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COSHH by substance · UK

Herbicide (glyphosate) COSHH assessment

Herbicide application — weather windows, PPE, public exclusion and spill kits.

What this assessment usually covers

  • SDS sections used
  • Task and who is exposed
  • Hierarchy of controls
  • PPE last
  • Spill/first aid
  • Health surveillance cues

Upload the SDS, confirm the task, and keep only the controls you will actually use. An SDS is not a COSHH assessment.

Quick answer

A glyphosate coshh assessment explains how you will prevent harm from that substance on your job. It must be based on the safety data sheet and your real task — quantity, duration, who is exposed and how — not a generic download used unchanged.

Primary topic: glyphosate coshh assessment. UK contractors — review every document before you issue it. SafeForJob does not replace competent judgement or HSE guidance.

What usually goes wrong

These are the operational gaps that make generic Word RAMS fail on the next site.

  • SDS pasted as COSHH

    Clients reject packs that only attach a PDF SDS.

  • PPE listed first

    Hierarchy of controls missing.

  • Task not described

    Same substance, different exposure — different assessment.

What to get right on this document

Start from the SDS

Sections 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13 usually drive the assessment.

Describe the task

Cutting, spraying, pouring and cleaning create different exposures.

Link to the RAMS

Hazardous substances in the RAMS should point to the COSHH assessment.

Quick answer

A glyphosate coshh assessment explains how you will prevent harm from that substance on your job. It must be based on the safety data sheet and your real task — quantity, duration, who is exposed and how — not a generic download used unchanged.

What good looks like on a UK site

Herbicide application — weather windows, PPE, public exclusion and spill kits. Name the site, the people at risk, and the sequence that keeps them safe. Generic paragraphs that could apply anywhere are the first thing a principal contractor rejects.

How SafeForJob helps

  • Describe the job in plain English and get suggested activities, risks and method steps
  • Edit every line before you download or issue
  • Reuse a previous RAMS and catch old client or site names
  • Attach or create COSHH assessments where hazardous substances appear

What this page is not

This page is not HSE approval, legal advice or a substitute for competent judgement. It helps you draft a clearer glyphosate coshh assessment document for a named job. You remain responsible for reviewing and issuing it.

Related reading

See what a RAMS is, the free RAMS generator, and HSE guidance on managing risks.

Related pages

All coshh by substance · RAMS by trade · Free RAMS generator

Questions

Is an SDS enough?
No. An SDS informs the COSHH assessment; it does not replace it.
Do low-hazard products need COSHH?
You still need proportionate assessment — the SDS tells you how light or heavy that should be.
Can I reuse one assessment everywhere?
Only if the task and exposure truly match.