Your legal obligation
Why aromatherapists need a COSHH assessment specifically for essential oils
Essential oils are concentrated chemical substances with documented hazardous properties. Many are classified as skin sensitisers under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. Some contain compounds with phototoxic properties. Several are known to cause respiratory sensitisation with repeated inhalation exposure. || For an aromatherapist, the COSHH assessment needs to address each essential oil used in practice - the specific compounds responsible for its hazardous properties, the routes of occupational exposure, the concentration at which it is used, and the controls in place to manage exposure. This is a more detailed exercise than COSHH for standard cleaning products, reflecting the chemical complexity of essential oils. || The carrier oils and other products used in aromatherapy blending and massage also need to be included in the assessment. A complete COSHH assessment covers the full product range of the practice.
The real problem
Aromatherapy COSHH documentation is almost entirely absent from practice despite significant chemical hazards
The absence of COSHH documentation in aromatherapy practice is widespread and difficult to explain given the documented hazardous properties of many essential oils. Many therapists are aware of the sensitisation risk from their training but do not translate this awareness into formal COSHH documentation. || CompliantDocs generates your COSHH assessment from the essential oils and products you tell us you use, producing documentation that reflects the actual chemical hazard profile of your aromatherapy practice.
2 hours
The minimum time required to produce a proper essential oil COSHH assessment covering a typical aromatherapy product range. Our service does it in minutes.
Your trade, specifically
The risks and requirements specific to your work
Aromatherapists work with concentrated essential oils including lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint and ylang-ylang at volumes up to 100ml per session, presenting inhalation and skin contact hazards. You handle carrier oils such as sweet almond, jojoba and coconut oil which can cause dermal sensitisation with prolonged exposure. Blending activities involve pipettes, glass bottles and dropper bottles where spills create slip hazards and vapour exposure risks. Your workplace typically includes treatment couches, diffusers running 6-8 hours daily, and storage cupboards holding 20-50 oil bottles. Clients present with allergies, sensitive skin and respiratory conditions requiring pre-treatment consultation. Skin exposure occurs during massage application, facial treatments and patch testing. Poor ventilation in home-based or small studio settings concentrates volatile organic compounds. You face dermatitis risk from repeated hand washing, oil handling without gloves, and inadequate barrier cream use. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires you to assess these chemical hazards formally through COSHH, document control measures, and maintain records of exposure incidents affecting your business compliance and client safety.
The cost of getting it wrong
What happens without proper documentation
Without proper COSHH assessment documentation, aromatherapists face serious enforcement consequences from the HSE. If inspected and found non-compliant, you risk improvement notices requiring remedial action within strict timeframes, prohibition notices stopping treatment activity, and prosecution resulting in unlimited fines under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Client dermatitis claims, respiratory complaints or allergic reactions without documented assessment and consultation records lead to insurance rejection and personal liability claims against you directly. You lose business reputation and client trust when incidents occur without demonstrable safety protocols. Mortgage and business loan applications flag non-compliant sole traders. CompliantDocs eliminates this exposure through ready-made, business-specific documents delivered within minutes, costing a fraction of consultant fees while providing HSE-grade compliance proof that protects both your clients and your livelihood.