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Public Access Footpaths and Open Farm Visitors 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 public access footpaths and open farm visitors risk assessment template is designed for farmers, landowners and agricultural contractors who need a quick, compliant way to manage the safety of members of the public using farm footpaths and visitor routes. Whether you’re guiding school groups on a heritage farm, allowing walkers on a countryside footpath, or hosting open‑day visitors for agritourism, this farm visitor risk assessment example provides pre‑filled hazards and control measures you can customise.

The template covers all key risks for public access on farms, including interaction with livestock, vehicle traffic, uneven ground, zoonotic disease, chemical storage, water hazards, and weather impacts. It also addresses signage, noise, sun exposure and lone‑visitor emergencies. Compliance is demonstrated against the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Section 2 – general duties to ensure safety of others) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Section 2 – requirement to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments).

Use this template for:

  • Footpath safety planning – identify and control hazards before opening a public route.
  • Visitor briefings – provide clear instructions and protective measures to guests.
  • Compliance documentation – demonstrate adherence to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and related farming regulations.

Each hazard includes suggested control measures covering safe livestock handling, vehicle segregation, ground maintenance, personal protective equipment, hygiene, and emergency procedures. 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 conditions, then download as a PDF for records or share with your team.

Compliant with: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (see Section 2 – general duties of employers to ensure safety of others) – legislation.gov.uk; Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Section 2 – risk assessment duties) – legislation.gov.uk.

Sample PDF Document Image:

Risks covered in this Public Access Footpaths and Open Farm Visitors risk assessment

This Public Access Footpaths and Open Farm Visitors risk assessment template covers 15 assessed hazards, each scored before and after control measures on a 5×5 HSE risk matrix.

HazardInitial riskControlled risk
Farm vehicle traffic intersecting footpaths2010
Interaction with livestock on public footpaths168
Slips, trips and falls on uneven, muddy or manure‑covered ground156
Contact with operating farm machinery near footpaths155
Water hazards – ponds, irrigation channels and drainage ditches155
Contact with electric fences or live wires near footpaths155
Exposure to zoonotic disease from animal waste128
Lone visitor emergencies in remote footpath sections124
Inadequate signage leading to accidental entry into hazardous zones126
Encounter with farm working dogs or guard dogs124
Falling objects from overhead storage or feed bins105
Adverse weather – high winds affecting signage and structures93
Chemical exposure from fertilizers or pesticides stored near footpaths84
Sun exposure and heat stress for visitors during warm weather62
Noise exposure from farm machinery for nearby visitors42

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.