Free Risk Assessment Form Templates
Create a Risk Assessment in 4 easy to use steps
Free Risk Assessment Templates — Ready-Made, Customisable & HSE-Compliant
Choose from over 2,500+ ready-made risk assessment templates below, or start a blank risk assessment form and build your own using our built-in hazard library. Each template follows HSE best-practice guidance with pre-filled hazards, risk ratings, and control measures — simply review, customise to your workplace, and download as a professional PDF. Suitable for all industries and activities.
Build a Custom Risk Assessment
Build your assessment your way — start from a blank template, or add your own risks and control measures from scratch.
How to choose the right risk assessment template
- Browse by industry or category
Use the search box or category filter to find a template that matches your workplace, activity, or industry.
- Open the template
Click "Create" to open the template in our free interactive 4-step Risk Assessment generator with the HSE 5x5 risk matrix.
- Customise hazards and controls
Edit risks, control measures, persons at risk, and severity ratings to match your specific workplace operation.
- Download as a professional HSE-compliant PDF
Sign, then download as a PDF ready for compliance, audit, or sharing with your team.
Frequently asked questions
Are these risk assessment templates really free to download?
Yes — completely free. Over 180 free UK risk assessment templates, free to use forever, no paywall. Customise to your workplace and download as a professional HSE-compliant PDF in minutes.
Can I download risk assessment templates in PDF or Word format?
Risk assessments download as a professional, HSE-compliant PDF — ready to print and file as-is. Word (.docx) export is not available for risk assessments, but you can fully customise every hazard, control measure, persons-at-risk entry and rating online before you download.
Are the risk assessment templates HSE-compliant?
Yes. Every template aligns with HSE guidance and the HSE 5-Step Risk Assessment process. They cover the requirements of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, COSHH 2002, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Work at Height Regulations 2005, and other relevant UK regulations.
What industries do the risk assessment templates cover?
Every UK industry — painting, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, concrete, solar panel installation, asbestos, scaffolding, working at height, manual handling, fall protection, hot works, confined space entry, lifting operations, kitchen fitting, drywall, tiling, plastering, and many more.
What's the difference between a risk assessment form and a risk assessment template?
A risk assessment form is the blank document; a risk assessment template is a pre-filled form ready to customise. Our generator gives you both — a free interactive form you fill in plus over 180 pre-written templates you can customise to your specific workplace.
Do I need to create an account to use the risk assessment templates?
You can build and preview a risk assessment without an account. To download the PDF you'll need a free account — it takes less than a minute, costs nothing, and also lets you save documents to your dashboard, edit them later, and share them for digital signatures.
Can I customise the risk assessment templates to my workplace?
Yes — fully. Edit hazards, control measures, persons at risk, likelihood and severity ratings, PPE requirements, and review schedules. Each template is a starting point you tailor to your specific operation.
How many risks can I add to a single risk assessment?
The number of risks (hazards) you can include in one assessment depends on your plan: guests get unlimited risks, Free accounts unlimited risks, Standard unlimited risks, Pro unlimited risks, and Enterprise unlimited risks per assessment. You can add and preview every risk in a template, then tick the ones to include up to your plan limit — upgrade any time for more. See our pricing page for the full plan comparison.
Are these risk assessment templates valid for UK construction work?
Yes. Our construction-specific risk assessment templates align with HSE construction guidance, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), and the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Templates cover scaffolding, working at height, concrete pouring, excavation, roofing, electrical installation, and more.
How often should I update my risk assessment?
Whenever there is reason to believe the assessment is no longer valid — after workplace changes, near-misses, accidents, new equipment, new substances, or new processes. HSE guidance recommends an annual formal review at minimum.
What is the HSE 5-step risk assessment process?
Step 1: Identify the hazards. Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how. Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions. Step 4: Record findings and implement them. Step 5: Review the assessment and update if necessary. Our interactive generator walks you through all 5 steps.
Can I use these risk assessment templates for self-employed work?
Yes. Self-employed workers are required to assess risks to themselves and anyone affected by their work. Our templates are suitable for sole traders, contractors, and small businesses.
Do you have RIDDOR-aligned risk assessment templates?
Yes. Several templates cover RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) requirements — including accident reporting and investigation risk assessments. All RA templates support incident logging and review.
Get Started — Create Your Free Risk Assessment in 4 Easy Steps
What Is a Risk Assessment?
A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards in the workplace, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm, and determining the appropriate control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level. It is a legal requirement under UK health and safety law and forms the foundation of any effective safety management system. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines a risk assessment as “simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm.” Every employer, self-employed person, and contractor with five or more employees must record their risk assessments in writing.Why Do You Need a Risk Assessment?
Risk assessments are not just good practice — they are a legal obligation. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA), employers have a general duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees and anyone affected by their work activities. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) make this more specific by requiring employers to:- Carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the risks to employees and others
- Implement preventive and protective measures based on the assessment findings
- Appoint competent persons to assist with health and safety arrangements
- Provide appropriate training and information to employees about risks and control measures
- Review and update assessments whenever there is reason to suspect they are no longer valid
The HSE 5-Step Risk Assessment Process
The HSE recommends a straightforward 5-step approach to risk assessment that our free risk assessment generator is designed to follow: Step 1: Identify the Hazards Walk around your workplace and look at what could reasonably be expected to cause harm. Consider activities, processes, substances, equipment, and working conditions. Our generator includes a library of over 100 pre-populated risk templates covering common hazards across construction, healthcare, transport, manufacturing, and general workplace environments. Step 2: Decide Who Might Be Harmed and How For each hazard, identify who could be affected — employees, contractors, visitors, members of the public, or vulnerable groups such as young workers, pregnant employees, or those with disabilities. Consider how the harm could occur and the potential severity. Step 3: Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Control Measures Assess the likelihood and severity of each risk using a risk matrix. Our generator automatically calculates risk ratings and provides suggested control measures following the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Step 4: Record Your Findings and Implement Them Document your assessment, communicate the findings to employees, and put control measures in place. Our generator produces a professional, fully formatted risk assessment document that you can save, share electronically, and collect digital signatures from workers to confirm they have read and understood the assessment. Step 5: Review and Update Regularly Risk assessments are living documents. Review them when work practices change, after an incident, when new equipment or substances are introduced, or at least annually. Our platform stores your assessments in your user dashboard so you can easily update and re-issue them.Who Needs a Risk Assessment?
Every employer in the UK must conduct risk assessments, regardless of industry or business size. Specific regulations also require risk assessments for particular activities and situations, including:- Construction — Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) require risk assessments as part of the construction phase plan
- Manual Handling — Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require assessment of manual handling tasks
- Hazardous Substances — COSHH Regulations 2002 require assessment of exposure to hazardous substances
- Display Screen Equipment — DSE Regulations 1992 require workstation assessments for habitual users
- Working at Height — Work at Height Regulations 2005 require risk assessment before any work at height
- Fire Safety — Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a fire risk assessment for all non-domestic premises
- Noise — Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require assessment of noise exposure levels
Why Use Our Free Risk Assessment Generator?
Our online risk assessment generator simplifies the entire process. Instead of starting from a blank template, you can:- Choose from over 100 pre-built risk templates with defined hazards, risks, and control measures
- Customise every detail — add your own risks, edit control measures, and tailor the assessment to your specific workplace
- Automatic risk calculation — our built-in risk matrix calculates severity, likelihood, and residual risk scores
- Add your company logo for professional, branded documents
- Collect digital signatures — share assessments with workers and collect electronic sign-offs, with up to 100 signatures per document for free users
- Export to PDF — download professional documents ready for site files, audits, or client submissions
- Save and manage — store all your assessments in your dashboard, update them anytime, and track review dates