Are Your COSHH Risk Assessments Already Out of Date?

Recently, the UK government confirmed that the Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF) will be "wound down by May 2026" according to HSE guidance. While PRiF processes are no longer needed, the UK regulator will continue seeking relevant advice from other government agencies to ensure public health and safety. The underlying lesson: frameworks for oversight constantly change, but compliance expectations remain robust.

Are our COSHH risk assessments already out of date? Even with previous assessments completed, regulatory responsibilities evolve yearly. Hazardous substances change, and management processes must adapt accordingly. Outdated assessments expose organizations to unmitigated risks.

How does PRiF winding down mean for your business?

The winding down of PRiF demonstrates that regulatory oversight never remains static. Even when committees, agencies, or structures change, business expectations stay high. For employers, this means:

You can't rely on one-off risk assessments to protect your compliance.
Regulators will still expect your processes to reflect the latest standards and science.
If your COSHH assessments are old, they may no longer meet current requirements, leaving you exposed to risk, fines, or failed audits.

This is why regularly reviewing and updating COSHH risk assessments is critical.

Are your COSHH risk assessments out of date?

A dangerous misconception many British businesses hold regarding COSHH risk assessments is that they can just "set it and forget it". But workplace conditions change and substances rarely stay static. An assessment that isn't reviewed regularly can quickly become outdated and inaccurate, creating dangerous gaps in employee protection and organizational compliance.

Just as you wouldn't just let a torn muscle heal on its own because it is not causing any discomfort now, relying on an out-of-date COSHH assessment could spell trouble - not just for your business, but for your employees' safety.

To stay compliant and safe, businesses need to review assessments often and use a structured COSHH compliance checklist to ensure nothing is overlooked.

Do you need another COSHH risk assessment?

Check the following to find out:

Have you introduced any new substances since your last assessment?
Have there been changes to work processes or exposure levels?
Has there been a near miss, incident, or accident involving hazardous substances?
Have there been updates in HSE regulations or industry standards?
Are employees trained and aware of current safety procedures?
Has it been over 12 months since your last COSHH review?

Assessment Required

If you answered "Yes" to any of the above, your COSHH risk assessment is likely due for an update.

How often should you renew your COSHH risk assessment?

Generally, the HSE recommends that a risk assessment should be renewed annually. That said, this is subject to change depending on the type of industry you are in and if you (or your employees) are exposed to various chemicals and other hazardous materials. As a rule of thumb, business leaders should renew their COSHH risk assessment any time a significant change in how any material is handled or processed.

Keep in mind that the HSE states: "the requirement is for the review of the assessment." This means that only the necessary processes need to be updated, not the entire framework. The HSE clarifies that only the parts that do not reflect your new situation need amending.

When should COSHH risk assessments be reviewed?

As a summary, COSHH risk assessments should be reviewed:

At least once a year, even if nothing has changed.
Whenever a new substance is introduced into the workplace.
If working practices, equipment, or exposure levels change.
After an incident, accident, or near miss involving hazardous substances.
When new regulations, standards, or safety data sheets (SDS) are issued.

In short, a COSHH risk assessment is only valid if it reflects today's risks, not last year's.

Annual vs. continuous reviews

Review Approach	Pros	Cons
Annual Review Only	Meets the minimum HSE requirement.	Risks being outdated for most of the year. Delays in capturing new hazards.
Continuous / Ongoing Review	Ensures assessments reflect real-time risks, supports audits, and improves employee safety.	More time-consuming without automation.

Expert Advice

To protect your employees and stay compliant, you should treat COSHH assessments as ongoing responsibilities, not once-a-year checklists. The more often you review and update them, the lower your risk of non-compliance, accidents, and audit failures.

How to keep your COSHH assessments up to date

1. Schedule regular reviews

Set a recurring review cadence (at least annually) and block time in your calendar so it actually happens. Regular scheduling turns COSHH from a one-off task into an ongoing responsibility. If nothing else changes, the annual review still forces you to confirm that the assessment is still valid.

2. Monitor workplace changes

Track new substances, processes, equipment, or suppliers as they're introduced. Any operational change can alter exposure risk and trigger a reassessment. Treat change notifications as a prompt to re-run the relevant COSHH checklist.

3. Check and update Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Ensure SDSs for all substances are current and stored where staff can access them quickly. New SDS information often contains updated hazard, handling, or PPE guidance that should feed directly into your assessment. If an SDS changes, update controls and communicate the change immediately.

4. Re-assess control measures and PPE

Review whether existing controls (such as with ventilation and containment) and PPE still reduce risk to acceptable levels. Controls may degrade, become obsolete, or no longer match the hazard profile. Update control plans and replace or upgrade PPE where necessary.

5. Record incidents and near-misses promptly

Log any incident, near-miss, or unexpected exposure with detail on cause and corrective action. These events are primary signals that your existing assessment missed something crucial. Use these records to prioritise reassessments and preventive measures.

6. Consult and train staff regularly

Ask frontline workers about practical gaps and train them on updated procedures and controls. Employees often spot real-world issues that paperwork misses. Regular training also provides documented evidence of due diligence.

7. Centralise documentation and version control

Keep one authoritative COSHH file with a clear version history and review dates. Centralised access helps auditors and ensures staff always refer to the latest guidance. Include timestamps and reviewer names so updates are auditable.

8. Run internal audits and mock inspections

Periodically test your COSHH system with short audits or simulated inspections. Audits expose weak spots before regulators or incidents do. Use findings to refine your review schedule and action plans.

Have a reliable source (regulatory feeds, supplier notices, industry bodies) that flags changes in legislation or product hazards. Proactive alerts let you respond before an audit or accident exposes a gap. Make regulatory watch part of your standard review workflow.

The cost of ignoring COSHH compliance

Case Study: £100,000 Fine

Last August 2025, a chemical company was found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 after one of its workers suffered severe burns from a steam hose back in 2019. HSE officers found that the company refused to take action despite being "reportedly aware" of the faulty hose.

One HSE inspector stated: "the lack of appropriate risk assessment...resulted in a young man sustaining very serious burns."

The chemical company was fined £100,000.

This is only one story out of 13 safety incidents that occurred between August and September 2025 and which were reported by the HSE. Imagine the hundreds more that have not been reported.

Keeping COSHH risk assessments up to date with confidence

The closure of PRiF is a reminder that safety regulations evolve, and businesses cannot afford to let their COSHH risk assessments fall behind. Outdated documents put employees, operations, and compliance at risk. By reviewing COSHH assessments regularly and using smart tools like Sevron's Safety365, you can stay aligned with HSE guidance, simplify compliance, and protect your workforce.

How Sevron keeps your COSHH risk assessment up-to-date

Sevron is a leading COSHH risk assessment software that leverages automation to optimise and centralise the entire COSHH process. At the core of the approach is the Accelerated Compliance Framework, which aims to be Certified, Competent, and Compliant. What this means in practice:

Certified: Your assessments are based on verified, up-to-date Safety Data Sheets.
Competent: Your team is supported with reminders, training records, and guidance to manage COSHH safely.
Compliant: You have version histories and audit-ready evidence to prove alignment with HSE requirements.

From there, Safety365 delivers practical tools that make compliance effortless:

Automatic updates: Safety365 connects to an extensive SDS database, keeping your COSHH assessments current with the latest hazard information.
Smart notifications: Built-in reminders ensure your team never misses a review or renewal date.
Centralised compliance: Store COSHH assessments, SDSs, and version histories in one secure hub, making compliance simple and auditable.
Audit-ready evidence: With clear version control and training records, you can demonstrate compliance instantly during inspections.

With Sevron, staying Certified, Competent, and Compliant is much easier with an AI-powered, intuitive tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PRiF and why is it closing?

The Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF) Committee will be wound down by May 2026. Its role in monitoring food safety will be replaced by the HSE, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), and other expert bodies to maintain high standards.

Will food safety be affected when PRiF closes?

No. Food safety in the UK will remain strong. The HSE and FSA will continue monitoring pesticide residues to ensure compliance and consumer protection.

How does PRiF's closure link to COSHH risk assessments?

It shows how regulations evolve. Businesses must keep COSHH risk assessments up to date, ensuring chemical SDSs and compliance measures meet the latest UK requirements.

How often should COSHH risk assessments be reviewed?

HSE guidance recommends reviewing COSHH risk assessments at least annually, and whenever there are changes in chemicals, processes, or legislation. Regular updates reduce compliance risks.

How can Sevron help with COSHH compliance?

Sevron's Safety365 software keeps COSHH risk assessments updated automatically. It centralises Safety Data Sheets, sends reminders, and ensures businesses stay compliant with UK COSHH regulations.

Don't let outdated COSHH assessments put your business at risk. Contact our team to learn how Sevron's Safety365 can automate your compliance and protect your workforce.