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Science Lab Risk Assessment — CLEAPSS Compliant Template for £29
A comprehensive science lab risk assessment is legally required for every secondary school, sixth form and college in the UK. We generate a fully written, CLEAPSS-aligned assessment covering chemicals, equipment, student supervision and emergency procedures — ready in minutes.
Used by science departments, heads of science, senior technicians and school health and safety leads across the UK
🔬 Working with hazardous chemicals or radioactive sources? Mention them in your lab description and we will include COSHH assessments, DSEAR requirements, RPA supervision and all CLEAPSS-recommended controls for high-risk substances and equipment.
Legal requirements for science lab risk assessments
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty on employers (including school governing bodies and academy trusts) to ensure the health and safety of employees, students and visitors. For science teaching, this means conducting and recording risk assessments for all practical activities and the lab facility itself.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 specifically require written risk assessments for all work activities. Regulation 3 states that employers must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to employees and others affected by their work. In a school science lab, this includes teachers, technicians, students and cleaning staff.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 require a specific assessment for any work involving hazardous chemicals — almost all school science labs. Regulation 6 requires employers to assess the risks from hazardous substances and prevent or adequately control exposure. Sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, ethanol, sulfuric acid and many other common lab chemicals are COSHH substances and must be risk-assessed.
CLEAPSS is the advisory service for science and technology in UK schools. While CLEAPSS guidance is not legislation, it represents industry best practice and is referenced in HSE guidance. Ofsted inspectors, local authority advisors and the HSE expect schools to follow CLEAPSS guidance. Failure to do so is strong evidence of inadequate risk management.
Anyrisks science lab risk assessments are written in alignment with CLEAPSS guidance documents including L93 (Managing ionising radiations and radioactive substances), L195 (Preparing COSHH risk assessments) and L196 (A guide to risk assessment). They reference the relevant legislation and provide the written record required under the Management Regulations.
How it works
1. Describe your lab
Tell us about your school science lab — the subjects taught (biology, chemistry, physics), key equipment (fume cupboards, autoclaves, Bunsen burners, radioactive sources), chemicals stored and student age groups. Mention prep room work, chemical storage and any specific concerns.
2. Anyrisks does the hard work
Our AI generates a fully written, CLEAPSS-aligned risk assessment covering all lab hazards, COSHH requirements, emergency procedures and student supervision. Every control measure is specific to your facility and referenced to the relevant legislation.
3. Download and use
Instant download as PDF and editable Word document. Share with your senior leadership team, store in your health and safety file, present to Ofsted inspectors or local authority advisors. £29, no subscription, money-back guarantee.
What your science lab risk assessment covers
Every assessment is written in full and specific to your school science lab — no blank templates or generic advice.
COSHH — hazardous chemicals (acids, alkalis, solvents, flammables)
Chemical storage — segregation, ventilation, spill kits, DSEAR compliance
Fume cupboards — testing, maintenance and correct use procedures
Bunsen burners and naked flames — gas supply, supervision, fire risk
Glassware breakage — cuts, disposal of sharps, first aid
Biological hazards — microbial cultures, body fluids, disposal of contaminated waste
Ionising radiation — radioactive sources, sealed source register, RPA supervision
Electrical equipment — safety testing, earth bonding, RCD protection
Manual handling — chemical containers, gas cylinders, equipment trolleys
Student supervision — teacher:student ratios, behavioural management, PPE enforcement
Prep room activities — solution preparation, equipment maintenance, lone working
Emergency procedures — fire, chemical spill, first aid, evacuation
Eye protection — safety spectacles, goggles, face shields, eye wash stations
Disposal of waste — clinical waste, hazardous chemicals, WEEE electrical equipment
Works for every type of science lab
Whether you teach single sciences or combined science, KS3 to A-level, Anyrisks covers your lab risk assessment needs.
What customers say
"I was dreading updating our lab risk assessments after the Ofsted inspection feedback. Anyrisks gave me a complete CLEAPSS-aligned assessment in minutes. Our new head was delighted and the local authority advisor approved it immediately."
Rachel M.
Head of Science, secondary school, West Yorkshire
"We have three separate labs — biology, chemistry and physics. I described each one and got three separate assessments, each specific to the equipment and chemicals in that lab. Far better than a generic template."
David K.
Senior Science Technician, sixth form college, Surrey
"The COSHH section alone saved me days of work. Every chemical we use was covered, with specific controls and PPE requirements. It referenced CLEAPSS guidance throughout. Exactly what we needed for our health and safety audit."
Emma L.
Director of Science, academy trust, Birmingham
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| CLEAPSS guidance aligned (L93, L195, L196) | ✓ | ✗ |
| COSHH Regulations 2002 compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Specific to your lab equipment and chemicals | ✓ | ✗ |
| Emergency procedures included | ✓ | Sometimes |
| Student supervision and PPE requirements | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Does this comply with CLEAPSS guidance?
Yes — science lab risk assessments are written in alignment with CLEAPSS guidance (L93, L195, L196 and others) and reference the COSHH Regulations 2002, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. They are designed to satisfy Ofsted, local authority and HSE inspections.
Can I use it for both secondary school and college labs?
Yes — describe your facility type (secondary school, sixth form college, FE college, or independent school) and the types of practical work you conduct. The assessment will be tailored to your setting and the age of students.
Does it cover both biology, chemistry and physics labs?
Yes — describe the disciplines taught in your lab and the equipment used. Each discipline has specific hazards (corrosive chemicals in chemistry, microbial cultures in biology, ionising radiation in physics) and the assessment will cover all relevant risks.
Does it cover prep room activities as well?
Yes — mention prep room work, chemical storage, solution preparation and equipment maintenance in your description. The assessment will cover technician activities as well as supervised practical lessons.
How often should a school science lab risk assessment be reviewed?
CLEAPSS recommends annual review as a minimum, or after any significant change to equipment, chemicals, procedures or the lab layout. You should also review after any incident or near miss. Keep dated records of all reviews.
Can I customise it for specific experiments?
The lab risk assessment covers the general facility and standard activities. For higher-risk experiments (e.g. sodium in water, preparation of gases, use of radioactive sources) you will need experiment-specific risk assessments in addition to the general lab assessment. Describe all activities in the job description and we will cover them.
Is it accepted by Ofsted and local authorities?
Anyrisks produces a fully written, regulation-referenced risk assessment in the standard format expected by school inspectors, local authority advisors and the HSE. The format is professional and aligned with CLEAPSS guidance used across UK schools.
How long does it take?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your science lab — size, subjects taught, key equipment and chemicals used — and Anyrisks produces a complete, CLEAPSS-aligned risk assessment instantly.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator