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Contact adhesive COSHH assessment example

Filled COSHH assessments for the substances and dust on site. Read one, download it, then do your own from the blank or from your data sheet.

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Contact adhesive COSHH assessment example

Solvent contact adhesive for sheet flooring and worktop laminate

Spreading adhesive in a small room. Fire first, then the solvent vapour.

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What to change

  • Your supplier’s sheets and dates: solvents, codes and limits differ
  • Where, how much and how long on your job
  • Whether a water-based adhesive will hold

Sources

Checked

  1. COSHH AssessmentHollins & Reed Contracting LtdProject or siteHouse refurbishment, House 7Assessment refCA-012Date assessed5 October 2026SubstanceProduct or substanceSDS dateSupplierForm (liquid, dust…)Solvent contact adhesiveyour supplieryour sheet’s dateLiquid that gives off vapourThe workTaskHow oftenAmount usedWhereHow long each timeUsed withSticking flooring, laminateKitchen and utility roomOne day on this jobUp to 2 hoursAbout 2.5 litresNotched spreader, brushStorage and wasteStorageHandlingWasteSealed tins in the outdoor lock-up, away from heat and sun. Only the tin in use indoors.Lids back on straight away. Spread one area at a time. No smoking, flames or pilot lights inthe room.Hazardous waste, not builders’ rubble: wet tins, spreaders and rags, sealed, by a registeredcarrier. Never down a drain.Hazards (H codes)Harmful orirritantCorrosiveToxicSerious healthhazardCancer orasthmaFlammableH225 or H226, H315,H319, H336. Some addH317.Exposure limitWEL, 8-hourMonitoring resultWEL, 15-minuteMeasured onAcetone 500, butanone 200, ethylacetate 200 ppmAcetone 1500, butanone 300, ethylacetate 400 ppmNot measuredNot measuredHow it gets inBreathing inSkinEyesSwallowingPunctureVapour first, then skinWho could be harmedPeople doing itOthers nearbyCleaners, fittersVisitors, publicHigher riskFitters, other trades. Eczemaor allergy.Health effectsHighly flammable: vapour can reach a flame or pilot light and flash back. It can build up in a small room.Vapour causes drowsiness and dizziness. Irritates eyes and skin. Your sheet may warn of a skin allergy.Risk of ill healthNegligibleRemotePossibleProbableMinorSignificantSeriousBefore controlsWith controlsPage 1 of 2Worked example. Typical product. Your supplier’s safety data sheet governs.
  2. COSHH AssessmentHollins & Reed Contracting LtdProject or siteHouse refurbishment, House 7Assessment refCA-012Date assessed5 October 2026ControlsIn placeStill neededAvoid or swap itChange the methodExtract at sourceFewer, for less timeWashing, welfareWater-based on sheet flooring where it will hold.Try water-based next job.Spreader, no spraying. Pilot lights and heaters offfirst.Not used. Windows and the door open throughout.Room that will not air: stop, ask.One fitter in the room. Out while it dries.Soap and water at the cabin. No solvent on hands.Skin cream at the cabin.PPE: type or standardGlovesEye protectionRPEOverallsBootsGloves per sheet, EN 374. Glasses.If it goes wrongSpill or leakFireBreathed in or swallowedOn skin or in eyesFlames out, windows open. Soak up with sand, bag it as hazardous waste. Keep it out ofdrains.Raise the alarm, get out, ring 999. Only if safe, a dry powder or CO2 extinguisher. No waterjet.Fresh air and rest. Swallowed: do not make them sick. Rinse the mouth, get medical help withthe sheet.Skin: wash with soap and water. Eyes: rinse at least 15 minutes, get medical help.Also neededYesNoDetailNext dueExposure monitoringHealth surveillanceLEV examinationRPE face-fit testTraining, supervisionUp to 2 hours, room aired. Dizzy: out.Skin checks by a responsible person.WeeklyNone used.None used.Fire, vapour, skin, when to stop.Before startFurther actionWhoBy whenCheckedExtinguisher at the door and DSEAR assessment doneDHBefore startLidded metal rag bin, emptied outdoors dailyDHBefore startBook a registered carrier for the wasteDHBefore startDateByReview: reason and changesNext review5 October2026DHFirst issue5 October2027Assessed byDan HollinsSignedDate5 October 2026Shared with workers on6 October 2026Page 2 of 2Worked example. Typical product. Your supplier’s safety data sheet governs.

The same sheet as text

Worked example. Typical product. Your supplier’s safety data sheet governs.

Sheet 1: COSHH Assessment

Hollins & Reed Contracting Ltd

  1. Project or siteHouse refurbishment, House 7
  2. Assessment refCA-012
  3. Date assessed5 October 2026

Substance

  1. Product or substanceSolvent contact adhesive
  2. Supplieryour supplier
  3. SDS dateyour sheet’s date
  4. Form (liquid, dust…)Liquid that gives off vapour

The work

  1. TaskSticking flooring, laminate
  2. WhereKitchen and utility room
  3. How oftenOne day on this job
  4. How long each timeUp to 2 hours
  5. Amount usedAbout 2.5 litres
  6. Used withNotched spreader, brush

Storage and waste

  1. StorageSealed tins in the outdoor lock-up, away from heat and sun. Only the tin in use indoors.
  2. HandlingLids back on straight away. Spread one area at a time. No smoking, flames or pilot lights in the room.
  3. WasteHazardous waste, not builders’ rubble: wet tins, spreaders and rags, sealed, by a registered carrier. Never down a drain.

Hazards (H codes)

  1. H225 or H226, H315, H319, H336. Some add H317.Harmful or irritant: yes. Corrosive: no. Toxic: no. Serious health hazard: no. Cancer or asthma: no. Flammable: yes

Exposure limit

  1. WEL, 8-hourAcetone 500, butanone 200, ethyl acetate 200 ppm
  2. WEL, 15-minuteAcetone 1500, butanone 300, ethyl acetate 400 ppm
  3. Monitoring resultNot measured
  4. Measured onNot measured

How it gets in

  1. Vapour first, then skinBreathing in: yes. Skin: yes. Eyes: yes. Swallowing: yes. Puncture: no

Who could be harmed

  1. Fitters, other trades. Eczema or allergy.People doing it: yes. Others nearby: yes. Cleaners, fitters: no. Visitors, public: no. Higher risk: yes

Health effects

  1. Highly flammable: vapour can reach a flame or pilot light and flash back. It can build up in a small room.
  2. Vapour causes drowsiness and dizziness. Irritates eyes and skin. Your sheet may warn of a skin allergy.

Risk of ill health

  1. Before controlsNegligible: no. Remote: no. Possible: yes. Probable: no. Minor: no. Significant: no. Serious: yes
  2. With controlsNegligible: no. Remote: yes. Possible: no. Probable: no. Minor: no. Significant: no. Serious: yes

Sheet 2: COSHH Assessment

Hollins & Reed Contracting Ltd

  1. Project or siteHouse refurbishment, House 7
  2. Assessment refCA-012
  3. Date assessed5 October 2026

Controls

  1. Avoid or swap itIn place: Water-based on sheet flooring where it will hold. Still needed: Try water-based next job.
  2. Change the methodIn place: Spreader, no spraying. Pilot lights and heaters off first.
  3. Extract at sourceIn place: Not used. Windows and the door open throughout. Still needed: Room that will not air: stop, ask.
  4. Fewer, for less timeIn place: One fitter in the room. Out while it dries.
  5. Washing, welfareIn place: Soap and water at the cabin. No solvent on hands. Still needed: Skin cream at the cabin.

PPE: type or standard

  1. Gloves per sheet, EN 374. Glasses.Gloves: yes. Eye protection: yes. RPE: no. Overalls: yes. Boots: yes

If it goes wrong

  1. Spill or leakFlames out, windows open. Soak up with sand, bag it as hazardous waste. Keep it out of drains.
  2. FireRaise the alarm, get out, ring 999. Only if safe, a dry powder or CO2 extinguisher. No water jet.
  3. Breathed in or swallowedFresh air and rest. Swallowed: do not make them sick. Rinse the mouth, get medical help with the sheet.
  4. On skin or in eyesSkin: wash with soap and water. Eyes: rinse at least 15 minutes, get medical help.

Also needed

  1. Exposure monitoringYes: no. No: yes. Detail: Up to 2 hours, room aired. Dizzy: out.
  2. Health surveillanceYes: yes. No: no. Detail: Skin checks by a responsible person. Next due: Weekly
  3. LEV examinationYes: no. No: yes. Detail: None used.
  4. RPE face-fit testYes: no. No: yes. Detail: None used.
  5. Training, supervisionYes: yes. No: no. Detail: Fire, vapour, skin, when to stop. Next due: Before start

Further action

  1. Extinguisher at the door and DSEAR assessment doneWho: DH. By when: Before start
  2. Lidded metal rag bin, emptied outdoors dailyWho: DH. By when: Before start
  3. Book a registered carrier for the wasteWho: DH. By when: Before start

Date

  1. 5 October 2026By: DH. Review: reason and changes: First issue. Next review: 5 October 2027

Sign-off

  1. Assessed byDan Hollins
  2. Date5 October 2026
  3. Shared with workers on6 October 2026

What a filled COSHH assessment shows

Five things, in this order.

  • The substance and its H codes

    From the supplier’s sheet, with its date. The sheet is your source; the form records what you did with it.

  • The work: how much, how often, how long

    What is done, where, how much, how often and how long. The same product can be a different risk on a different job.

  • Who and how it gets in

    The person doing it, anyone nearby, anyone at higher risk, and the routes in.

  • Controls in regulation 7 order, then PPE

    Avoid it first, then change the method, extract, limit, and only then gloves and masks.

  • What else is needed and when it is reviewed

    Monitoring, health checks, extraction tests and training, each with a date, then a review date.

Two ways to do your COSHH assessment

By hand on this form, or starting from the data sheet.

Paper sheet

  • Fill it by hand or on screen
  • You read the sheet yourself
  • Each new product starts blank

SDS to Excel converter

  • Start from the supplier’s PDF
  • Get a hazard summary to work from
  • It reads the sheet; the assessment is still yours
See SDS to Excel converter

COSHH example questions

Is this the assessment for my product?

No. Each one is a typical substance on a made-up job. Yours needs your supplier’s sheet, your amounts and your people.

Why no brand names?

Formulas differ and change, so no example speaks for a company’s product. If you searched for Fairy or WD-40, the washing-up and aerosol examples are the closest. Read the sheet for the one you hold.

Where do the numbers come from?

Hazard codes from the GB mandatory classification list where it has an entry, and exposure limits from EH40. Controls follow HSE guidance where HSE has a sheet for the task, and general practice where it does not. Each example lists its sources.

Can I copy an example?

Use it to see the level of detail, then write your own from your sheet. A form copied unchanged is not an assessment of your work.

Which form for a low-risk product?

The low-risk record, as in the washing-up example. If a label warns of more than eye or skin irritation, or you use it neat for long, use a full assessment instead.

Does it cover asbestos or lead?

No. Both have their own regulations, and COSHH does not apply to them in the same way. Take specialist advice.

Where is the blank?

On the COSHH assessment template, with your logo and the sections you need.