Free template
Risk assessment template
Hazards, who might be harmed, controls and actions, with a 5×5 risk matrix.
What's included
- Assessment details: task, location, assessor, dates
- Hazard table: who might be harmed, existing controls, likelihood, severity, risk score, further actions
- Colour-coded 5×5 risk matrix with action levels
- Sign-off and review section
Free to use and adapt. No sign-up.
The five steps
- Identify the hazards. Walk the task: moving parts, stored energy, electricity, height, manual handling, chemicals, noise.
- Decide who might be harmed and how. Think about operators, maintenance staff, contractors and visitors.
- Evaluate the risks and decide on controls. Score likelihood × severity, then apply the hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate, PPE.
- Record your findings and brief the people doing the work.
- Review after changes, incidents, or at the review date.
This follows the approach in HSE's guidance for UK employers, who must carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments. Businesses with five or more employees must record the significant findings.
Templates are a starting point. Adapt them to your site, your equipment and your procedures, and have them reviewed by a competent person.