The COSHH Activity Assessment module (also referred to as the Hazardous Substance Activity Assessment module) is an Assure module within the Risk area that enables organisations to formally assess the health risks posed by hazardous substances used in specific work activities. It supports compliance with COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations by providing a structured record for capturing substance information, exposure risks, control measures, and assessment outcomes at the activity level.
The module is distinct from the COSHH Assessment module: the COSHH Assessment records information about a substance itself, while the COSHH Activity Assessment records the risk of using that substance within a specific work task or activity. It is activity-focused and task-focused, not substance-focused.
It integrates with the optional SDS Lookup feature, supports AssureGO+ mobile data capture, and is available via the Data Extraction API.
Cross-module scope: This module integrates with the GHS SDS module (via SDS Lookup), the AssureGO+ Portal (for mobile completion), and the Assure Data Extraction API (/coshh-activity and /hazard-identification endpoints).
Prerequisites
- An active Assure user account with Read and Write permissions for the Risk module, COSHH Activity Assessment sub-module.
- The Risk module must be enabled on the Assure instance.
- To amend field captions or labels, the user must have the Manage Caption Maintenance and Manage Module Settings Supervisor Privileges.
What is the COSHH Activity Assessment Module?
The COSHH Activity Assessment module is used when a worker uses a hazardous substance as part of a specific work activity and a formal risk assessment is required under COSHH regulations (or equivalent regional health and safety legislation).
The module provides a structured record to:
- Identify which hazardous substances are involved in a work activity
- Assess how workers may be exposed (route of entry, duration, frequency)
- Document existing controls and any additional controls required
- Evaluate pre-control and residual risk levels
- Record emergency, first aid, storage, and fire-fighting measures relevant to the substance
- Produce a documented assessment that can be reviewed, approved, and archived
How Does It Differ from COSHH Assessment?
Assure contains two related but distinct modules for managing hazardous substances:
| COSHH Assessment | COSHH Activity Assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | The substance itself | A specific work activity involving the substance |
| Purpose | Records substance data: composition, hazards, handling, storage | Assesses the risk of using the substance in a defined task |
| Used when | Building a central library of substance information | Assessing a specific job, process, or task involving a hazardous substance |
| Links to | Can link to GHS SDS records via SDS Lookup | Can attach SDS PDFs via SDS Lookup in attachments |
| Data Extraction API | /coshh, /coshh-ppe-image,/coshh-task | /coshh-activity, /hazard-identification |
Accessing the Module
To access this module, navigate to Modules > Risk > COSHH Activity Assessment
Module Contents and Field Configuration
The full layout of the module fields and sections is shown in the screenshots below.
Note: Captions and field names can be amended by any system administrator. Field labels visible on the form reflect your organisation's configuration and may differ from the default Assure captions.
To modify field labels or make fields mandatory for the COSHH Activity Assessment module, navigate to Settings > System Configuration > Module Setup, locate the COSHH Activity Assessment module, and select Captions from the cog wheel menu.
Who Uses This Module and When?
The COSHH Activity Assessment module is used by:
- Health and Safety Advisors and EHS Managers conducting formal COSHH assessments for specific work activities
- Risk Assessors assessing tasks that involve hazardous substances at a job or process level
- Team Leaders or Supervisors (where configured for use via AssureGO+) completing assessments on-site using a mobile device
A new COSHH Activity Assessment record should be created whenever:
- A work activity involves the use of a hazardous substance for the first time
- The nature of the activity, the substance used, or the level of exposure changes significantly
- A periodic review date has been reached and the existing assessment requires updating
- An incident or near miss occurs that involves a hazardous substance used in the activity
What Does Each Section Do?
The module is divided into sections. Each section serves a specific purpose in building the complete assessment record.
Record Details Captures the core identification information for the assessment: which organisational unit it belongs to, who conducted the assessment, when it was conducted, when it is due for review, and a description of the work activity being assessed. This section establishes the context for the entire record.
Substance Records information about the hazardous substance involved in the activity, including its name, supplier, physical form, and quantity and frequency of use. If the SDS Lookup feature is enabled, the relevant Safety Data Sheet can be searched for and attached to the record from within this section's attachment area.
Hazards (Hazard Identification) Documents the specific health hazards associated with the substance in this activity context. This includes how the substance may enter the body (inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, injection), what health effects may result, and any relevant Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs). This section feeds the Hazard Identification sub-dataset in the Data Extraction API (
/hazard-identification).Tasks The task-level risk assessment section. Each work task within the activity that involves the hazardous substance is documented individually. For each task, the assessor records who is at risk, what controls are already in place, a pre-control risk rating, what additional controls are required, and the residual risk rating once all controls are applied. This is the core risk assessment section of the module.
First Aid Records the appropriate first aid measures for the substance based on the route of exposure -- inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, and ingestion. This section ensures that first aid guidance is captured alongside the assessment rather than stored separately.
Storage Documents how the substance must be stored safely, including any specific conditions, incompatible materials it must not be stored alongside, and any special precautions.
Emergency Measures Records what to do if there is an accidental release, spill, or other unplanned exposure event involving the substance. This includes containment and clean-up procedures and the personal protective equipment required for emergency response.
Fire Fighting Captures fire-fighting guidance specific to the substance: which extinguishing agents are suitable, which must not be used, any special hazards the substance presents in a fire, and the protective equipment required for fire-fighting involving the substance.
Transport Records any transport classification or regulatory requirements relevant to moving the substance, including UN numbers and transport hazard classifications where applicable.
Conclusion Provides the overall outcome of the assessment. The assessor records the overall risk rating for the activity, a summary of findings and recommendations, and confirms the review date. Sign-off fields may be present depending on configuration.
Record Approval Displays the current position of the record within the Assure approval workflow (In Progress, Submitted, Approved, Rejected, Archived) and provides the available workflow actions based on the user's permissions.
SDS Lookup Integration (Optional)
If the optional SDS Lookup feature is enabled on your Assure instance, an SDS Lookup button is available in the attachments area of a COSHH Activity Assessment record. This allows users to search for and attach a manufacturer Safety Data Sheet (SDS) directly to the record. Once an SDS is selected, it is automatically attached to the record as a PDF.
This is a purchased feature. Contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or Customer Development Manager (CDM) to procure the SDS Lookup.
AssureGO+ and Portal Configuration
The COSHH Activity Assessment module can be configured as an AssureGO+ Questionnaire, enabling frontline users to complete hazardous substance assessments on mobile devices. To configure the module for AssureGO+ access, navigate to Settings > Portal > Questionnaire and create or edit a Questionnaire based on the COSHH Activity Assessment module.
Data Extraction API
For customers using the Assure Data Extraction API, the COSHH Activity Assessment module is available via the following endpoints:
- COSHH Activity Assessment:
https://api.<stack>.sheassure.net/v1/export/dataset/coshh-activity - Hazard Identification (sub-dataset):
https://api.<stack>.sheassure.net/v1/export/dataset/hazard-identification
Screenshots of Module
AI Metadata
- Product Area: Assure -- Risk Module, COSHH Activity Assessment
- User Role: EHS Manager, Health and Safety Advisor, Risk Assessor, System Administrator
- Tags: COSHH, COSHH Activity Assessment, Hazardous Substance Activity Assessment, chemical risk assessment, hazardous substances, COSHH regulations, control measures, exposure, Risk module, SDS Lookup, AssureGO+
- Version/Region: All Assure versions; all regions
- Important Synonyms: COSHH Activity Assessment = Hazardous Substance Activity Assessment = CoSHH Activity Assessment; COSHH = Control of Substances Hazardous to Health; Hazardous Substance = chemical, substance; SDS = Safety Data Sheet; Risk module = Risk Assessment module; COSHH Activity Assessment vs COSHH Assessment = activity-level assessment vs substance-level record
- Suggested Embedding Keywords: COSHH activity assessment Assure, hazardous substance activity assessment, chemical risk assessment Assure, COSHH module Risk, COSHH regulations Assure, assess chemical risk activity, CoSHH assessment fields, COSHH vs COSHH Activity Assessment difference
- Relevant Modules and Cross-Module Implications: Risk module (parent); GHS SDS module (SDS Lookup integration); AssureGO+ / Portal (mobile data capture); Data Extraction API endpoints
/coshh-activity(main record) and/hazard-identification(sub-dataset)