63 construction COSHH assessments
The substances that turn up on nearly every UK site, each assessed properly: hazards to health, routes of exposure, the controls in the right order, the PPE for what is left, and what to do when it goes wrong. The same entries SiteLynx drops into a RAMS when you pick the substance.
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Construction 8 substances
- Portland Cement (wet & dry)Strong alkaline (pH 12-13), chemical burns, allergic contact dermatitis (chromate sensitisation), severe eye damage, irr
- Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), concrete, stone, brick cuttingSilicosis (irreversible fibrosis), lung cancer (IARC Group 1), COPD, kidney disease, scleroderma.
- Concrete Release Agent / Mould Oil / Shutter OilSkin irritation, dermatitis, oil folliculitis.
- Cement Mortar / Sand-Cement MixSame alkaline burn and chromate sensitisation hazards as cement (see COSHH-001).
- Plaster Dust / Gypsum (mixing & sanding)Respiratory irritation, eye irritation, mild skin drying.
- Lime / Hydrated Lime / Quicklime (CaO/Ca(OH)2)Strongly alkaline (pH ~12.5), chemical burns to skin, eyes and respiratory tract.
- Fibre Cement Board (cutting & drilling)Respirable crystalline silica from cutting, see COSHH-002.
- Dust Suppressants & Soil Stabilisers (calcium chloride / lignosulphonate)Calcium chloride, skin and eye irritation, hygroscopic.
Welding 7 substances
- Mild Steel Welding FumeReclassified by IARC (2017) as Group 1 carcinogen, lung cancer.
- Stainless Steel & Galvanised Welding FumeHexavalent chromium Cr(VI), lung cancer, asthma, sinonasal cancer (WEL 0.025 mg/m3).
- Aluminium Welding FumeAluminium oxide fume, respiratory irritation, possible link to neurological effects with high prolonged exposure.
- Brazing & Soldering Fluxes (containing fluorides/borates/cadmium)Hydrogen fluoride fume, severe respiratory and eye irritation, pulmonary oedema.
- Plasma Cutting FumeHigh fume generation rate, same metal-specific hazards as welding (see COSHH-003/004).
- Oxy-Fuel Gases (oxygen, acetylene, propane)Acetylene, explosive 2.5-100% in air, decomposes >1.5 bar.
- Welding Rod / Electrode Coatings (basic & cellulosic)Coatings contain calcium fluoride, cellulose, mineral binders, sometimes manganese, nickel, chromium for alloy rods.
Painting 7 substances
- Solvent-Based Paints & Coatings (xylene/toluene/white spirit base)CNS depression (dizziness, headache, narcosis), liver and kidney effects, dermatitis, occupational asthma, fire/explosio
- Water-Based Paints & EmulsionsGenerally low hazard.
- 2-Pack Epoxy Floor & Tank CoatingsSame as COSHH-006 (epoxy resin).
- Polyurethane Paints (2-pack, MDI/HDI hardener)Isocyanate hardener, see COSHH-007.
- Anti-Corrosion Primers (zinc-rich, red oxide, calcium phosphate)Zinc-rich primers, solvent base (see COSHH-005), zinc dust irritant.
- Intumescent Coatings (water-based & solvent-based)Solvent-based variants, see COSHH-005.
- Methylene Chloride / Dichloromethane Paint StrippersMethylene chloride, IARC Group 2A carcinogen, narcotic/CNS depressant, metabolises to carbon monoxide in the body, has c
Adhesives 8 substances
- Epoxy Resin & Hardener (2-pack)Allergic contact dermatitis (lifelong sensitisation possible after a single exposure), respiratory sensitisation, eye da
- Polyurethane (PU) Foam & MDI/TDI Sealants (isocyanates)Isocyanates are the leading cause of occupational asthma in the UK.
- MS Polymer Sealants (silane-modified)Generally low hazard, chosen as safer substitute for PU.
- Silicone Sealants (acetoxy & neutral cure)Acetoxy cure releases acetic acid, eye and respiratory irritation, strong vinegar odour.
- Acrylic Sealants & Decorator's CaulkGenerally low hazard, water-based.
- Contact Adhesive (neoprene/solvent-based)High solvent content (toluene, hexane, MEK), CNS depression, dermatitis, narcosis, fire risk (very low flashpoint).
- Solvent-Based Wood Adhesives & LacquersToluene, xylene, MEK base, CNS depression, dermatitis, fire risk.
- Polyurethane Construction Adhesives (Gorilla-type)Same isocyanate hazards as COSHH-007.
Fuels & Oils 7 substances
- Diesel Fuel / Red Diesel / Gas OilSkin irritation, dermatitis, oil folliculitis.
- Hydraulic Oil / Cutting Oil / Mineral OilIrritant contact dermatitis, oil acne/folliculitis, allergic dermatitis from additives.
- Petrol / Unleaded Motor SpiritHighly flammable (flashpoint -43°C, vapour heavier than air, broad explosive range).
- Kerosene / ParaffinFlammable (flashpoint 38-72°C).
- Two-Stroke Petrol MixCombined hazards of petrol (COSHH-038) and lubricating oil (COSHH-009).
- Used Engine Oil / Waste OilMineral oil with combustion contaminants, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), some IARC Group 1.
- Gear Oil / Transmission OilSimilar to mineral oil (see COSHH-009).
Cleaning Agents 5 substances
- Brick Acid / Hydrochloric Acid (HCl, typically 10-30%)Severe chemical burns (pH <1), permanent eye damage, respiratory irritation.
- Sodium Hydroxide / Caustic Soda (drain & oven cleaners)Strongly alkaline (pH 14), severe chemical burns, permanent eye damage.
- Sulphuric Acid Drain CleanersConcentrated sulphuric acid (often >90%), severe chemical burns, exothermic with water (splash hazard), reacts with meta
- Citrus / D-Limonene SolventsGenerally lower hazard than petroleum solvents but skin sensitiser (allergic dermatitis), eye irritant.
- White Spirit / Mineral TurpentinePetroleum distillate, CNS depression, defatting dermatitis, eye irritation, fire risk (flashpoint ~38°C).
Roofing 4 substances
- Hot-Applied Bitumen / Mastic AsphaltSevere thermal burns (working temp 180-230°C), bitumen fume, IARC Group 2B carcinogen, eye and respiratory irritation, f
- Cold-Applied Bitumen Primers & SolutionsSolvent base (white spirit/naphtha), see COSHH-046.
- Single-Ply Membrane Adhesives (solvent-based)Toluene, hexane, MEK base, see COSHH-035.
- GRP / Fibreglass Resin (polyester resin & MEKP catalyst)Styrene vapour, IARC Group 2A carcinogen, CNS effects, respiratory and eye irritation.
Demolition 4 substances
- Lead-Based Paint (pre-1992 painted surfaces)Cumulative neurotoxin, IQ deficits, peripheral neuropathy, anaemia, kidney damage, reproductive toxicity (Cat 1A reproto
- Asbestos Cement & Asbestos Insulation Board (suspected/confirmed)Asbestos fibres, IARC Group 1 carcinogen, mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques.
- Creosote-Treated Timber (railway sleepers, telegraph poles, fencing)Creosote contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), IARC Group 1 (skin cancer with prolonged exposure).
- Mould Spores (renovation/water-damaged buildings)Allergic respiratory effects, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Flooring 1 substance
Insulation 5 substances
- Mineral Wool / Glass Fibre / Stone Wool (MMMF)Mechanical irritant, skin, eye and upper respiratory irritation.
- PIR / PUR Foam Boards (cutting & burning)Cutting dust, mechanical irritant.
- EPS / XPS Foam Insulation (cutting dust)Polystyrene dust, mechanical irritation.
- Cellular Glass / Foamglass InsulationCutting dust, abrasive, eye and skin irritant, contains crystalline silica fragments.
- Vermiculite & Perlite Loose-FillModern vermiculite (post-1990 sourcing) is asbestos-free.
Specialist 5 substances
- Formaldehyde / Formaldehyde-Resin Products (MDF, particleboard, urea-formaldehyde)Formaldehyde, IARC Group 1 carcinogen (nasopharyngeal cancer, leukaemia), respiratory and eye irritant, skin sensitiser.
- Refrigerant Gases (HFC, HCFC, R32, R290, ammonia)Asphyxiation in enclosed spaces (oxygen displacement).
- AcetoneDefatting dermatitis, eye irritation, CNS depression at high concentration.
- Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) / ButanoneDefatting dermatitis, eye and respiratory irritation, CNS depression.
- Isopropanol / IPAGenerally lower hazard than other solvents.
Concrete Admixtures 2 substances
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