Covid Risk Assessment Template for England and Wales

A Covid Risk Assessment is a crucial workplace safety document that helps you identify, evaluate and manage COVID-19 transmission risks in your business premises. Under England and Wales law, employers have a legal duty to conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments to protect the health and safety of employees, visitors and contractors from coronavirus hazards.

When do you need this document?

You need a Covid Risk Assessment when reopening your workplace after lockdown restrictions, implementing new safety protocols, or whenever government guidance changes. It's essential for businesses with five or more employees, though smaller employers should also conduct assessments as good practice. The document becomes particularly important when managing return-to-office policies, hosting clients or contractors on-site, or operating in high-risk environments such as healthcare, retail or hospitality. You must also review and update your assessment whenever workplace conditions change or new COVID-19 variants emerge that may affect transmission risks.

Key legal considerations

Your Covid Risk Assessment must identify specific transmission pathways including airborne droplets, surface contamination and close contact scenarios. The document should evaluate risks for vulnerable groups such as pregnant employees, those with underlying health conditions, and workers over 60. You must implement reasonable control measures including ventilation improvements, social distancing protocols, enhanced cleaning regimes and personal protective equipment where appropriate. The assessment should also address visitor management, emergency procedures and communication strategies to ensure all stakeholders understand safety requirements. Failure to conduct adequate risk assessments can result in HSE enforcement action, improvement notices or prosecution under health and safety legislation.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers must ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees so far as is reasonably practicable. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require you to make suitable and sufficient assessments of workplace risks and implement appropriate control measures. COSHH regulations apply to COVID-19 as a biological agent, requiring specific controls for exposure prevention. Your assessment must comply with current government guidance on working safely during coronavirus, including ventilation standards under the Workplace Regulations 1992. The HSE expects employers to consult with employees or their representatives when conducting risk assessments and to provide clear information about control measures. You must keep written records of your assessment findings and review them regularly, particularly when circumstances change or government guidance is updated.