5x5 Risk Assessment Template for England and Wales

A 5x5 Risk Assessment is your essential workplace safety tool for systematically evaluating hazards and determining appropriate control measures. This structured approach helps you identify potential risks, assess their likelihood and severity, and implement effective safety measures to protect workers and comply with English and Welsh health and safety legislation.

When do you need this document?

You must conduct risk assessments whenever you introduce new activities, equipment, or processes to your workplace. This includes when starting new projects, implementing new machinery, changing work procedures, or following workplace incidents. If you employ five or more people, you're legally required to record your significant findings. The assessment is also necessary when workplace conditions change, new hazards are identified, or when reviewing existing safety measures. Regular reviews ensure your risk controls remain effective and up-to-date with current operations.

Key legal considerations

Your 5x5 Risk Assessment must be suitable and sufficient, covering all foreseeable risks to employees and others who might be affected by your work activities. The assessment should identify specific hazards, evaluate who might be harmed and how, and determine whether existing control measures are adequate. You must consider vulnerable groups including pregnant workers, young employees, and those with disabilities. The 5x5 matrix helps you systematically rate risks by multiplying likelihood scores (1-5) with severity scores (1-5) to produce risk ratings from 1-25. Document your findings clearly, including the control measures implemented and any residual risks. Remember that risk assessments are living documents that require regular review and updates when circumstances change.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, you have a general duty to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of your employees and others affected by your work activities. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 specifically require you to make suitable and sufficient assessments of workplace risks. These regulations mandate that you must review your assessments when there are significant changes or if you suspect they're no longer valid. For fire safety, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires specific fire risk assessments for all non-domestic premises. If you handle hazardous substances, COSHH Regulations 2002 require additional specialized risk assessments. Your completed assessment must be communicated to relevant employees, and if you employ five or more people, significant findings must be recorded in writing. The assessment should inform your health and safety policy and training programs.