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Solvent paint and white spirit 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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Solvent paint and white spirit COSHH assessment example

Solvent gloss paint and white spirit on a house refurbishment

Brushing doors and trim, then cleaning brushes. A flammable liquid with a vapour and skin risk.

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What to change

  • Your supplier’s sheets and dates: codes differ, and a sheet may print its own exposure figure
  • Where, how much and how long on your job
  • Whether the job needs solvent paint at all

Sources

Checked

  1. COSHH AssessmentHollins & Reed Contracting LtdProject or siteHouse refurbishment, House 7Assessment refCA-009Date assessed5 October 2026SubstanceProduct or substanceSDS dateSupplierForm (liquid, dust…)Solvent gloss, white spirityour supplieryour sheet’s dateLiquid that gives off vapourThe workTaskHow oftenAmount usedWhereHow long each timeUsed withGloss trim, clean brushesBedrooms and landingTwo days on this jobUp to 4 hours a dayAbout 5 litres, 2 litres spiritBrushes, rollers, ragsStorage and wasteStorageHandlingWasteSealed cans in the outdoor lock-up, away from heat and sun. Only the day’s cans indoors.Lids back on straight away. Pour spirit outdoors over a tray. No smoking or flames near it.Hazardous waste, not builders’ rubble: wet paint, used spirit and rags, sealed, by aregistered carrier. Never down a drain.Hazards (H codes)Harmful orirritantCorrosiveToxicSerious healthhazardCancer orasthmaFlammableH226, H336, EUH066.Spirit adds H304. Someadd H372.Exposure limitWEL, 8-hourMonitoring resultWEL, 15-minuteMeasured onNone in EH40 for white spiritNone listedNot measuredNot measuredHow it gets inBreathing inSkinEyesSwallowingPunctureVapour first, then skinWho could be harmedPeople doing itOthers nearbyCleaners, fittersVisitors, publicHigher riskPainters, other trades.Eczema or allergy.Health effectsFlammable: vapour is heavier than air and can travel to a flame. Swallowed spirit can enter the lungs and kill.Vapour causes headache and dizziness, a danger on steps. Your sheet may warn of harm from repeated breathing.Repeated contact dries and cracks skin. EH40’s example blend comes to 550 mg/m³: that is not a limit.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-009Date assessed5 October 2026ControlsIn placeStill neededAvoid or swap itChange the methodExtract at sourceFewer, for less timeWashing, welfareWater-based on walls and ceilings. Solvent on trimonly.Try water-based trim next job.Brush and roller, no spraying. Brushes cleanedoutdoors.Not used. Windows and the door open all the time.Room that will not air: stop, ask.One painter to a room. Breaks in fresh air.Soap and water at the cabin. Never spirit on hands.Skin cream at the cabin.PPE: type or standardGlovesEye protectionRPEOverallsBootsNitrile, EN 374. Glasses to pour.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 foam, CO2 or powder extinguisher. Nowater jet.Fresh air and rest. Swallowed: do not make them sick. Rinse the mouth, go to hospital withthe sheet.Skin: off with wet clothes, wash with soap and water. Eyes: rinse at least 15 minutes, getmedical help.Also neededYesNoDetailNext dueExposure monitoringHealth surveillanceLEV examinationRPE face-fit testTraining, supervisionTwo days, room aired. No WEL to test against.Skin checks by a responsible person.WeeklyNone used.None used.Fire, vapour, skin, rags, when to stop.Before startFurther actionWhoBy whenCheckedFoam or CO2 extinguisher to the landingDHBefore 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-009
  3. Date assessed5 October 2026

Substance

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

The work

  1. TaskGloss trim, clean brushes
  2. WhereBedrooms and landing
  3. How oftenTwo days on this job
  4. How long each timeUp to 4 hours a day
  5. Amount usedAbout 5 litres, 2 litres spirit
  6. Used withBrushes, rollers, rags

Storage and waste

  1. StorageSealed cans in the outdoor lock-up, away from heat and sun. Only the day’s cans indoors.
  2. HandlingLids back on straight away. Pour spirit outdoors over a tray. No smoking or flames near it.
  3. WasteHazardous waste, not builders’ rubble: wet paint, used spirit and rags, sealed, by a registered carrier. Never down a drain.

Hazards (H codes)

  1. H226, H336, EUH066. Spirit adds H304. Some add H372.Harmful or irritant: yes. Corrosive: no. Toxic: no. Serious health hazard: yes. Cancer or asthma: no. Flammable: yes

Exposure limit

  1. WEL, 8-hourNone in EH40 for white spirit
  2. WEL, 15-minuteNone listed
  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. Painters, other trades. Eczema or allergy.People doing it: yes. Others nearby: yes. Cleaners, fitters: no. Visitors, public: no. Higher risk: yes

Health effects

  1. Flammable: vapour is heavier than air and can travel to a flame. Swallowed spirit can enter the lungs and kill.
  2. Vapour causes headache and dizziness, a danger on steps. Your sheet may warn of harm from repeated breathing. Repeated contact dries and cracks skin. EH40’s example blend comes to 550 mg/m³: that is not a limit.

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-009
  3. Date assessed5 October 2026

Controls

  1. Avoid or swap itIn place: Water-based on walls and ceilings. Solvent on trim only. Still needed: Try water-based trim next job.
  2. Change the methodIn place: Brush and roller, no spraying. Brushes cleaned outdoors.
  3. Extract at sourceIn place: Not used. Windows and the door open all the time. Still needed: Room that will not air: stop, ask.
  4. Fewer, for less timeIn place: One painter to a room. Breaks in fresh air.
  5. Washing, welfareIn place: Soap and water at the cabin. Never spirit on hands. Still needed: Skin cream at the cabin.

PPE: type or standard

  1. Nitrile, EN 374. Glasses to pour.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 foam, CO2 or powder extinguisher. No water jet.
  3. Breathed in or swallowedFresh air and rest. Swallowed: do not make them sick. Rinse the mouth, go to hospital with the sheet.
  4. On skin or in eyesSkin: off with wet clothes, wash with soap and water. Eyes: rinse at least 15 minutes, get medical help.

Also needed

  1. Exposure monitoringYes: no. No: yes. Detail: Two days, room aired. No WEL to test against.
  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, rags, when to stop. Next due: Before start

Further action

  1. Foam or CO2 extinguisher to the landingWho: 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.