Example risk assessments

These examples show how other small and medium-sized businesses have approached risk assessment. If you can't find an example for your industry, pick the one closest to it and adapt it for your own workplace. Use it as a guide to think about:

• some of the hazards in your business
• the steps you need to take to control the risks.

Don't just copy it and put your company name to it. This would not satisfy the law - and would not protect people. Every business is different - you need to think about the hazards and controls that your business needs.

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Example risk assessments

The examples show the kind of approach HSE expects a small business or workplace to take. They are not generic risk assessments that you can just put your company name on and adopt wholesale without any thought. Doing that would not satisfy the law and it would not protect people effectively.

Even where the hazards are the same, the control measures you adopt may have to be different from those in the examples to meet the particular conditions in your workplace.

Remember

A risk assessment will only be effective if you and your staff act on it. It is important that you follow through with any actions required and review it on a regular basis.

Every business is different – you need to think through the hazards and controls required in your business for yourself.

We also have an example health and safety policy. This illustrates what you need to think about and include if you choose to complete the policy section of the template.

Information and guidance on how to comply with fire safety law and conduct a fire risk assessment can be found at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/firesafety