Risk Assessment And Management Policy Template for England and Wales

A Risk Assessment And Management Policy is a comprehensive document that establishes your organization's framework for identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace hazards. This policy is not just good practice—it's a legal requirement that demonstrates your commitment to protecting employees, visitors, and contractors while ensuring compliance with England and Wales health and safety legislation.

When do you need this document?

You need a Risk Assessment And Management Policy if you employ five or more people, as required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. However, even smaller organizations benefit from having formal risk management procedures in place. This policy is essential when establishing new business premises, introducing new work processes, or following significant workplace incidents. Organizations working with hazardous substances, manual handling operations, or high-risk activities particularly need robust risk assessment frameworks. The policy also becomes crucial during regulatory inspections, insurance assessments, or when demonstrating corporate responsibility to stakeholders.

Key legal considerations

Your policy must address several critical legal requirements to ensure full compliance. The document should clearly define roles and responsibilities, ensuring that competent persons are appointed to conduct risk assessments as required by the Management Regulations. You must establish procedures for regular review and updating of risk assessments, particularly when work activities change or following accidents. The policy should integrate requirements from specific regulations such as COSHH for hazardous substances and Manual Handling Regulations for lifting operations. Additionally, you must consider the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, which places criminal liability on organizations for gross breaches of duty resulting in death. Your policy should demonstrate that senior management takes active responsibility for risk management decisions and that adequate resources are allocated to risk control measures.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a general 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 mandate that employers must make suitable and sufficient assessments of workplace risks and implement necessary preventive and protective measures. Your policy must comply with the hierarchy of risk control, prioritizing elimination and reduction of risks at source before relying on personal protective equipment. For organizations handling hazardous substances, compliance with COSHH Regulations 2002 requires specific risk assessment procedures and exposure monitoring. The policy must also address consultation requirements with employees and their representatives, as well as provision of adequate information, instruction, and training. Documentation requirements under English and Welsh law specify that risk assessments must be recorded and made available to relevant authorities upon request.