Workplace Risk Assessment checklist

This Risk Assessment template has 2 stages: 

• first, it identifies things you have already done to minimise the risks posed by the hazards posed by people being present in the workplace

• second, it sets out things that you have indicated you have not yet done to minimise risks. These are additional steps that you may take to ensure the safety of your workforce

After making your Risk Assessment document online, you should go through the second part of the Risk Assessment and tick the boxes for any additional risk management steps that are appropriate for your business. 

You can then assign a person to implement each ticked step and specify the actions that this person should take. Each assignee should then carry out their assigned actions and, once a step has been implemented, should record its completion date.

Read the document to make sure it meets your needs and that you’ve provided all of the necessary information about how you manage your workplace’s risks. Remember that, if you have any questions, you can Ask a lawyer for advice.

Just undertaking a Workplace Risk Assessment doesn’t mean you’ve complied with your legal obligation to ensure the health and safety of your staff. Make and carry out a plan for the implementation of the measures you will use to control risks identified in your Risk Assessment. 

If your business is located in a part of a larger building, you should share your Risk Assessment findings with your neighbours.

Your WorkplaceRisk Assessment should be printed and signed by the assessor by hand once the second section (ie further risk management actions) has been completed. 

Make the Workplace Risk Assessment available to employees. You could, for example, include it in induction packs, send it out by email, put it on notice boards, hand it out in hard copy, or put it on an intranet site.

Note that the Workplace Risk Assessment is not a contract and it does not need to be signed or agreed to by staff members. You can ask staff members to sign an acknowledgement to show that they have received a copy of the Risk Assessment, but this isn’t legally required.

A copy of your Workplace Risk Assessment will be stored automatically in your Rocket Lawyer account ‘Dashboard’. You should also download and securely store a copy of your Risk Assessment for your records.

Whenever the Risk Assessment is amended, keep a copy of each version that has been made.

Identifying and dealing with risks is an ongoing process, so remember to keep your Workplace Risk Assessment up to date and reflective of the current situation with your workplace and workforce, for example, future renovations. You may create a new Risk Assessment each time your workplace undergoes changes.