Daily Task Risk Assessment Template for Australia

A Daily Task Risk Assessment is a mandatory workplace safety document that helps you identify, evaluate, and control risks associated with your daily work activities. Under Australian law, this assessment is required before starting any work task and serves as crucial evidence of your organization's commitment to maintaining a safe working environment in compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

When do you need this document?

You must complete a Daily Task Risk Assessment before commencing any work task, regardless of how routine or familiar it may seem. This requirement applies across all industries, from construction sites and manufacturing facilities to office environments and healthcare settings. You'll also need to conduct a fresh assessment whenever there are changes in work conditions, such as new equipment introduction, different weather conditions, or modifications to work procedures. The document is particularly critical for high-risk activities, work involving contractors or subcontractors, and tasks performed in hazardous environments. Additionally, you should use this assessment when training new employees or when existing workers are assigned to unfamiliar tasks.

Key legal considerations

Your Daily Task Risk Assessment must demonstrate a systematic approach to risk management that aligns with the hierarchy of controls principle. The document should clearly identify all reasonably foreseeable hazards and evaluate their potential consequences using standardized risk matrices. You must specify appropriate control measures, prioritizing elimination and substitution over administrative controls and personal protective equipment. The assessment requires acknowledgment from all involved workers, confirming they understand the identified risks and agreed control measures. Documentation quality is crucial, as this assessment may serve as evidence in legal proceedings if workplace incidents occur. You should ensure the assessment is specific to the actual task being performed, not generic or copied from previous assessments, and includes consideration of environmental factors, equipment condition, and worker competency levels.

Legal requirements in Australia

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and associated regulations, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) have a primary duty of care to ensure workplace health and safety. This includes the legal obligation to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement appropriate control measures. Your Daily Task Risk Assessment must comply with Safe Work Australia's Code of Practice on risk management, incorporating the risk management process outlined in AS/NZS ISO 31000. The assessment should follow consultation requirements, involving health and safety representatives and workers in the risk identification and control measure selection process. State and territory variations may apply to specific industries, so you should verify local requirements with your relevant work health and safety regulator. The document must be retained as part of your organization's safety management system and made available for inspection by workplace safety regulators upon request.