Risk assessment

Download risk assessment blank template for completion (MSWord 16KB)

Risk Assessment Form – Guidance Notes

Your risk assessment should detail the following:

• Name
• Activity 
• Hazard 
  Here is where you enter the type of hazard which might be encountered whilst carrying out the task. Don’t forget long-term hazards, for example, manual handling.
• Actual risk
  How people at risk may be harmed. This is where you list the actual harm which could result whilst carrying out the task. For example, injury or back pain from handling / lifting awkward items or weights.
• People at risk
  Identify people who might be harmed. This could be staff, members of the public, contractors. Any member of staff (temporary or permanent) who undertakes manual handling.
• Pre-control risk rating
  This means the likelihood of harm and the potential severity of the harm occurring if no control measures are in place.
• Control measures
  Once the risks have been assessed, precautions are required to be put in place in order to avoid ‘People at Risk’ being harmed This is where you would list such precautions.
  Staff to attend mandatory Manual Handling training.
  Use ‘safe lifting’ manual handling techniques at all times.
  Prepare areas to be cleaned to ensure lifting / moving of equipment kept to a minimum.
• Residual risk rating
  Now that risks have been identified & control measures or precautions put in place, the risk rating (column 4) is now significantly reduced.
  This is where you would list the ‘Residual Risk’ which still remains. Remember it is impossible to cover every eventuality.
• Name of assessor
• Date and review date
  Date assessment carried out and and date review assessment is required