A recorded assessment should explain the significant risks, people affected and controls, including further action, responsibility and timing. In Great Britain, regulation 3 of the Management Regulations requires significant findings to be recorded by employers with five or more employees; other rules can impose wider recording duties. No single form is prescribed.

This page sets out three worked risk assessment examples — for an office, a small warehouse and a construction site — showing what each section of a completed assessment looks like in practice. The examples are illustrative rather than universal: every workplace is different, and a template completed without site-specific judgement is not a defensible assessment.

For the underlying method and the legal framework, see our introduction to risk assessment. The five-step process and the risk matrix provide the methodology behind everything that follows.

What a completed assessment looks like

The following seven headings provide a practical record structure, similar to HSE’s template. They are a useful format rather than seven legally mandated columns:

Hazard

A specific description of what could cause harm. Not a category ("electrical safety") but a specific hazard ("damaged cables under desks").

Who might be harmed and how

Named groups, not just "staff" — and a specific harm mechanism. "Office workers — trip injury from cable across walkway" rather than "people might trip".

What you're already doing

The controls currently in place. Cable management, training, signage, equipment standards.

What further action is needed

What still needs to change. This is the action list that turns an assessment into improvements.

Who needs to carry out the action

A specific person, by role or by name. Not "management".

By when

A specific date. Not "ASAP" or "soon".

Done

A space for sign-off when the action has been completed.

HSE’s free template can help organise findings. Any suitable format may be used, but completing all its boxes does not itself establish that the assessment is suitable and sufficient. Implement the controls and follow up actions.

Worked example one: small accountancy practice

The context is an open-plan office with eight staff, occupying a converted ground floor in a Victorian high-street building. The work is desk-based with occasional client meetings on the premises and substantial peak workload around the January self-assessment deadline.

Hazard 1: Trailing cables under and between desks

Illustrative hazard: staff and cleaners could trip over cables. Remove cables from walkways where possible and use suitable routing or protection where needed. Have a competent person assess the electrical arrangement and install suitable supplies. Owner: office manager. Immediate action: protect or remove the current trip hazard; plan permanent improvements without leaving an unsafe route in use.

Hazard 2: Emergency exit partially blocked by archive boxes

Illustrative hazard: archive boxes obstruct an escape route. Remove them immediately and keep the route clear; do not wait for a storage project. Arrange suitable permanent storage and routine checks appropriate to the premises. Owner: managing partner. Deadline: clear the route now, then verify the new storage arrangement.

Hazard 3: Kettle and hot drinks station near reception

Visitors and staff could suffer burns from spilled hot water; the kettle's variable position has caused near-misses. Already in place: kettle with auto cut-off; mugs stored next to it; spill cloth available. Further action: install fixed-base kettle station with a non-slip mat and move the station off the main thoroughfare. Owner: office manager. Deadline: within 6 weeks.

Hazard 4: Workstation positioned directly under air conditioning vent

One worker reports neck and shoulder pain. Review the workstation, task, breaks and environment promptly, and seek suitable advice where necessary. Do not assume the air-conditioning draught is the cause. Owner: office manager. Action: assess and address the reported discomfort without waiting for a routine review.

Hazard 5: Manual handling of archive boxes during year-end

Staff lift archive boxes from high shelves. Assess the loads, posture, frequency and individual needs; a 15 kg rule would not establish safety. Reduce handling where possible, split loads where suitable and store frequently handled items at accessible heights. Use suitable access equipment only for tasks it can safely support. Owner: office manager. Action: provide a safe method before further hazardous handling.

Hazard 6: Work-related stress during January–February peak

Sustained excessive hours and tight client deadlines associated with self-assessment season. Already in place: cross-cover for absences; pre-Christmas workload review. Further action: bring in temporary support from a contractor for the four weeks before the 31 January deadline, with a documented load-balancing plan in place by mid-November each year. The stress risk assessment page covers the broader framework. Owner: managing partner. Deadline: annually, mid-November.

Hazard 7: Reception glass door without manifestation

A glazed reception door may be difficult to see. Assess glazing safety and visibility, arrange appropriate conspicuous marking and provide interim precautions as needed. Owner: office manager. Deadline: address the current collision risk promptly rather than relying only on visible door edges.

Review

Annually, with explicit triggers to reassess before the January peak each year, after any office layout change, and after any accident, near miss or change in workforce.

The time and length of the assessment depend on the premises and risks. These examples illustrate how to assign actions; they are not a prediction that a half-day exercise or two-page document will be sufficient.

Worked example two: small warehouse and distribution unit

The context is a small distribution unit with twelve staff: pickers, packers, two forklift operators and a supervisor. Stock arrives by pallet delivery and is picked manually for outbound courier dispatch.

Hazard 1: Forklift truck movements crossing pedestrian walkways

Staff and visiting drivers could be struck where forklift routes cross pedestrian access. Plan separation and controlled crossing arrangements, with physical barriers where appropriate. Until permanent improvements are in place, use a safe interim arrangement, including stopping conflicting movements when necessary. High-visibility clothing, horns and mirrors do not replace segregation. Owner: warehouse manager.

Hazard 2: Manual handling of mixed-weight cases during picking

Picking involves repeated lifting, twisting and reaching. Assess the task and reduce hazardous handling through layout, load or equipment changes, rather than relying on a weight limit or job rotation. Provide task-specific instruction and refresh it when needed. Owner: warehouse manager. Make the work safe before continuing hazardous tasks; schedule improvements according to risk.

Hazard 3: Racking damage from forklift impact

Racking damage could lead to collapse. Report damage immediately, isolate or unload affected areas safely as appropriate, and obtain competent assessment before continued use. Set routine inspections and expert inspections according to HSE guidance, the system and risk. Owner: warehouse manager. Do not wait for the next scheduled inspection to address known damage.

Hazard 4: Working at height to access top racking levels

Unsafe access to high storage creates a fall risk. Stop the unsuitable method and provide access equipment and a picking method suitable for the task. Operators must be trained and authorised; do not lift people on forks or pallets. Owner: supervisor. Action: establish and brief the safe method before the next task.

Hazard 5: Vehicle reversing in the goods-in area

Reversing deliveries could strike pedestrians. First consider eliminating or reducing reversing and keep pedestrians clear of the manoeuvring area. Where a trained signaller is necessary, use agreed signals and stop if visual contact is lost. Cameras can assist but do not make an unsafe layout safe. Owner: warehouse manager.

Hazard 6: Slip from spilled product or pallet wrap on warehouse floor

Staff could slip and fall, with risk of musculoskeletal injury. Already in place: hourly walkround during operating hours; spill response procedure; appropriate footwear required. Further action: increase walkround frequency to half-hourly during peak picking periods; review whether the current floor finish needs replacement during the next maintenance window. Owner: supervisor (walkrounds); warehouse manager (floor review). Deadline: walkround change immediate; floor review at next maintenance.

Hazard 7: Lone working during early or late shifts

Goods receipt operative working alone for the first 90 minutes of each shift before the rest of the team arrives. Already in place: scheduled call from the duty manager at shift start; lone worker device. Further action: review whether the goods receipt schedule can be adjusted so that the operative isn't alone with deliveries. See our lone working page for the framework. Owner: warehouse manager. Deadline: 8 weeks.

Review

Annually, with triggers for any reportable incident, any change to racking layout, any new equipment, and any change to shift patterns.

Worked example three: small construction site

Illustrative context: a domestic extension and loft conversion involves several contractors. A principal contractor is required and a construction phase plan must be prepared before construction begins. Notification depends on the CDM duration and workforce thresholds, not simply the presence of three subcontractors. Specific high-risk tasks need suitable planning.

Hazard 1: Working at height on the rear extension roof and loft

Falls and falling objects require suitable access, edge protection and exclusion arrangements. Scaffolding must be inspected before first use, at required intervals and after events liable to affect safety. For relevant construction platforms with a possible fall of two metres or more, the interval must not exceed seven days. Daily user checks do not replace the competent inspection.

Hazard 2: Manual handling of building materials

Workers lifting and carrying timber, plasterboard, insulation and tools, often in restricted spaces. Already in place: mechanical lifting (telehandler) for heavy materials to first floor; designated material storage areas; training in safe lifting. Further action: review the second-floor route for plasterboard delivery during the loft conversion phase, with a view to mechanical lifting where the staircase route is unsuitable. Owner: site manager. Deadline: before plasterboard delivery for loft conversion (week 4).

Hazard 3: Dust exposure during demolition and cutting work

Cutting and demolition can expose workers and occupants to hazardous dust. Plan to avoid or reduce dust, use suitable extraction or suppression and appropriate RPE where necessary, and keep others out of affected areas. Verify controls before work. Merely scheduling work while the family is away is not an adequate substitute for controlling and safely clearing contamination.

Hazard 4: Electrical risk during alterations to existing wiring

Electrical alterations need a competent person, safe isolation and verification before work, with suitable equipment and precautions. Applicable building-control requirements must also be met. Membership of a particular certification scheme is not the only legal route for every job. Owner: site manager. Verify arrangements before electrical work starts.

Hazard 5: Site security and member-of-public access

Secure the work area before hazards are introduced, keeping children and other unauthorised people away. Fencing, controlled access, safe storage and appropriate signs must match the site. Brief the household, but do not rely on that briefing alone to prevent entry. Owner: site manager. Action: put controls in place before work starts.

Hazard 6: Welfare and first aid

Workers could lack basic welfare provision and first aid in the event of injury. Already in place: portable toilet on site; mains water connection for handwashing; first aid kit; nominated first aider on each shift. Further action: review the first aid arrangements when the timber-frame contractor arrives — their work could change the first aider requirement. Owner: site manager. Deadline: before timber frame phase.

Hazard 7: Fire risk during hot works

Consider avoiding hot work where possible. If needed, assess combustibles and hidden fire-spread paths, use suitable controls and arrange a fire watch and post-work monitoring appropriate to the risk. Set the finishing time so monitoring can be completed before people leave; 3 pm is not a universal safe cutoff. Owner: site manager.

Review

Weekly review by site manager; comprehensive review at each phase transition; immediate review after any incident, near miss or change to the programme.

Where to find HSE's official examples

HSE provides example assessments for offices, shops, food preparation, vehicle repair, factory maintenance and warehouses. They illustrate an approach and are not ready-made assessments for another workplace.

The HSE template is also free to download in the same place, in a format that's straightforward to adapt for any workplace. We don't recommend buying a template — the HSE's are good enough and they have the advantage of reflecting what HSE inspectors expect to see.

Common errors in completed assessments

The following weaknesses can undermine an assessment and the controls it is meant to support:

Generic hazards without site-specific detail

"Slips, trips and falls" as a hazard, without saying what specifically causes the risk in this workplace. The assessment looks compliant but doesn't help anyone fix the problem.

Vague actions and vague ownership

"Improve housekeeping" assigned to "management" by "ASAP". An action that can't be checked has effectively not been assigned.

No evidence of consultation with workers

The people doing the work usually know where the risks sit. An assessment written without speaking to them tends to miss the practical issues.

Controls that don't actually exist

The assessment claims controls are in place that aren't really there — the training that nobody attends, the inspection that never happens, the procedure that nobody reads. This is the most exposed position to be in: the document records the employer's knowledge of the hazard but doesn't reflect what's actually being done.

No review

Review when the assessment may no longer be valid or significant changes occur. Age alone does not determine validity, but an assessment that fails to reflect changed risks or ineffective controls needs attention.

Where this connects in the cluster

These examples illustrate the general method. The vertical pages — fire, legionella, COSHH, manual handling, DSE, stress, lone working, working at height, working from home, pregnancy, young persons — cover the specific assessment frameworks for particular categories of hazard.

For workplaces building in-house competence in carrying out and reviewing assessments, formal Risk Assessment Training provides the methodological foundation and the qualification framework that supports defensible practice.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get a free risk assessment template?

HSE publishes a free template and example assessments. Use them to organise relevant findings and actions, adapting the content to your workplace rather than copying an example unchanged.

Does HSE provide example assessments?

Yes. The HSE publishes example completed assessments for several common workplace types. These are illustrative rather than universal — a template completed without site-specific judgement isn't a defensible assessment — but they're a good reference for what HSE inspectors expect to see.

Does a risk assessment have to be on a specific form?

No particular form is prescribed. Under the general Management Regulations, employers with five or more employees must record significant findings and groups especially at risk. Other rules may require records regardless of headcount. A completed form must still reflect a suitable assessment and effective controls.

Can I use the same template for every workplace?

The template can be the same; the content has to be specific. A template completed identically for two different workplaces is unlikely to be suitable and sufficient for either — the assessment has to reflect the actual hazards, the actual workforce and the actual controls in each place.

Sources & references

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Mark McShane
Mark McShane
Health & Safety Training Specialist, Online CPD Academy

Mark writes about workplace health & safety, risk assessment and accredited online training for Risk Assessment Training, part of Online CPD Academy.