General workplace risk assessment template

This resource was created in partnership with health and safety experts at Omny Group. It is intended as a basic general template only and designed for low-risk small to medium sized businesses. For tailored legal advice and support, you can get in touch with the Omny Health & Safety team here.

If you employ five or more people, UK law says you must record your risk assessments in writing.

This template is designed to help you carry out and document a workplace risk assessment in line with Health and Safety Executive requirements, including your duties under Great Britain’s Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. It covers common, organisation-wide risks in a typical low to medium-risk workplace.

If your team uses display screen equipment in the office or works remotely (even in a hybrid pattern), you’ll also need each employee to complete a DSE assessment for every working location.

You can find DSE assessment and working from home risk assessment templates here.

All your completed risk assessments should be stored securely, kept up to date and accessible to the right people in your organisation.

Note - If your business operates in a higher-risk industry, such as construction or healthcare, you’ll likely need a more detailed general workplace risk assessment.

How to use this template

A workplace risk assessment follows five simple steps:

• Identify the hazards

• Decide who might be harmed and how

• Evaluate the risks and record your control measures

• Record your findings

• Review and update regularly

Involve your team where possible. The people doing the work every day will often spot risks others miss.

Risk assessment details

Risk assessment record

Copy and paste the section below and complete it for each hazard identified.

In a typical low-risk workplace, you may identify around 10 to 15 general hazards. Your number may be lower or higher depending on your industry and activities.

Hazard name: [Write hazard name here e.g. Poor lighting in office work areas]

What is the hazard and where is it located?

Describe the hazard clearly and specifically in the box below. For example:

• Wet floor near entrance during rainy weather

• Trailing cables in office walkways

• Manual lifting or heavy deliveries

• Lone working in retail premises

• Poor lighting in work areas

Who might be harmed and how?

Consider:

• Employees

• Managers

• Contractors

• Visitors

• Young workers

• Pregnant workers

• Disabled workers

Describe how harm could occur in the box below.  

What are you already doing to control the risk?

List the control measures currently in place in the box below. Only record measures that actually happen in practice. For example:

• Clear walkways policy

• Manual handling training

• Regular fire alarm testing

• Frequent equipment checks

• Visitor sign-in process

Risk level

Select the most appropriate level and write it in the box below.

• Low - Unlikely to cause harm and existing controls are effective

• Medium - Could cause harm and improvements would reduce risk

• High - Likely to cause harm or could result in serious injury

What further action is needed?

If the risk is not adequately controlled, outline what needs to happen. If no further action is required, explain why.

Risk assessment action tracker

Use the table below to record:

• All hazards you’ve identified

• Any actions required to manage the associated risks

• Who is responsible for each action

• The deadline for completing the action

You can add more rows if needed.

When you’ve completed an action, return to this table and populate the far-right column with the date.

Review and update

Review and update this risk assessment:

• At least once a year

• After an accident or near miss

• When introducing new equipment or processes

• If you move premises

• If employees raise safety concerns

A risk assessment should evolve as your business does.

Confirmation

I confirm that this risk assessment reflects the current risks in our workplace and will be reviewed regularly.

Signed:

Name:

Date: