COSHH Risk Assessment in Care Homes: What Managers Must Get Right

Care home managers face increasing pressure to demonstrate safe working practices, especially where hazardous substances are involved. Cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, detergents, and maintenance products all fall under strict legal control. As a result, COSHH risk assessments play a central role in compliance, staff safety, and resident wellbeing.

However, many care homes still misunderstand what COSHH actually requires. Others complete assessments once and never review them. In practice, both approaches leave gaps that inspectors notice quickly.

This guide explains exactly what a COSHH risk assessment in care homes should include, why it matters, and how managers can ensure assessments stand up during audits and inspections.

What COSHH Means in a Care Home Setting

COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. These regulations apply to any workplace where hazardous substances are used, stored, or generated. In care homes, this includes far more than just industrial chemicals.

For example, COSHH covers:

• Cleaning and disinfecting products

• Laundry detergents and destainers

• Sanitisers and descalers

• Aerosols and sprays

• Maintenance chemicals

• Biological hazards such as bodily fluids

Because care homes use these substances daily, COSHH compliance never becomes optional. Instead, it forms part of everyday operational safety.

The Health and Safety Executive explains the assessment process clearly on its official guidance page, which outlines the legal duty to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and put effective controls in place.

Why COSHH Risk Assessments Matter So Much in Care Homes

COSHH risk assessments protect three critical groups at once: residents, staff, and visitors. Unlike many workplaces, care homes support people who often have compromised immune systems, respiratory conditions, or limited mobility. Even minor exposure risks can escalate quickly.

At the same time, care staff handle chemicals repeatedly throughout each shift. Without clear controls, they face increased risks of:

• Skin irritation and burns

• Respiratory problems

• Eye injuries

• Long-term health effects from repeated exposure

From a regulatory perspective, inspectors expect managers to understand these risks fully. During audits or inspections, COSHH documentation often receives close scrutiny because it demonstrates whether a home actively manages health and safety or simply reacts when problems arise.

Identifying Hazardous Substances Correctly

The first step in a COSHH risk assessment involves identifying every hazardous substance used within the care home. This process must remain thorough and realistic.

Managers should begin by reviewing:

• Cleaning cupboards

• Laundry rooms

• Bathrooms and sluice areas

• Maintenance stores

• External storage areas

Next, each product must appear on a COSHH inventory. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) supplied by manufacturers provide essential information and must remain accessible.

Crucially, assessments should not focus only on obvious chemicals. For example, chlorine-based disinfectants, enzyme detergents, and concentrated cleaning solutions all require COSHH consideration, even when staff use them daily without incident.

Assessing Risk Based on Real Use

After identifying substances, managers must assess risk based on how staff actually use them. This step often causes problems because assumptions replace observation.

To avoid gaps, consider:

• How often staff use each product

• Whether staff dilute chemicals correctly

• Where staff store chemicals during use

• Who might come into contact with substances unintentionally

For instance, bathroom cleaning products present higher risk when staff clean occupied areas or when poor ventilation exists. Likewise, laundry chemicals pose greater risk during manual handling, decanting, or spillages.

A COSHH risk assessment must reflect these real-world conditions rather than ideal scenarios.

Implementing Effective Control Measures

Once risks are clear, managers must introduce suitable control measures. These controls should always follow the hierarchy of control, starting with the most effective options.

Common control measures in care homes include:

• Using pre-diluted or closed dosing systems

• Providing appropriate PPE such as gloves and eye protection

• Ensuring adequate ventilation in cleaning areas

• Storing chemicals in locked, labelled cupboards

• Restricting access to authorised staff only

However, controls only work when staff understand them. Therefore, training and supervision remain just as important as written procedures.

Linking COSHH to Cleaning and Infection Control

COSHH risk assessments should never sit in isolation. Instead, they should align closely with infection prevention and cleaning standards across the home.

For example, effective infection control relies on proper chemical use. Overuse, misuse, or incorrect dilution can increase health risks without improving hygiene outcomes. A structured approach helps managers balance safety and cleanliness.

Many homes already support this process through regular audits and checklists, such as a structured cleaning audit preparation process for care homes. When COSHH controls align with cleaning audits, documentation remains consistent and defensible.

Similarly, high-risk areas such as bathrooms demand extra attention. Linking COSHH assessments with an infection control bathroom cleaning checklist for care homes helps ensure staff follow safe methods while maintaining hygiene standards.

Training Staff and Demonstrating Competence

Even the most detailed COSHH risk assessment fails without staff understanding. Managers must ensure training supports both initial instruction and ongoing competence.

Effective COSHH training should cover:

• Reading and understanding product labels

• Using PPE correctly

• Following dilution instructions

• Responding to spills or exposure incidents

• Reporting concerns promptly

Moreover, managers should keep clear training records. Inspectors often request evidence that staff understand COSHH controls, not just that documents exist.

Regular refresher training also plays a key role, especially when products change or new staff join the team.

Reviewing and Updating COSHH Assessments

COSHH risk assessments require regular review. Many care homes struggle here, particularly when operations change gradually rather than suddenly.

Managers should review assessments:

• When introducing new products

• After incidents or near misses

• When staff report issues

• During annual health and safety reviews

In addition, linking COSHH reviews to broader compliance checks strengthens oversight. For instance, running a mock CQC audit often highlights documentation gaps, including outdated COSHH assessments.

Proactive reviews demonstrate strong governance and reduce last-minute stress during inspections.

Common COSHH Mistakes Inspectors See

Despite good intentions, certain COSHH failures appear repeatedly in care homes. Understanding these pitfalls helps managers avoid them.

Common issues include:

• Missing or outdated Safety Data Sheets

• Generic assessments copied from templates

• Assessments that ignore real working practices

• Poor chemical storage arrangements

• Lack of staff awareness

Fortunately, these problems remain entirely preventable. Regular reviews, staff engagement, and integrated compliance processes address them effectively.

How COSHH Supports a Strong Compliance Culture

COSHH risk assessments do more than satisfy legal requirements. They also support a broader culture of safety and accountability.

When staff understand why controls exist, they follow procedures more consistently. When managers review risks regularly, they identify improvements early. As a result, incidents decline, confidence increases, and inspections run more smoothly.

Moreover, COSHH compliance reinforces professionalism. It shows that a care home values staff wellbeing and resident safety equally.

Bringing It All Together

A strong COSHH risk assessment in care homes requires more than paperwork. It demands accurate identification of hazards, realistic risk evaluation, effective controls, proper training, and regular review.

By embedding COSHH into everyday operations, care home managers reduce risk while strengthening overall compliance. When assessments align with cleaning audits, infection control processes, and inspection preparation, documentation becomes both practical and defensible.

Ultimately, COSHH works best when managers treat it as an ongoing process rather than a one-time task. That approach protects people, supports staff, and ensures care homes meet their legal responsibilities with confidence.