assume COSHH only applies to large operations, leading to skipped assessments and undocumented risks.

This happens because hazardous substances sold for craft use appear harmless.

The checklist solves this by requiring every substance to be checked for hazard classification and treated as hazardous until confirmed otherwise, ensuring full compliance and eliminating guesswork.

How do I properly use Safety Data Sheets instead of just storing them?

SDS documents often sit unused because businesses don’t know how to translate them into actionable assessments.

This happens when SDS are seen as reference documents rather than compliance tools.

The checklist fixes this by making SDS the foundation of every COSHH risk assessment, ensuring hazards, exposure routes, and controls are formally documented.

How do I stop relying on PPE as my only safety measure?

Businesses often default to gloves and masks without considering ventilation, substitution, or reduced quantities.

This happens when the hierarchy of controls isn’t understood.

The checklist solves this by enforcing elimination, substitution, engineering controls, and procedural controls before PPE, ensuring safer and legally compliant exposure reduction.

How do I store hazardous substances correctly and avoid incompatible materials mixing?

Incorrect storage happens when SDS guidance isn’t reviewed or segregation rules aren’t known.

This leads to flammability risks, chemical reactions, or regulatory breaches.

The checklist solves this by requiring storage guidance checks, segregation confirmation, quantity limit reviews, and signage compliance for every substance.

How do I know if health surveillance is required for a substance I use?

Small businesses often overlook health surveillance because they don’t know which substances require monitoring.

This happens when exposure routes aren’t assessed.

The checklist fixes this by requiring surveillance assessment for each substance, identifying symptoms of overexposure, and establishing reporting processes.

How do I create a COSHH register that inspectors or insurers will accept?

Many businesses keep scattered assessments with no central record, making audits difficult.

This happens when documentation isn’t consolidated.

The checklist solves this by requiring a single accessible register containing assessment dates, reviewers, next review dates, and current status, ensuring audit ready compliance.

How do I prepare for spills or exposure incidents with hazardous substances?

Businesses often lack spill kits, first aid guidance, or emergency contacts, leaving them unprepared.

This happens when emergency planning is overlooked.

The checklist solves this by requiring documented spill response procedures, accessible first aid guidance, emergency contact information, and matched response equipment.

A fast overview of the most critical COSHH compliance steps.

• Identify hazardous substances

• Obtain SDS

• Conduct COSHH risk assessments

• Implement exposure controls

• Ensure compliant storage

• Assess health surveillance needs

• Maintain a COSHH register

• Train all users

• Prepare emergency response procedures

• Review assessments annually

• Full COSHH compliance checklist

• Substance identification steps

• SDS review requirements

• Risk assessment structure

• Exposure control hierarchy

• Storage and segregation compliance

• Health surveillance guidance

• Hazardous substance register template

• Training and competence requirements

• Emergency response planning

• Troubleshooting guide

• Continuous improvement actions

• Review cadence

Safe Use of Materials — ESBOT Operational Checklist

Hazardous Material Storage — ESBOT Operational Checklist

Tool & Equipment Maintenance — ESBOT Operational Checklist 

A complete COSHH / HAZMAT Storage SOP for UK based Etsy sellers and small businesses, covering hazardous substance identification, SDS review, COSHH risk assessments, exposure controls, storage compliance, health surveillance, emergency response, and audit ready documentation.

Designed to ensure full COSHH compliance, operational safety, and regulatory alignment.