Process Risk Assessment Template for England and Wales

A Process Risk Assessment is your systematic approach to identifying and managing workplace hazards associated with specific operational processes. Under England and Wales law, you're legally required to conduct thorough risk assessments for all workplace activities that could affect employee safety and health. This document serves as your formal record of hazard identification, risk evaluation, and control measure implementation.

When do you need this document?

You need a Process Risk Assessment whenever you introduce new workplace processes, modify existing procedures, or identify changes in risk factors. This includes situations like implementing new manufacturing processes, introducing different chemicals or equipment, changing work procedures, or when incidents highlight previously unidentified hazards. You're also required to review and update existing assessments regularly, particularly when there are significant changes to your operations or following workplace accidents. If you employ five or more people, you must document your risk assessments in writing and make them available for inspection by regulatory authorities.

Key legal considerations

Your Process Risk Assessment must demonstrate compliance with multiple pieces of legislation that work together to ensure workplace safety. The assessment should identify all reasonably foreseeable risks, evaluate their likelihood and potential severity, and document existing control measures alongside any additional actions required. You must ensure the assessment is conducted by competent persons with appropriate knowledge and experience of the process being evaluated. The document should clearly assign responsibilities for implementing control measures and establish monitoring procedures to verify their effectiveness. Consider potential interactions between different hazards and ensure your assessment covers not just immediate risks but also long-term health effects and emergency scenarios.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, you have a fundamental duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of your employees so far as 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 and protective measures, and provide health and safety information to employees. If your process involves hazardous substances, you must also comply with COSHH Regulations 2002, which require specific assessment procedures and control measures. For processes involving work equipment, PUWER 1998 mandates additional safety considerations and regular maintenance requirements. Where fire risks are present, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires integrated fire safety risk assessment. Your assessment must be reviewed regularly and updated whenever significant changes occur to your processes or when the assessment is no longer valid.