How do I create a COSHH assessment for education & childcare?

With COSHH.app, you can scan chemical labels using AI, automatically retrieve Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and generate inspection-ready COSHH reports aligned with HSE guidance in minutes — pre-configured for education & childcare hazards and requirements.

COSHH Assessment for Education & Childcare — UK Industry Guide

Industries in Education & Childcare

🧒

Nurseries & Preschools

Cleaning products Sanitiser Art supplies

🏫

Primary Schools

Cleaning chemicals Art supplies Science materials

📚

Secondary Schools

Lab chemicals Cleaning products Art materials

🎓

Sixth Form & FE Colleges

Lab chemicals Workshop materials Cleaning products

🏛️

Universities & Higher Education

Lab reagents Solvents Acids Biological agents

🌟

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Schools

Cleaning products Sanitiser Medical supplies

🎨

After-School Clubs & Holiday Clubs

Art supplies Cleaning products Sanitiser

👶

Childminders

Cleaning products Sanitiser Nappy chemicals

📋

Training Providers & Academies

Workshop chemicals Cleaning products

Common Hazardous Substances

These are the most commonly encountered hazardous substances across education & childcare workplaces. Each substance requires a specific COSHH assessment covering exposure routes, control measures, and PPE.

AcidsArt materialsArt suppliesBiological agentsCleaning chemicalsCleaning productsLab chemicalsLab reagentsMedical suppliesNappy chemicalsSanitiserScience materialsSolventsWorkshop chemicalsWorkshop materials

COSHH Requirements for Education & Childcare

Risk Assessment

Identify all hazardous substances used in your education & childcare workplace and assess the risk of exposure to employees, contractors, and visitors.

Control Measures

Implement appropriate controls following the hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE as a last resort.

Health Surveillance

Where substances may cause occupational diseases (e.g. dermatitis, asthma), health surveillance programmes must be in place.

Training & Records

All staff must be trained on the hazards they face, how to use controls properly, and what to do in an emergency. Keep records of all training.

How COSHH.app Helps Education & Childcare Businesses

Creating COSHH assessments manually is time-consuming and error-prone. COSHH.app streamlines the entire process for education & childcare businesses:

Scan chemical labels — Use your phone camera to scan any chemical label. Our AI extracts the product name, GHS symbols, hazard statements, and precautionary statements automatically.
Automatic SDS retrieval — We cross-reference the identified chemical against Safety Data Sheet databases to pull in detailed safety information including Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs).
Generate compliant reports — Our AI generates a comprehensive COSHH report covering all 15 sections recommended by the HSE, tailored to your specific workplace and industry.
Train your staff — Assign training modules to team members and track completion with digital sign-off records.

Whether you're a sole trader or a large organisation, COSHH.app makes chemical safety compliance straightforward and affordable. Learn more about COSHH requirements or get started free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a COSHH assessment for education & childcare?

Yes. Under the COSHH Regulations 2002, any UK business in education & childcare that uses, stores, or produces hazardous substances must carry out a suitable and sufficient COSHH risk assessment.

What are the most common chemical hazards in education & childcare?

The most common hazardous substances include Acids, Art materials, Art supplies, Biological agents, Cleaning chemicals, Cleaning products. Each requires specific control measures documented in a COSHH assessment.

How often should I review my COSHH assessments?

At least annually, or when there is a change in work processes, new substances are introduced, or following an incident.

COSHH Assessment for Education & Childcare