COSHH Assessments & Hazardous Substance Management Support

Coordinated by Spiers Associates

Practical COSHH Support Built Around Real Operations

Spiers Associates provides practical COSHH assessment and hazardous substance management support for organisations requiring a more structured, operationally realistic approach to managing hazardous substances.

Our service is designed around the reality that hazardous substance management is not static. Substances change. Processes evolve. Maintenance activities vary. New use cases emerge over time.

Because of this, effective COSHH management requires more than simply generating a folder of assessments. It requires an ongoing process that combines:

  • structured record management,
  • competent technical review,
  • operational observation,
  • and continuous improvement over time.

Ready for COSHH support?

Fill in the form below to submit your COSHH enquiry.

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Access to Competent Technical Support

Spiers Associates acts as a coordinating agent, selecting and coordinating appropriately competent specialists based on:

  • operational activities,
  • substance types,
  • process risks,
  • and technical requirements.

This allows organisations to access practical hazardous substance support aligned to their operational environment rather than relying on generic template-driven consultancy. The objective is to provide assessments and support that are:

  • practical,
  • proportionate,
  • operationally realistic,
  • and sustainable over the long term.

What is COSHH?

COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) requires employers to assess and control risks arising from hazardous substances used or generated during work activities. This may include:

  • chemicals,
  • paints and coatings,
  • cleaning products,
  • oils and lubricants,
  • adhesives,
  • dusts,
  • fumes,
  • gases,
  • vapours,
  • aerosols,
  • biological agents,
  • and process-generated contaminants.

COSHH applies across a wide range of industries including:

  • manufacturing,
  • engineering,
  • maintenance,
  • logistics,
  • food production,
  • utilities,
  • workshops,
  • warehousing,
  • and facilities management.

Our COSHH Support Philosophy

Many organisations already hold:

  • SDS folders,
  • substance registers,
  • and historic COSHH assessments,

but struggle to maintain them consistently as operations evolve.

Common issues include:

  • outdated assessments,
  • uncontrolled local documents,
  • undocumented maintenance activities,
  • generic template assessments,
  • disconnected spreadsheets,
  • and assessments that no longer reflect actual working practices.

Our philosophy is that COSHH management should operate as a living process integrated into operational delivery — not as a static paperwork exercise.

Hybrid COSHH Support Model

Our COSHH Support Package combines:

  • remote hazardous substance management support,
  • structured assessment maintenance,
  • and periodic on-site technical review.

This hybrid approach allows organisations to maintain structured records while ensuring assessments continue to reflect real operational conditions over time.

Initial COSHH Review & Setup

The process begins with an initial review of:

  • hazardous substances,
  • existing COSHH assessments,
  • available SDS information,
  • operational activities,
  • and current control arrangements.

This may be completed:

  • remotely,
  • on-site,
  • or through a hybrid approach depending on operational complexity.

The appointed specialist may assist with:

  • substance register rationalisation,
  • assessment gap identification,
  • prioritisation of higher-risk activities,
  • and identification of overlap with DSEAR or related compliance requirements.

Remote COSHH Assessment Support

The remote element of the service supports ongoing maintenance and development of hazardous substance records and assessments.

As new use cases arise, organisations can submit:

  • SDS information,
  • photographs,
  • process descriptions,
  • maintenance activities,
  • operational changes,
  • or proposed working methods for review.

The appointed specialist will then:

  • review the information,
  • create or revise COSHH assessments,
  • identify additional control requirements where necessary,
  • and maintain continuity across the wider hazardous substance management process.

This allows hazardous substance management to evolve in a structured and controlled manner over time.

On-Site Observation & Technical Review

Periodic site visits form an important part of the service.

Hazardous substance risks are often heavily influenced by:

  • operator behaviour,
  • environmental conditions,
  • production pressures,
  • practical workarounds,
  • maintenance activities,
  • storage arrangements,
  • and informal task variation.

On-site support allows the appointed specialist to:

  • observe real working practices,
  • assess actual exposure potential,
  • review effectiveness of existing controls,
  • identify undocumented activities,
  • validate assessment accuracy,
  • and update assessments based on operational observations.

This helps ensure assessments remain:

  • practical,
  • proportionate,
  • technically credible,
  • and aligned with the real workplace.

Practical, Risk-Based Assessment Methodology

Assessments focus on:

  • real exposure potential,
  • practical control measures,
  • operational reality,
  • and sustainable implementation.

Consideration is given to:

  • handling methods,
  • duration and frequency of exposure,
  • storage arrangements,
  • ventilation,
  • engineering controls,
  • PPE,
  • maintenance activities,
  • foreseeable abnormal situations,
  • and emergency considerations.

The aim is to provide assessments that are workable within day-to-day operations rather than generic template documents disconnected from operational reality.

Continuous Improvement Over Time

One of the key strengths of the hybrid support model is the ability to continuously improve assessments based on:

  • operational observations,
  • process evolution,
  • maintenance feedback,
  • emerging use cases,
  • and changes in working practices over time.

Rather than repeatedly rebuilding static COSHH folders, organisations benefit from an evolving hazardous substance management process supported by ongoing competent review.

Structured Hazardous Substance Management

The service supports a more controlled approach to:

  • hazardous substance visibility,
  • assessment management,
  • operational change,
  • review tracking,
  • and continuous improvement.

This helps organisations move away from:

  • unmanaged local files,
  • disconnected spreadsheets,
  • inconsistent assessment practices,
  • and outdated assessment libraries.

COSHH & DSEAR Integration

Many hazardous substances also present:

  • flammability risks,
  • explosive atmosphere risks,
  • dust explosion risks,
  • or dangerous interaction hazards.

Where appropriate, overlap with DSEAR requirements can also be identified and supported as part of the wider hazardous substance review process.

This helps organisations avoid fragmented approaches to hazardous substance management.

Additional Support Services

Additional technical support can also be coordinated where required for:

  • DSEAR assessments,
  • hazardous area reviews,
  • engineering controls,
  • SOP development,
  • training support,
  • and related compliance activities.

Suitable For

The COSHH Support Package is suitable for:

  • manufacturing operations,
  • engineering businesses,
  • maintenance departments,
  • logistics operations,
  • food production,
  • workshops,
  • utilities,
  • warehousing,
  • facilities management,
  • and multi-site organisations.

It is particularly effective where:

  • hazardous substance use changes regularly,
  • engineering activities evolve,
  • maintenance work varies,
  • or assessments require ongoing operational validation rather than periodic administrative review alone.

Suitable For

The objective of the COSHH Support Package is not simply to generate assessments. It is to provide organisations with:

  • ongoing access to competent support,
  • structured hazardous substance management,
  • operationally realistic assessments,
  • and continuous improvement based on real workplace observation and evolving operational use cases.

Speak With Our Team

If you would like to discuss:

  • COSHH assessments,
  • hazardous substance management,
  • remote assessment support,
  • or ongoing competent support arrangements,

please contact our team.

Contact Us