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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.
Risk Assessment
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.
Isocyanates and Two-Pack Systems Risk AssessmentFree isocyanates risk assessment template for manufacturing. Includes hazards, controls, COSHH and PUWER compliance. Download editable PDF.Category: Manufacturing
Labelling Machines Risk AssessmentDownload a free labelling machines risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Laser Marking and Engraving Risk AssessmentDownload a free laser marking and engraving risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturers.Category: Manufacturing
Lead and Heavy-Metal Exposure Risk AssessmentDownload a free lead exposure risk assessment template for factories. Includes hazards, controls, COSHH and PUWER compliance.Category: Manufacturing
Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturing Risk AssessmentDownload a free lithium ion battery manufacturing risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for factories.Category: Manufacturing
Loading Bay and Vehicle Loading and Unloading Risk AssessmentDownload a free loading bay risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Local Exhaust Ventilation Risk AssessmentDownload a free LEV risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Lone Working Risk AssessmentDownload a free lone working risk assessment template for factories. Includes pre‑filled hazards, control measures and compliance notes. Editable PDF.Category: Manufacturing
Machine Decommissioning Risk AssessmentDownload a free machine decommissioning risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Machine Installation and Commissioning Risk AssessmentDownload a free machine installation and commissioning risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for factories. Editabl...Category: Manufacturing
Machine Operator Risk AssessmentDownload a free machine operator risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing. Editable PDF for factories.Category: Manufacturing
Machine Setting and Adjustment Risk AssessmentDownload a free machine setting risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing environments.Category: Manufacturing
Machinery Cleaning Risk AssessmentFree machinery cleaning risk assessment template with isolation procedures, chemical safety and PUWER compliance for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Maintenance Engineer and Fitter Risk AssessmentDownload a free maintenance engineer risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Manual Centre Lathe Operation Risk AssessmentFree manual centre lathe operation risk assessment template for manufacturing. Includes hazards, controls and PUWER & COSHH compliance.Category: Manufacturing
Manufacturing Health Surveillance Risk AssessmentDownload a free health surveillance risk assessment template for manufacturing exposures. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance notes.Category: Manufacturing
Metal Additive Manufacturing Risk AssessmentDownload a free metal additive manufacturing risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for factories.Category: Manufacturing
Metal Cutting Saws Risk AssessmentDownload a free metal cutting saw risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, control measures and compliance notes for manufacturing. Editable PDF.Category: Manufacturing
Metal Fabrication Workshop Risk AssessmentDownload a free metal fabrication workshop risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Metalworking Fluids Mist and Dermatitis Risk AssessmentDownload a free metalworking fluids risk assessment template with mist, dermatitis, ergonomic and chemical controls. Editable PDF for factories.Category: Manufacturing
Mixing and Blending Vessels Risk AssessmentDownload a free mixing and blending vessels risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturers.Category: Manufacturing
Mobile Plant Risk AssessmentDownload a mobile plant risk assessment template for forklift, pallet truck and stacker use. Includes hazards, controls and compliance notes.Category: Manufacturing
Molten Material Handling Risk AssessmentDownload a free molten material handling risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing. Fully editable PDF.Category: Manufacturing
New and Expectant Mothers in Manufacturing Risk AssessmentDownload a free risk assessment template for new and expectant mothers in manufacturing. Includes hazards, controls, PUWER & COSHH compliance.Category: Manufacturing
Nitrogen Inerting and Oxygen-Deficient Atmospheres Risk AssessmentDownload a free nitrogen inerting and oxygen‑deficient atmospheres risk assessment template with hazards, controls and legal compliance for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Occupational Dermatitis from Wet Work and Chemicals Risk AssessmentFree template for occupational dermatitis from wet work and chemicals. Includes hazards, controls, COSHH and PUWER compliance.Category: Manufacturing
Order Picking and Stores Operations Risk AssessmentDownload a free order picking risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing sites. Editable PDF ready for...Category: Manufacturing
Overhead Cranes, Gantries and Hoists Risk AssessmentDownload a free overhead crane risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Packing-Line and Packaging Workers Risk AssessmentRisk assessment for packing‑line and packaging operatives in manufacturing covering manual handling, machine guarding, COSHH substances and ergonomics.Category: Manufacturing
Pad Printing Risk AssessmentDownload a free pad printing risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Paint, Coatings and Ink Manufacturing Risk AssessmentDownload a free paint, coatings and ink manufacturing risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for factories.Category: Manufacturing
Pallet Racking Use, Loading and Inspection Risk AssessmentDownload a free pallet racking risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Palletising and Depalletising Risk AssessmentDownload a free palletising and depalletising risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, control measures and compliance notes for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Panel Saw and Dimension Saw Risk AssessmentDownload a free panel saw risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing. Editable PDF for operators.Category: Manufacturing
Paper and Board Manufacturing Risk AssessmentDownload a free paper and board manufacturing risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, control measures and compliance notes. Fully editable PDF.Category: Manufacturing
Permit to Work System Risk AssessmentDownload a free permit to work risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing. Editable PDF.Category: Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Risk AssessmentDownload a free pharmaceutical manufacturing risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Fully editable PDF for factories.Category: Manufacturing
Phosphating and Chemical Conversion Coating Risk AssessmentDownload a free phosphating and chemical conversion coating risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF.Category: Manufacturing
Pillar and Bench Drilling Machine Risk AssessmentDownload a free risk assessment for pillar and bench drilling machines. Includes hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Planer and Thicknesser Risk AssessmentDownload a free planer and thicknesser risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Planned Preventive Maintenance Risk AssessmentDownload a free planned preventive maintenance risk assessment template for factories. Includes hazards, controls and UK legal compliance.Category: Manufacturing
Plastic Extrusion Risk AssessmentFree plastic extrusion risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing. Editable PDF for factories.Category: Manufacturing
Plastics Manufacturing Risk AssessmentDownload a free plastics manufacturing risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for factory sites.Category: Manufacturing
Pneumatic Conveying of Powders Risk AssessmentDownload a free pneumatic conveying risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Pneumatic Systems Risk AssessmentDownload a free pneumatic systems risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and legal compliance for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Polishing, Buffing and Linishing Risk AssessmentDownload a free polishing, buffing and linishing risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Powder Coating Line Risk AssessmentDownload a free powder coating line risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Powder Drying, Milling and Sieving Risk AssessmentDownload a free powder drying, milling and sieving risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Power Press Operation Risk AssessmentDownload a free power press risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing. Editable PDF for factories.Category: Manufacturing
PPE for Manufacturing Operatives Risk AssessmentDownload a free PPE risk assessment template for manufacturing operatives. Includes hazards, controls and compliance with PUWER, COSHH and PPE regulations.Category: Manufacturing
Press Brake Risk AssessmentDownload a free press brake risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Print Finishing Risk AssessmentDownload a free print finishing risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for cutting, binding, laminating. Editable PDF for site...Category: Manufacturing
Printing and Packaging Manufacturing Risk AssessmentDownload a free printing and packaging manufacturing risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for factor...Category: Manufacturing
Printing Presses Risk AssessmentDownload a free printing press risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Process and Plant Operators Risk AssessmentDownload a free process and plant operators risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing s...Category: Manufacturing
Process Pipework & Valve Operations Risk AssessmentDownload a free risk assessment for process pipework and valve operations with hazards, controls and compliance notes.Category: Manufacturing
Process Sampling and Testing Risk AssessmentDownload a free process sampling and testing risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Product Changeover and CIP Risk AssessmentDownload a free product changeover and cleaning‑in‑place risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes.Category: Manufacturing
Production Assembly Line Risk AssessmentDownload a free production assembly line risk assessment template with hazards, controls, and legal compliance.Category: Manufacturing
Production Line Operatives Risk AssessmentDownload a free production line operatives risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturers.Category: Manufacturing
Punching, Stamping and Notching Risk AssessmentFree manufacturing risk assessment for punching, stamping and notching. Includes hazards, controls and compliance with PUWER and COSHH.Category: Manufacturing
Quality Control and In-Line Inspection Risk AssessmentDownload a free QC and in-line inspection risk assessment template with hazards, controls and legal compliance for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Quality Control Inspector and Lab Technician Risk AssessmentDownload a free risk assessment template for quality control inspectors and lab technicians in manufacturing. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance notes.Category: Manufacturing
Raw Material Charging and Feeding Risk AssessmentDownload a free raw material charging and feeding risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Reactive Maintenance and Breakdown Repair Risk AssessmentDownload a free reactive maintenance and breakdown repair risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Reactor Vessels Risk AssessmentDownload a free reactor vessels risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Recycling and Materials Recovery Facility Risk AssessmentDownload a recycling facility risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Control Risk AssessmentFree RCS risk assessment for foundries, ceramics and glass factories. Includes hazards, controls, COSHH and PUWER compliance.Category: Manufacturing
Riveting and Mechanical Fastening Risk AssessmentDownload a free rivet and mechanical fastening risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturin...Category: Manufacturing
Roll Forming and Profiling Risk AssessmentDownload a free roll forming risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturers.Category: Manufacturing
Rubber Manufacturing Risk AssessmentDownload a free rubber manufacturing risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for factories.Category: Manufacturing
Rubber Mixing and Calendering Risk AssessmentDownload a free rubber mixing and calendering risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufacturing sites.Category: Manufacturing
Screening and Classification Risk AssessmentDownload a free screening and classification risk assessment template for manufacturing. Includes hazards, controls, PUWER, COSHH and DSEAR compliance.Category: Manufacturing
Scrubbers and Effluent Treatment Risk AssessmentDownload a free scrubbers and effluent treatment risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Seam and Projection Welding Risk AssessmentDownload a free seam and projection welding risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing settings.Category: Manufacturing
Sheet Metal Folding & Rolling Risk AssessmentDownload a sheet metal folding and rolling risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Shift Work Fatigue Risk AssessmentDownload a free shift work fatigue risk assessment template for manufacturing. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance with Working Time Regulations, PUWE...Category: Manufacturing
Shipbuilding and Marine Fabrication Risk AssessmentDownload a free shipbuilding and marine fabrication risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes for manufacturing. Editable PDF for...Category: Manufacturing
Shrink Wrap and Stretch Wrapping Risk AssessmentDownload a free shrink wrap and stretch wrapping risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, control measures and compliance notes. Editable PDF for fa...Category: Manufacturing
Sintering and Powder Metallurgy Risk AssessmentDownload a free sintering and powder metallurgy risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls, and compliance notes for manufacturing.Category: Manufacturing
Soap, Detergent and Cleaning Product Risk AssessmentFree template with hazards, controls and compliance for soap and detergent manufacturing. Download PDF.Category: Manufacturing
Spindle Moulder and Tenoner Risk AssessmentDownload a free spindle moulder and tenoner risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and UK compliance notes for factory operators.Category: Manufacturing
Spray Painting and Finishing Booth Risk AssessmentDownload a free spray painting and finishing booth risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for manufact...Category: Manufacturing
Spray Painting Risk AssessmentDownload a free spray painting risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, control measures and compliance notes for manufacturing. Editable PDF.Category: Manufacturing
Use the search box or category filter to find a template that matches your workplace, activity, or industry.
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Open the template
Click "Create" to open the template in our free interactive 4-step Risk Assessment generator with the HSE 5x5 risk matrix.
3
Customise hazards and controls
Edit risks, control measures, persons at risk, and severity ratings to match your specific workplace operation.
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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 229 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 229 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
Failure to conduct adequate risk assessments can lead to enforcement action by the HSE, including improvement notices, prohibition notices, and prosecution. Under the Sentencing Guidelines for Health and Safety Offences, fines for serious breaches can reach millions of pounds, with custodial sentences possible for the most serious failures.
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:
Self-employed workers, landlords, and anyone managing non-domestic premises also have legal duties to assess risks. Our free risk assessment templates cover all these scenarios and more.
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
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
Whether you are a sole trader completing your first risk assessment or a safety manager creating RAMS for a construction project, our generator saves time while ensuring your assessments meet HSE best-practice guidance and UK regulatory requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Risk Assessments
What must a risk assessment include?
A suitable and sufficient risk assessment must identify the hazards present in the workplace, determine who might be harmed and how, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, record the existing control measures in place, and identify any additional actions needed to reduce risk. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings of their assessment in writing. Our risk assessment generator guides you through each of these elements step by step.
How often should a risk assessment be reviewed?
There is no fixed legal timeframe for reviewing risk assessments, but the HSE recommends reviewing them whenever there is a significant change — such as new equipment, substances, processes, or staff — or after an accident, incident, or near miss. As good practice, most organisations review risk assessments at least annually. Our generator includes a review date feature so you can set reminders and track when assessments are due for review.
Do I need a risk assessment if I am self-employed?
Yes. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, self-employed workers must conduct risk assessments if their work activities could pose a risk to others, including clients, members of the public, or workers on shared sites. If you employ anyone else, you must assess risks to your employees. Many clients and principal contractors also require self-employed workers to provide written risk assessments before starting work on site.
What is the difference between a risk assessment and a method statement?
A risk assessment identifies hazards, evaluates risks, and determines control measures. A method statement describes the safe system of work — the step-by-step sequence of how a task should be carried out safely, incorporating the control measures identified in the risk assessment. Together they form a RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement), which is commonly required on construction sites and for high-risk activities. Health & Safety Zone offers both risk assessment and method statement generators.
What is a risk matrix and how does it work?
A risk matrix (also called a risk assessment matrix) is a tool used to evaluate the level of risk by combining the likelihood of a hazard causing harm with the potential severity of that harm. Each factor is scored on a scale (typically 1–5), and the scores are multiplied to give an overall risk rating. Our risk assessment generator uses a built-in risk matrix that automatically calculates risk scores for each hazard, colour-codes them (green, amber, red), and recalculates the residual risk after control measures are applied.
Is this risk assessment generator really free?
Yes. Our risk assessment generator is completely free to use. You can create a free account, generate risk assessments using our pre-populated templates or your own custom risks, add your company logo, collect up to 100 digital signatures per document, and export to PDF — all at no cost. There are no hidden charges, no trial periods, and no credit card required. We also offer free toolbox talk templates, company policy templates, method statement templates, and COSHH assessment templates.
Can I use these risk assessments for a construction site?
Absolutely. Our template library includes comprehensive construction risk assessments covering working at height, excavation, scaffolding, demolition, electrical safety, confined spaces, asbestos, manual handling, plant and machinery, and many more. These templates are designed to meet the requirements of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) and can be customised to your specific site, activity, and project. You can also create RAMS by pairing a risk assessment with one of our method statement templates.
