Risk Assessment Form Template

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Messy Play Risk Assessment

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Risk Assessments

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Risk Assessment Matrix

Risk Assessment Matrix

Likelihood

  • 5 = Certain
  • 4 = Likely
  • 3 = Possible
  • 2 = Unlikely
  • 1 = Remote

Severity

  • 5 = Fatality
  • 4 = Major Injury
  • 3 = Lost Time Injury
  • 2 = Minor injury
  • 1 = Trivial Injury

Risk Rating [L x S]

1-5 = Low
6-12 = Medium
13-25 = High

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Risk Assessment Description:

This messy play risk assessment template is designed for early years practitioners, nursery nurses and room leaders who run sensory play sessions involving paint, water, sand and gloop. Whether you’re planning a weekly creative art hour, a water‑based sensory tray, a sand‑pit exploration or a gloop‑making activity, this messy play risk assessment example provides pre‑filled hazards and control measures you can customise.

The template covers key risks such as slips on wet floors, ingestion or eye contact with paint, allergic skin reactions, inhalation of dust or fumes, choking on gloop, manual handling of containers, infection control, and equipment safety. It supports searches for messy play hazards and control measures, early years paint and water safety and messy play risk assessment download.

Use this template for:

  • Sensory play planning – quickly identify hazards before sessions start.
  • Staff briefings – provide clear, actionable controls to all practitioners.
  • Compliance documentation – demonstrate adherence to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework (2024) health and safety provisions (see EYFS paragraph 3.24) and relevant HSE guidance.

Each hazard includes suggested control measures covering safe storage, PPE, supervision, cleaning, ventilation and hygiene. The risk matrix uses a standard 5×5 likelihood‑severity scoring, with controlled severity always matching the initial severity as required by HSE guidance.

Fully editable and shareable – customise hazards, add site‑specific risks, adjust control measures to match your setting, then download as a PDF for records or share with your team.

Compliant with: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework 2024 – health and safety provision (see EYFS paragraph 3.24 and related sections) and relevant HSE COSHH guidance. EYFS Statutory Framework 2024, paragraph 3.24 This ensures activities meet statutory duties for child safety and wellbeing.

Sample PDF Document Image:

Risks covered in this Messy Play (Paint, Water, Sand and Gloop) risk assessment

This Messy Play (Paint, Water, Sand and Gloop) risk assessment template covers 15 assessed hazards, each scored before and after control measures on a 5×5 HSE risk matrix.

HazardInitial riskControlled risk
Slip on wet floor from water or paint trays126
Paint ingestion128
Paint eye contact128
Inhalation of paint fumes128
Electric equipment safety (paint mixers, water pumps)128
Slip on wet sand or gloop96
Allergic skin reaction to paint or sand96
Inhalation of sand dust96
Manual handling of paint containers96
Trip hazards from equipment left in walkways96
Gloop choking hazard84
Heat stress from hot water in sensory trays84
Clothing contamination and skin irritation64
Infection spread via shared materials63
Latex allergy from gloves63

Frequently asked questions

Are these risk assessment templates really free to download?

Yes — completely free. Over 1800 free UK risk assessment templates, free to use forever, no signup required for guests, 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?

Over 1800 templates across 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, plumbing, 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 1800 pre-written templates you can customise to your specific workplace.

Do I need to create an account to use the risk assessment templates?

No — guests can generate and download risk assessments for free without signing up. Register a free account if you want to save documents to your dashboard, edit them later, or 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.