Broken Leg Risk Assessment Template for England and Wales

A Broken Leg Risk Assessment is an essential workplace safety document that helps you identify, evaluate, and control hazards that could result in leg fractures or breaks in your workplace. Under English and Welsh law, you have a legal obligation to conduct thorough risk assessments to protect your employees from serious injuries, and leg injuries from falls, impacts, or unsafe conditions represent a significant occupational hazard across many industries.

When do you need this document?

You need to conduct a broken leg risk assessment when introducing new work activities, equipment, or processes that could increase the risk of leg injuries. This includes assessing construction sites with elevated work areas, manufacturing facilities with heavy machinery, warehouses with multi-level storage systems, or any workplace where employees work at height or handle heavy objects. You should also complete this assessment when investigating near-misses or actual incidents involving potential leg injuries, during routine safety audits, or when changes to workplace layout or procedures could affect employee safety. Regular reviews are essential, particularly in high-risk environments such as construction, manufacturing, logistics, and maintenance operations.

Key legal considerations

Your assessment must thoroughly document all potential hazards that could cause broken legs, including uneven surfaces, inadequate lighting, faulty equipment, insufficient safety barriers, and improper manual handling procedures. You need to evaluate both the likelihood of incidents occurring and the potential severity of resulting injuries, considering factors such as the height of potential falls, the weight of objects being handled, and the adequacy of existing safety measures. The assessment should identify who might be harmed, including employees, contractors, and visitors, and specify the circumstances under which injuries could occur. You must also document existing control measures and identify additional safety interventions needed to reduce risks to acceptable levels.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, you have an absolute duty to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all employees so far as is reasonably practicable. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 specifically require you to conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments, implement necessary preventive measures, and provide adequate training and information to employees. If your assessment identifies risks of serious injury, you must also comply with RIDDOR 2013 reporting requirements for any accidents resulting in fractures or breaks. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 impose additional obligations if your assessment covers elevated work areas, requiring specific control measures such as guardrails, safety nets, or personal protective equipment. You must review and update your assessment regularly, particularly following any incidents, near-misses, or significant changes to work activities, and ensure all relevant personnel receive appropriate training on identified risks and control measures.