Risk Assessment Form Template

Instantly Create Your Risk Assessement, Just enter your details

Working Over and Near Water at Waterside Events Risk Assessment

Free Risk Assessment template · Category: Concerts Festivals and EventsView all Risk Assessment templates

Use our risk assessment creator tool to create customised workplace safety documents. Learn more about Working Over and Near Water at Waterside Events Risk Assessment Template below

Risk Assessment Creator

Guest

Loading Risk Assessment Creator

Please wait while we prepare your workspace

Risk Assessments

How to add risks: Use Add from Library for pre-written templates, or Add Custom to write your own.

Choose what goes in the document: Every risk is included by default — untick the box on any you don't want in the document.

Edit a risk: Click anywhere on the row to expand it and edit the details — ticked or unticked, both can be edited.

Step 1 must be completed before you can manage and edit the risks. Fill in the assessment details on Step 1 and click Next Step to unlock.

No risks added yet. Add risks from the library or create custom risks.

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

Logo, Branding & Sign-off

Company brandingStandard+

Upgrade to add your company logo and brand colours, and customise how your documents look.Available on our Standard and Pro plans.

Add my branding →

Reviewed By

Sign to confirm you have reviewed this risk assessment

Approved By

Click to sign on behalf or leave blank for external approval

Review & Export

Your risk assessment is ready. Register free to download your PDF — it opens in a new tab and signs you in here automatically, so don't refresh or leave this page.

Export

Preview risk assessment

See exactly how it looks before downloading.

Download PDF .PDF

A secured, print-ready PDF of your risk assessment.

Save & share

Save to account Not saved

Manage risk assessment

Save first, then manage, edit and re-export it here.

Manage, edit and re-export your saved risk assessment.

Create a RAMS pack

Save first, then merge saved documents into one pack.

Merge saved documents into one cover + contents pack.

Share & collect sign-offs

Create a free account to share and collect sign-offs.

Save first, then send a secure link for your team to sign.

Send a secure link — your team reads & signs to confirm.

Create free account Share

How sharing & packs work

Collecting sign-offs

All plans

Turn a saved risk assessment into proof of a briefed workforce — send a secure link and your team signs to confirm they've read and understood it.

Secure share links
Collect e-signatures
No account to sign
Compliance audit trail
QR signage posters
PDF proof report

Shared pages carry Health & Safety Zone branding — upgrade to Standard/Pro to use your own logo & colours.

RAMS packs (Site Packs)

All plans

Bundle multiple saved documents into a single deliverable pack — a cover page + table of contents + all member document PDFs merged into one professional export.

Cover page + table of contents
All member PDFs merged into one
Share via one secure link
Recipients sign once for the whole pack

Share the pack with a customer or workforce — recipients review each document and sign once to acknowledge receipt of the entire pack.

Create a RAMS pack

Important: The documents produced by this tool are templates only. They must be reviewed and approved by a competent person or your HSEQ representative prior to publication or circulation, in accordance with our Terms & Conditions.

Risk	Initial Risk	Controlled Risk	Action
Loading templates...

Still Using Paper Sign-Off Sheets?

Once you've generated and saved your document, create a secure share link to distribute across any platform. Collect encrypted digital signatures from your team and generate professional sign-off reports.

Generate

Save

Sign

Report

Try It Free

Increased Limits Available

Risk Assessment Description:

This risk assessment is specifically designed for crew members working on stages, rigging, lighting, sound, and other production activities at waterside concerts and festivals where work is performed over or adjacent to bodies of water such as rivers, lakes or coastal docks. It addresses the unique hazards of working above water, including the risk of falls into water, drowning, cold‑water immersion, electrical hazards, and rescue provision. The document outlines practical, task‑specific control measures that comply with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Water Safety Guidance and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) water‑safety best practice. It also references relevant health and safety legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). This document is fully editable and shareable and can be customised for each event.

The assessment is intended for event production crews, riggers, electricians, stage managers and any personnel who may be positioned on platforms, walkways, temporary bridges or boats that overhang water. It should be used during pre‑event planning, daily briefings and as a checklist for site inspections. By implementing the controls listed, organisers can demonstrate compliance with MCA Regulation 8 (safe working practices near water) and RNLI guidance on personal rescue equipment, thereby reducing the likelihood of water‑related incidents and ensuring a safe environment for both crew and audience.

Key control themes include:

Engineering barriers and guardrails to prevent accidental falls
Provision of appropriate personal flotation devices (PFDs) and rescue equipment
Electrical safety measures for equipment near water
Training and competency verification for water rescue
Emergency response planning and clear access routes for rescue services

Use this template for:

Stage rigging and platform work over water at concerts and festivals
Lighting and sound equipment installation adjacent to water bodies
Construction of temporary walkways, bridges, and access platforms over water

Compliant with: Work at Height Regulations 2005, MCA Regulation 8 (Safe working practices near water), RNLI water‑safety guidance, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Sample PDF Document Image:

Risks covered in this Working Over and Near Water at Waterside Events risk assessment

This Working Over and Near Water at Waterside Events risk assessment template covers 15 assessed hazards, each scored before and after control measures on a 5×5 HSE risk matrix.

Hazard	Initial risk	Controlled risk
Fall into water from elevated work platforms or staging	15	10
Drowning or cold‑water shock after fall	15	10
Electrical shock from equipment near water	15	10
Overhead loads (lighting rigs, speakers) falling into water	15	10
Inadequate rescue equipment or delayed rescue	12	8
Insufficient training in water rescue techniques	12	8
Fuel spill contaminating water and creating slip/health hazards	12	8
Slips on wet surfaces leading to fall into water	9	6
Portable generators near water causing electrocution	8	4
High winds causing loss of balance over water	8	4
Cold‑water immersion leading to hypothermia	8	4
Unstable boat or floating platform used for crew access	8	4
Hazardous substances in water causing skin injury or chemical burns	6	3
Reduced visibility at night over water leading to mis‑steps	6	3
Crew fatigue leading to loss of concentration near water	6	3

Frequently asked questions

Are these risk assessment templates really free to download?

Yes - completely free. Over 2500 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?

Over 2500 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 2500 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.

Risk Assessment Form Template