Risk Assessment Examples: 15+ Templates for UK Workplaces
Practical risk assessment examples for construction, security, offices, and more. Learn how to structure your assessments with real templates and step-by-step guidance for UK compliance.
Writing your first risk assessment? Looking for examples to guide you? This guide provides practical risk assessment examples across different industries, showing you exactly how to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and document control measures that satisfy UK health and safety requirements.
What Makes a Good Risk Assessment?
Before diving into examples, let's understand what HSE inspectors look for. A 'suitable and sufficient' risk assessment should:
- Identify the significant hazards (not every trivial risk)
- Consider who might be harmed and how
- Evaluate the level of risk (likelihood and severity)
- Record the findings clearly
- Specify proportionate control measures
- Be reviewed and updated regularly
Standard Risk Assessment Format
Most risk assessments follow a similar structure. Here's the typical format you'll see in the examples below:
- Task/Activity – What work is being assessed
- Hazard – What could cause harm
- Who's at risk – Workers, public, visitors, contractors
- Risk rating – Usually Low/Medium/High or a numerical score
- Control measures – Actions to eliminate or reduce the risk
- Residual risk – Risk level after controls are applied
Construction Risk Assessment Examples
Construction is one of the highest-risk industries. These examples cover common site activities.
Example 1: Working at Height (Scaffolding)
Task: Brick laying from scaffold platform at 6 metres
Hazards identified:
- Falls from height
- Falling materials onto people below
- Scaffold collapse
- Adverse weather conditions
Who's at risk: Operatives on scaffold, workers and public below
Initial risk rating: High (potential for fatality)
Control measures:
- Scaffold erected by CISRS-qualified scaffolders
- Weekly scaffold inspections recorded
- Double guardrails, toe boards, and brick guards in place
- Exclusion zone below working area
- Work suspended in high winds (above 23 mph)
- Hard hats mandatory in working area
Residual risk: Medium (with all controls in place)
Example 2: Excavation Work
Task: Digging trial holes to locate underground services
Hazards identified:
- Striking underground electrical cables
- Striking gas mains
- Collapse of excavation sides
- Falls into excavation
- Manual handling injuries
Who's at risk: Excavation operatives, adjacent workers, public
Initial risk rating: High
Control measures:
- CAT and Genny used to locate services before digging
- Utility drawings obtained and reviewed
- Hand digging within 500mm of known services
- Shoring or battering for excavations over 1.2m deep
- Barriers and warning signs around excavation
- Safe access/egress provided
Residual risk: Low
Security Industry Risk Assessment Examples
Security work has specific hazards, particularly around violence and lone working.
Example 3: Door Supervision
Task: Door supervision at licensed premises
Hazards identified:
- Violence from intoxicated individuals
- Verbal abuse and threats
- Weapons
- Fatigue from extended shifts
- Exposure to cold weather
Who's at risk: Door supervisors, venue staff, patrons
Initial risk rating: High
Control measures:
- All staff hold valid SIA licence
- Conflict management training provided
- Minimum two staff on duty at all times
- Radio communication between all positions
- CCTV coverage of entrance area
- Police liaison and incident reporting procedures
- Search policy for weapons/drugs
- Break rotation to manage fatigue
Residual risk: Medium
Example 4: Lone Security Patrol
Task: Night patrol of industrial estate
Hazards identified:
- Confrontation with intruders
- Medical emergency while alone
- Trips and falls in poorly lit areas
- Dog attack (if K9 patrol)
- Vehicle incidents on site
Who's at risk: Patrol officer, any third parties on site
Initial risk rating: High
Control measures:
- Lone worker device with GPS and panic button
- Regular check-in calls (every 30 minutes)
- "Observe and report" policy – no physical intervention
- High-visibility clothing and torch
- Site familiarisation before first shift
- Emergency procedures and contact numbers provided
Residual risk: Medium
Office & General Workplace Examples
Even low-risk environments like offices need risk assessments.
Example 5: Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
Task: Regular computer work
Hazards identified:
- Musculoskeletal disorders from poor posture
- Eye strain and headaches
- Fatigue from prolonged screen use
- Stress from workload
Who's at risk: All DSE users
Initial risk rating: Medium
Control measures:
- DSE workstation assessment for all users
- Adjustable chairs and desks provided
- Monitor positioned at arm's length, top at eye level
- Regular breaks encouraged (5-10 mins per hour)
- Eye tests offered to DSE users
- Training on correct posture
Residual risk: Low
Example 6: Manual Handling
Task: Moving boxes of stock in warehouse
Hazards identified:
- Back injury from lifting heavy loads
- Crushing injuries if load falls
- Slips/trips while carrying
- Repetitive strain from frequent lifting
Who's at risk: Warehouse staff
Initial risk rating: Medium
Control measures:
- Mechanical aids (trolleys, pallet trucks) provided
- Manual handling training for all staff
- Maximum individual load weight 20kg
- Two-person lifts for heavier items
- Storage organised to avoid lifting above shoulder height
- Good housekeeping to prevent trip hazards
Residual risk: Low
Tips for Writing Your Own Risk Assessment
- Be specific – "Working at height" is too vague; "Installing roof tiles from scaffold at 8m" is better
- Focus on significant risks – You don't need to list every conceivable hazard, just the ones that could cause real harm
- Make controls actionable – "Take care" is useless; "Install edge protection" is actionable
- Involve workers – The people doing the job know the hazards best
- Review regularly – Update when circumstances change (new equipment, new site, incident occurs)
Key Takeaways
- A good risk assessment identifies hazards, evaluates risk, and specifies controls
- Use a consistent format (task, hazard, who's at risk, controls, residual risk)
- Be specific and practical – vague assessments don't help anyone
- Control measures should follow the hierarchy of controls (eliminate, substitute, engineer, admin, PPE)
- Review assessments regularly and after any incidents
These examples should give you a solid foundation for writing your own risk assessments. Remember, the goal isn't paperwork for its own sake – it's about genuinely identifying what could go wrong and putting measures in place to prevent it.
Related Articles
Before completing your risk assessment, make sure you understand the fundamentals. Read our guide: What is a Hazard? to learn how to identify workplace hazards effectively.
Confused about the difference between hazards and risks? Our article Hazard vs Risk: What's the Difference? explains it clearly.
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