Online Risk Assessment Template & Documents

A risk assessment is a health and safety document that not only looks at specific risks, but also looks at control measures to reduce the likelihood of an injury occurring. The document should be concise and easy for anyone carrying out a relevant task to understand. 

Sometimes it's easy to see risk assessments as a necessary evil. Something that creates more work and you have to do because principal contractors require it, however completing a simple risk assessment template minimises risks on site.

A risk assessment template identifies potential situations or working practices that could cause harm, as well as finding ways to eliminate or reduce the likelihood of an incident happening, or reduce the severity of injury if the risk can't be eliminated. 

To show you what a risk assessment is, let's look at the following example that covers some of the risks from using low access equipment. In this case, it's a hop-up with a working height of 500mm. The potential hazard or risk in this situation is falling from a height. The people at risk are the people using the access equipment and risk of injuries include both minor and major injuries. Actions already in place to reduce the likelihood of an injury occurring include:

• Hop ups inspected prior to use, fit for purpose, with a maximum working height of 500mm

• Ensure hop up legs are securely locked in place prior to use

• Ensure the ground base for the hop ups is firm and level

• Avoid overreaching when working and storing tools or materials on the hop up

• Painted hop ups are not to be used. And finally, Further action required states that a manager is to conduct a toolbox talk on working at heights prior to work commencing