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Choose from over 2,400+ 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.
ADR Road Transport of Dangerous Goods Risk AssessmentFree ADR road transport of dangerous goods risk assessment template. Pre‑filled hazards, control measures, and compliance guidance. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Battery-powered Parcel (Lithium) Segregation and Fire Controls Risk AssessmentFree battery-powered parcel (lithium) segregation and fire controls risk assessment template. Includes hazards, controls, compliant with HSE guidance.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Battery-Powered Parcel Risk AssessmentDownload a free template for handling and segregating lithium battery parcels, with fire controls, segregation guidance and compliance notes.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Bay Docking with Trailer Restraint/Chocks Risk AssessmentFree bay docking with trailer restraint/chocks risk assessment template. Pre‑filled hazards, controls and PDF download for logistics and transport.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Brake, Steering, Mirror and Lighting Failures in Service Risk AssessmentFree brake, steering, mirror and lighting risk assessment template for vehicle service workshops. Includes hazards, controls and PDF download.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Cage Loading for Final-Mile Courier Routes Risk AssessmentFree cage loading risk assessment template for final‑mile courier routes. Includes hazards, controls, and PDF download for logistics safety.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Chemical IBC Loading Risk AssessmentDownload a free chemical IBC loading risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for fleet logistics sites.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Clinical Waste Collection and Transport Risk AssessmentDownload a free clinical waste transport risk assessment with hazards, controls and legal compliance for healthcare and waste contractors.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Cold-chain Loading/Unloading Risk AssessmentFree cold-chain loading and unloading risk assessment template. Includes hazards, controls, and temperature management for refrigerated logistics.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Company Cars for Business Travel Risk AssessmentFree risk assessment template for company cars used in business travel. Includes hazards, controls, compliance. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Container Door Opening Risk AssessmentDownload a free container door opening risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for logistics operators.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Container Fumigation Risk AssessmentFree risk assessment template for container fumigation residue and air quality hazards. Includes inhalation, fire, skin contact risks and control measures. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Container Securing and Seal Control Risk AssessmentFree container securing and seal control risk assessment template. Includes hazards, controls and compliance for logistics operators. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Container Securing Risk AssessmentDownload a free container securing risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for fleet operators.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Container Stack Movement Risk AssessmentDownload a free container stack movement risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for depot and port sites.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Container Stack Movement Risk AssessmentDownload a free container stack movement risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for depot and port sites.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Container Unloading Risk AssessmentDownload a free container unloading risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for logistics operations.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Conveyor and Sortation Line Pinch/Entanglement Risk AssessmentFree conveyor pinch and entanglement risk assessment template. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance for belt and roller conveyors in manufacturing and logistics.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Conveyor Pinch Point Risk AssessmentDownload a free conveyor pinch point risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Fully editable for logistics sites.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Counterbalance Forklift Risk AssessmentDownload a free counterbalance forklift risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for logistics sites.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Cross-docking Fast Transfer Operations Risk AssessmentFree cross-docking fast transfer operations risk assessment template. Pre-filled hazards for manual handling, forklifts, conveyors, and dock safety. HSE‑compliant, download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Cross-docking Fast Transfer Operations Risk AssessmentDownload a free cross-docking risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and legal compliance notes. Editable PDF for logistics sites.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Customer Refusal/Returns Handling at Point of Delivery Risk AssessmentFree template for point of delivery customer refusal and returns handling risk assessment. Includes hazards, controls, and PDF download.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Customs Hold Delays and Parked Vehicle Welfare Risk AssessmentDownload a free customs hold and parked vehicle risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes for fleet logistics.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Dangerous Goods in Containers Risk AssessmentDownload a free dangerous goods risk assessment template with segregation, documentation and control measures. Editable PDF for logistics teams.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Deliveries to Construction Sites with Moving Plant Risk AssessmentFree risk assessment template for construction site deliveries with moving plant. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Deliveries to Hospitals, Schools and Public Buildings Risk AssessmentFree delivery risk assessment template for hospitals, schools and public buildings. Includes hazards, controls and compliance. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Dock Leveller Operation and Failure Contingency Risk AssessmentFree dock leveller operation risk assessment template. Pre-filled hazards for crushing, pinch points, mechanical failure, and more. HSE-compliant, download PDF. Logistics and warehousing.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Driver Aggression/Conflict at Customer Sites Risk AssessmentFree driver aggression risk assessment template. Includes hazards, controls and de‑escalation for delivery and service drivers. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Driver No-Contact Escalation Process Risk AssessmentDownload a free driver no-contact escalation process risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for fleet logistics.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Drug and Alcohol Controls for Drivers Risk AssessmentFree drug and alcohol risk assessment template for drivers. Includes hazards, controls, HSE‑compliant guidance. Download now.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Explosive/pyrotechnic Load Movement Risk AssessmentFree explosive/pyrotechnic load movement risk assessment template. Includes hazards, controls and compliance for safe transport and handling.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Fatigue Management for Night/Rotating Shifts Risk AssessmentFree fatigue management risk assessment template for night and rotating shifts. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance guidance. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Fire Routes Blocked by Parked Vehicles Stock Risk AssessmentFree risk assessment template for fire routes blocked by parked vehicles or stock. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance info. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Flat-rack/Open-top Container Loading with Oversized Cargo Risk AssessmentFree flat‑rack container loading risk assessment template. Includes hazards, controls for oversized cargo, ISO compliance, and PDF download.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Flatbed Loading with Plant/Material Bundles Risk AssessmentFree flatbed loading with plant/material bundles risk assessment template. Pre‑filled hazards, control measures, and download PDF. HSE‑compliant for construction sites.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Food Warehouse Picking Risk AssessmentDownload a free food warehouse picking risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Fully editable PDF for distribution c...Category: Fleet & Logistics, Food Industry
Forklift Container Interface at Dock Plates and Ramps Risk AssessmentFree forklift risk assessment template for dock plates and ramps. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Forklift Dock Plate Risk AssessmentDownload a free forklift dock plate risk assessment template with hazards, controls and legal compliance. Editable PDF for logistics sites.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Fuel and Chemical Spill Response Risk AssessmentFree fuel and chemical spill response risk assessment template. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance for yards and workshops.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Fuel Shortage Risk AssessmentDownload a free fuel shortage risk assessment template for critical routes. Includes hazards, controls and compliance notes for fleet and logistics operations.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Gas Cylinder Transport Risk AssessmentFree gas cylinder transport risk assessment template. Pre‑filled hazards, controls and legal compliance for safe road haulage of compressed gases.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Heat/Cold Stress for Drivers In-Cab Risk AssessmentFree heat/cold stress risk assessment template for vehicle drivers. Includes hazards, controls, compliance and PDF download.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Home Deliveries to Flats/Stairs Risk AssessmentFree home deliveries risk assessment template. Includes hazards for team lifts, stairs, trolleys, and weather. HSE‑compliant, download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Home Delivery Team Lift Risk AssessmentFree home delivery team lift risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for logistics teams.Category: Fleet & Logistics
ISO Tank Container Loading/Discharge Risk AssessmentFree ISO tank loading and discharge risk assessment template. Includes fumigation residue, air quality, spill and confined space controls. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
ISO Tank Loading and Discharge Risk AssessmentDownload a free ISO tank loading risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for fleet and logistics.Category: Fleet & Logistics
IT Outage Risk AssessmentDownload a free IT outage risk assessment template for routing, POD and telematics. Includes hazards, controls and compliance notes for fleet operators.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Kerbside Unloading in Live Traffic Lanes Risk AssessmentFree kerbside unloading risk assessment template for live traffic lanes. Includes hazards, controls, and compliance guidance. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Load Securing with Straps, Chains, Edge Protection Risk AssessmentFree load securing risk assessment template for straps, chains and edge protection. Includes hazards, controls, compliance and PDF download.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Load shift in transit and re-securing at stop points Risk AssessmentFree load shift in transit risk assessment template. Pre-filled hazards, control measures, and safety checks for logistics. Download PDF.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Loading at Customer Sites Risk AssessmentFree loading at customer sites risk assessment template. Includes hazards, controls and compliance for temporary loading areas.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Loading Mixed Consignments Risk AssessmentDownload a loading mixed consignments risk assessment template with pre‑filled hazards, control measures and compliance notes. Editable PDF for logistics teams.Category: Fleet & Logistics
Lone Courier Delivery Risk AssessmentDownload a free lone courier delivery risk assessment template with hazards, controls and compliance notes. Editable PDF for logistics and courier companies.Category: Fleet & Logistics
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.
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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 181 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 181 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.
Calculating Risk Assessments
Establish the Severity (S), Likelihood (L) and Risk Factor (RF) by reference to the Matrix below: RF = S x L
REMEMBER: The risk rating must be calculated both before and after ERCPD and its resulting controls have been applied. This risk rating helps to identify and prioritise areas that require more to be done to reduce the risk.
Low risk factor (1-5) normal safe working methods should suffice. Fine tune controls to further reduce the risk, if possible.
Medium risk factor (6-12) further improvement to control measures need to be considered to reduce the risk.
High risk factor (15-25) improve controls now, consider stopping the activity. Seek advice as appropriate.
