Empty Risk Assessment Template for England and Wales

A risk assessment is a legal requirement for all employers in England and Wales, mandated by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and supporting regulations. An Empty Risk Assessment template provides you with a structured framework to identify workplace hazards, evaluate risks, and implement appropriate control measures. This document ensures you meet your legal obligations while protecting your employees and maintaining a safe working environment.

When do you need this document?

You must complete a risk assessment whenever you introduce new activities, change existing processes, or conduct regular safety reviews. This includes when hiring new employees, installing new equipment, changing work procedures, or following workplace accidents or near-misses. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require risk assessments for all work activities, with special consideration for vulnerable workers such as young people, expectant mothers, and those with disabilities. You should also review and update your assessments annually or when circumstances change significantly.

Key legal considerations

Your risk assessment must be suitable and sufficient, covering all relevant hazards and the people who might be affected. Under the regulations, you must identify control measures that follow the hierarchy of risk control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. The assessment must consider both the likelihood and severity of potential harm, documenting existing control measures and identifying additional actions required. You must ensure that your assessment covers manual handling operations, use of personal protective equipment, and workplace conditions including ventilation, lighting, and temperature. The document must be reviewed regularly and updated when new risks emerge or control measures change.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 establishes your general duty to ensure workplace safety, while the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 specify detailed requirements for risk assessments. You must record your findings if you employ five or more people, making the assessment available to employees and their representatives. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require you to assess basic working conditions, while the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 mandate assessment of PPE needs. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require specific assessments for lifting and moving activities. Your assessment must be conducted by competent persons with appropriate training and experience, and you must provide adequate information, instruction, and training to employees based on the assessment findings.