How Many Steps Are in a Risk Assessment? (HSE 5-Step Guide Explained Simply)
Risk assessments are one of the foundations of workplace safety in the UK, but many SMEs still ask the same question:
“How many steps are there in a risk assessment protocol?”
The answer is clear and consistent across the Health & Safety Executive (HSE):
The UK Risk Assessment Process Has 5 Steps
- Identify hazards
- Decide who might be harmed and how
- Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
- Record your findings and implement them
- Review your assessment and update if necessary
These five steps form the backbone of almost every UK risk-assessment method — including RAMS, Method Statements, and Point of Work Risk Assessments (PoWRAs).
Why These 5 Steps Matter
A well-structured risk assessment helps you:
- prevent accidents before they occur
- protect employees, contractors, visitors and the public
- stay legally compliant
- demonstrate due diligence during audits and inspections
- maintain consistent safety standards across all jobs and locations
Even small businesses are expected to be able to evidence how they identified hazards and controlled risks.
How the 5 Steps Fit Into a Point of Work Risk Assessment (PoWRA)
A PoWRA is a rapid, job-specific, on-site risk assessment completed before starting work. It doesn’t replace a full, formal risk assessment — it enhances it.
Here’s how each HSE step naturally flows into the PoWRA process:
1) Identify hazards → On-site hazard check
A PoWRA forces operatives to stop, look, and identify real-world hazards that may not have been present during planning (e.g., weather changes, public access, obstructions, unstable ground).
2) Decide who may be harmed → People on site
This includes:
- employees
- other trades
- visitors
- members of the public
A PoWRA ensures the right people are considered before work begins.
3) Evaluate risks → Control measure checklist
PoWRAs work well because they turn risk thinking into a structured tick-box process:
- working at height
- manual handling
- slips/trips
- electricity
- plant and vehicles
- weather
- lone working
- hazardous substances
Operatives quickly record what control measures are in place.
4) Record findings → Written, signed record
A PoWRA creates an auditable trail showing:
- hazards spotted
- risks assessed
- controls applied
- confirmation all operatives understand the risks
This is vital for compliance and liability protection.
5) Review → Final pre-start and post-work review
PoWRAs include:
- pre-start checks
- post-work reviews (clean-down, waste removal, checking the area is safe on completion)
This aligns perfectly with the HSE expectation to review and update assessments whenever conditions change.
When Should You Complete a PoWRA?
A PoWRA should be used:
- before any high-risk job
- when conditions on site change
- when working in public areas
- when the main RAMS cannot capture dynamic hazards
They are particularly useful in construction, engineering, maintenance, facilities management, civils, utilities, and manufacturing.
Download a Ready-Made PoWRA Template (Fillable A4 PDF)
If you need a clean, clear, UK-compliant PoWRA template you can download today, explore the Docuqo version here:
➡️ Point of Work Risk Assessment (PoWRA) – Fillable A4 PDF
It includes:
- company & job details
- hazards & control measures table
- pre-start safety checklist
- residual risk rating
- additional controls section
- post-work review
- operative & supervisor signatures
Fully editable, printable, and site-ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a risk assessment always 5 steps?
Yes — in the UK, the standard HSE approach is a 5-step process.
Is a PoWRA the same as a risk assessment?
A PoWRA is a site-specific, real-time supplement to a formal risk assessment. It does not replace your RAMS.
Do I need to complete a PoWRA for every job?
Not always — but for high-risk, dynamic, or unfamiliar jobs, it is best practice.
Conclusion
The UK’s five steps of risk assessment provide a simple, proven structure that keeps people safe and keeps businesses compliant.
A Point of Work Risk Assessment (PoWRA) takes those same steps and applies them directly at the job location, where conditions and hazards are most likely to change.
If you’re looking to improve your on-site safety processes — or provide clearer documentation to your operatives — adopting a structured PoWRA is one of the quickest wins.
