A clear, simple guide for UK businesses, contractors, and anyone responsible for workplace safety.

Completing a Risk Assessment doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. In fact, once you understand the structure, the process becomes surprisingly logical — and even empowering.

Whether you’re a site manager, a small business owner, a contractor, or someone who’s suddenly been asked to “just quickly do a risk assessment,” this guide will walk you through the essentials in a friendly, practical way.

And yes — we’ve included a free preview template you can download instantly to follow along.

Why Risk Assessments Matter (More Than Most People Think)

Risk Assessments aren’t just paperwork. They’re the backbone of safe workplaces, preventing injuries, claims, downtime, and costly mistakes.

A proper Risk Assessment helps you:

• Spot hazards before they become problems
• Protect employees, visitors and contractors
• Comply with UK Health & Safety law
• Demonstrate due diligence
• Create a safer, more confident workforce

And in many industries — construction, maintenance, engineering, manufacturing, hospitality — a Risk Assessment is required before work even begins.

So let’s break down the process into clear, approachable steps.

Step 1 — Describe the Work Being Assessed

Every Risk Assessment begins with context.

Ask yourself:

• What task is being carried out?
• Where is it happening?
• Who is involved?

Example:
“Removal of damaged ceiling tiles in a ground-floor corridor, disposal of debris, installation of new tiles.”

This short description sets the scene and helps anyone reading the document understand what the risks

Step 2 — Identify the Hazards

A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm.

Common examples include:

• Slips, trips and falls
• Working at height
• Electrical tools
• Hazardous substances
• Manual handling
• Dust, noise, heat
• Moving vehicles
• Sharp edges or pinch points

The key is to think realistically:

“What could go wrong here?”

Write each hazard clearly and specifically. Instead of “tools,” say “loose debris during tile removal.”
Instead of “electrical work,” say “portable tools plugged into aging sockets.”

Specificity matters.

Step 3 — Identify Who Might Be Harmed

This includes:

• Employees
• Contractors
• Visitors
• Members of the public
• Young or vulnerable persons

You’re not just listing job titles — you’re recognising how different people might interact with the hazard.

Example:
Employees and visitors could slip on loose debris in a corridor.

This shows you’re considering real-world impact.

Step 4 — Evaluate the Risk (Likelihood × Severity)

This is where many people get confused, but it’s actually very simple.

Risk = Likelihood (L) × Severity (S)

Most Risk Assessments use a 1–3 scale:

Likelihood
1 — Unlikely
2 — Possible
3 — Likely

Severity
1 — Minor injury
2 — Serious injury
3 — Major injury / fatality

Multiply the two scores to get the Risk Rating.

Example:
Likelihood 2 × Severity 2 = 4 (Medium Risk)

This helps you decide what level of control is required.

Step 5 — Record the Existing Controls

Before adding new measures, ask:

• What controls are already in place?
• Are they effective?
• Are they documented?

Examples:

• Area cordoned off
• PPE already worn
• Trained operatives only
• Floor kept clear
• Signage displayed

This gives a baseline understanding of current safety conditions.

Step 6 — Decide on Additional Controls

Now identify what more needs to be done to reduce the risk as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).

Examples:

• Improve lighting
• Add signage
• Use dust sheets
• Increase supervision
• Provide manual handling training
• Introduce a permit-to-work

This is where you turn the assessment into practical action.

Step 7 — Assign Responsibilities & Target Dates

A Risk Assessment only works when someone takes ownership.

Record:

• Who must implement the action
• By when
• Who will sign it off

This adds accountability and ensures nothing is forgotten.

Step 8 — Assess the Residual Risk

After new controls are added, reassess:

• Likelihood
• Severity
• Residual risk rating

Most Risk Assessments conclude here with:

☑ Yes — Risk reduced to as low as reasonably practicable
or
☐ No — Further controls required before work proceeds

This final confirmation shows that the assessment is complete and safe to sign off.

Step 9 — Sign, Date and Store the Document

The last step is formalising it.

Make sure it includes:

• Assessor’s name
• Assessor’s signature
• Date and time
• Supervisor or manager signature

Then store it somewhere accessible to staff — ideally digitally so it’s never lost.

Want to Follow Along? Download Our Free Risk Assessment Preview Template

To help you put this guide into practice, we created a free, fillable Risk Assessment Preview.

You can:

• Click the fields
• Test the layout
• See real example entries
• Understand the structure
• Get a feel for the full template

👉 Download Free Sample Risk Assessment (ref. 0098)
(Instant download — no card details required.)

It’s the perfect companion to this guide.

Need a Full, Professional UK Risk Assessment Template?

If you want the complete fillable PDF version — including:

• Multiple hazard rows
• Full control measures section
• Residual risk scoring
• Sign-off approvals
• Continuation sheets
• Proper formatting
• UK-compliant layout

You can download the full version here:

👉 Full Risk Assessment Template (ref. 0103)

This is the exact template used by:

• Contractors
• Site managers
• Facilities teams
• Engineering firms
• Small businesses
• Safety officers

It’s fully fillable, print-ready, and designed for real-world use.

Final Thoughts

Completing a Risk Assessment doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs a clear, structured approach and a practical template that guides you through each stage.

Use the steps in this guide, download the free preview, and you’ll be completing professional, compliant Risk Assessments with confidence.

If you need any help choosing the right templates for your work, feel free to explore our full Health & Safety collection or contact us anytime.

Stay safe — and stay compliant.