What Is It?
A risk assessment is a systematic document that identifies the hazards associated with a specific job or work environment, evaluates the likelihood and severity of harm from each hazard, and sets out the control measures used to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. It follows the HSE's five-step approach: identify hazards, decide who might be harmed and how, evaluate the risks and decide on precautions, record your findings, and review and update as needed. For trade businesses it covers hazards common across the trades, from working at height and manual handling to power tools, dust, and hazardous substances.
About This Template
Risk assessments are a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Every self-employed tradesperson and trade business must assess the risks associated with their work before starting a job. This is not just a compliance exercise — trade work involves real hazards, and a proper risk assessment forces you to think through them, put control measures in place, and communicate the risks to anyone else on site. For commercial and construction site work, a written risk assessment is almost always required before you will be allowed to start. Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, contractors must plan, manage, and monitor their work, and a risk assessment is the foundation of that planning.
When to Use
- Before starting any work on a construction site, which is required under CDM 2015 for all contractors
- When working in hazardous environments such as confined spaces, at height, or near water
- For all commercial and industrial work where a principal contractor requires documentation
- When employing others or working with subcontractors who need to understand the risks
- When tendering for contracts, as many main contractors and facilities managers require risk assessments during pre-qualification
- When site conditions change — for example other trades working nearby, adverse weather, or the discovery of asbestos or other unexpected hazards
What to Include
- Job details: location, description of work, date, and the name of the person carrying out the assessment
- Hazard identification: working at height, manual handling, power tools, dust and silica, asbestos, slips and trips, electrical hazards, hazardous substances, confined spaces, lone working, and noise and vibration
- Who is at risk: you, other workers on site, building occupants, members of the public, and visitors
- Risk rating matrix: likelihood (1 to 5) multiplied by severity (1 to 5) to give a risk score, with action levels for each band
- Control measures for each hazard, following the hierarchy of control
- PPE requirements: safety boots, eye protection, gloves, hard hat, high-visibility clothing, hearing protection, and respiratory protection where needed
- Emergency procedures: location of the first aid kit, nearest A&E, emergency contact numbers, and first aid arrangements
- Method statement reference for high-risk activities such as working at height or confined space entry
- COSHH assessment reference if working with hazardous substances such as solvents, adhesives, or expanding foam
- Sign-off by the person carrying out the assessment and acknowledgement by all workers on site
- Review date and the trigger conditions for reassessment
Tips
Do not treat risk assessments as a tick-box exercise — genuinely think through each hazard. The few minutes you spend could prevent a life-changing injury or fatality. In the UK, around 1.7 million workers report a work-related illness each year
Create generic risk assessments for your most common job types, then adapt each one for the specific site with a brief site-specific assessment when you arrive
Review your risk assessment if conditions change — what was low risk in the morning can become high risk if it rains, other trades start work nearby, or you uncover unexpected hazards like asbestos
Keep risk assessments simple and practical — a one-page document your team actually reads beats a ten-page document nobody looks at. The HSE states that assessments should be proportionate to the risk
Use the hierarchy of control when selecting measures: eliminate the hazard first, then substitute, apply engineering controls, apply administrative controls, and use PPE only as a last resort
Legal Requirements for Risk Assessments
Several pieces of UK legislation require tradespeople to carry out risk assessments. Understanding which laws apply to your work is essential for compliance and for protecting yourself if something goes wrong.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) is the primary piece of UK health and safety legislation. Section 2 places a general duty on every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of all their employees. Section 3 extends this duty to anyone else who might be affected by the work, including members of the public. Self-employed tradespeople have the same duties under Section 3 where their work can create a risk to others.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) make risk assessment a specific legal requirement. Regulation 3 requires every employer and self-employed person to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees and anyone else who may be affected by their work. If you employ five or more people, the significant findings must be recorded in writing. Even if you employ fewer than five, a written record is strongly recommended as evidence of compliance.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) apply to most construction, installation, repair, and maintenance work because it falls within the definition of construction work. Under CDM 2015, contractors must plan, manage, and monitor their work to ensure health and safety. For projects with more than one contractor, a principal contractor must be appointed and a construction phase plan is required — your risk assessment feeds directly into that plan.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply whenever you work above ground level, which is common across the trades when using ladders, steps, towers, or scaffolds. You must assess the risk of falls and apply suitable measures: avoid working at height where possible, use suitable platforms or access equipment, and take measures to minimise the distance and consequences of any fall.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require you to assess and control exposure to hazardous substances such as dust, solvents, adhesives, and fumes. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) require work equipment, including power tools, to be suitable, maintained, and used safely by competent people.
Key Hazards Across the Trades
Trade work involves a combination of recurring hazards. Your risk assessment should address each of the following that is relevant to your job, with specific control measures tailored to the site.
Working at height is one of the most serious hazards in the trades and a leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK. Falls from ladders, steps, towers, scaffolds, and flat roofs cause life-changing injuries even from modest heights. Avoid working at height where you can, use the right access equipment for the task, ensure it is set up on firm level ground and inspected before use, and never improvise with chairs or unstable platforms.
Manual handling injuries from lifting and moving heavy or awkward loads — boards, fittings, cylinders, materials, and equipment — are among the most common causes of lost working days. Assess the load, the route, and the individual's capability before lifting. Use mechanical aids such as trolleys and sack barrows where possible, break loads down, and never attempt to lift more than you can safely manage alone.
Power tools and work equipment present risks of cuts, lacerations, entanglement, projectiles, and burns. Only use equipment you are competent with, inspect it before each use, keep guards in place, use the correct blades and bits, and isolate tools before changing accessories. On construction sites, 110V equipment via a centre-tapped earth transformer is the norm.
Dust and silica are a major long-term health hazard. Cutting, drilling, grinding, or sanding masonry, concrete, stone, and timber releases fine dust, and respirable crystalline silica causes serious, irreversible lung disease. Control dust at source with on-tool extraction or water suppression, work in ventilated areas, and wear suitable respiratory protective equipment that is face-fit tested.
Asbestos exposure is a significant risk in any property built before 2000. Asbestos-containing materials are commonly found in ceiling tiles, floor tiles, insulation board, textured coatings, pipe lagging, and soffits. Before drilling, cutting, or disturbing any material that might contain asbestos, check the asbestos register for non-domestic premises or arrange a survey. If you suspect asbestos, stop work immediately and seek specialist advice.
Slips, trips, and falls on the level are caused by trailing leads, wet surfaces, uneven ground, poor lighting, and untidy work areas. Keep walkways clear, manage cables and hoses, clean up spills promptly, and maintain good housekeeping throughout the job.
Electrical hazards affect every trade, not only electricians. Contact with live conductors, damaged leads, or unsafe installations can cause electric shock, burns, and fire. Treat circuits as live until proven dead, use RCD protection, inspect leads and tools, and never work on electrical systems unless you are competent to do so.
Hazardous substances under COSHH — including solvents, adhesives, sealants, expanding foam, cleaning chemicals, paints, and fuels — can cause dermatitis, respiratory problems, and fire risk. Read the safety data sheet, store and use substances correctly, ensure good ventilation, and wear the recommended gloves and protection.
Confined spaces such as risers, ducts, tanks, lofts, and underfloor voids present risks of oxygen depletion, toxic atmospheres, and restricted movement. Assess whether entry is necessary, test the atmosphere, ensure ventilation, and have a rescue plan. Confined space work may require a permit-to-work system.
Lone working presents additional risk because there is nobody to raise the alarm or provide first aid if something goes wrong. If you work alone, tell someone your location and expected return time, carry a charged mobile phone, and consider a check-in system or personal alarm.
Noise and vibration from power tools and machinery cause hearing damage and hand-arm vibration syndrome over time. Limit exposure time, use low-vibration tools, wear hearing protection, and monitor trigger times for high-vibration equipment.
The Risk Assessment Process: Step by Step
The HSE recommends a straightforward five-step approach to risk assessment. Here is how to apply each step to trade work.
Step 1: Identify the hazards. Walk the site before starting work. Look for anything that could cause harm — damaged equipment, asbestos-containing materials, restricted access, wet conditions, work at height, overhead and underground services, and other trades working nearby. Check the age and condition of the property and any previous reports. Talk to the site manager or property owner about known issues.
Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how. Consider everyone who could be affected: yourself, your employees and subcontractors, other workers on site, building occupants (especially vulnerable people such as the elderly, children, or disabled persons), and members of the public. For each hazard, describe the type of harm — falls, crushing, cuts, electric shock, respiratory disease — and how it could occur.
Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions. For each hazard, assess the likelihood of harm occurring (taking existing controls into account) and the potential severity. Use a risk rating matrix to calculate a score: likelihood (1 = very unlikely, 5 = almost certain) multiplied by severity (1 = minor injury, 5 = fatality). Scores of 1 to 6 are low risk (proceed with standard controls), 8 to 12 are medium risk (additional controls needed), and 15 to 25 are high risk (work must not proceed until the risk is reduced). Apply the hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate, PPE.
Step 4: Record your findings and implement them. Write down the significant hazards, who is at risk, the existing controls, the risk rating, and any additional controls needed. Communicate the findings to everyone involved in the work. This is where the template comes in — it provides a structured format to record all of this information clearly and consistently.
Step 5: Review and update your assessment. Risk assessments are living documents. Review them when conditions change, after an incident or near-miss, when new information becomes available, or at regular intervals — at least annually for generic assessments. Update the assessment and re-brief your team on any changes.
How to Fill In This Template
This section-by-section guide will help you complete the risk assessment template accurately and efficiently.
Header section: Enter the job reference number, site address, date of assessment, description of work to be carried out, and the name and signature of the person carrying out the assessment. If you are working under CDM 2015, include the principal contractor's details and the construction phase plan reference.
Hazard identification table: List each hazard in the first column. Use the pre-populated hazards in the template as a starting point, but add any site-specific hazards you identified during your walk-around. Common additions include overhead power lines, underground services, working near water, biological hazards, and adverse weather.
People at risk: For each hazard, tick or list who could be harmed. Include your own team, other contractors, building occupants, and members of the public where relevant. Note any particularly vulnerable groups.
Risk rating: Complete the likelihood and severity scores for each hazard before control measures are applied (the inherent risk), and then again after control measures are applied (the residual risk). The residual score should be significantly lower. If it remains high, you need stronger controls or should reconsider whether the work can proceed safely.
Control measures: For each hazard, list the specific control measures you will implement. Be precise — do not just write "PPE". Instead, write the actual items, for example "safety boots, cut-resistant gloves, FFP3 dust mask (face-fit tested), and safety glasses to BS EN 166". Reference any permits to work, method statements, or COSHH assessments that apply.
Emergency procedures: Record the location of the nearest first aid kit, the name of the qualified first aider on site, the address of the nearest A&E department, and the emergency contact numbers for the site.
Sign-off: The assessor must sign and date the assessment. All workers carrying out the work should sign to confirm they have read and understood it. Keep the original on file and provide copies to the principal contractor if working under CDM 2015.
Generic vs Task-Specific Risk Assessments
Understanding the difference between generic and task-specific risk assessments helps you manage your paperwork efficiently without compromising safety.
A generic risk assessment covers a type of work you carry out regularly — for example a standard installation, a repair visit, a maintenance round, or a fit-out. It identifies the typical hazards, the standard control measures you always use, and the general precautions that apply. A good set of generic risk assessments forms the backbone of your health and safety management system and can be reused across many jobs with minimal modification.
A task-specific risk assessment is created for a particular job at a particular site. It builds on your generic assessment but adds site-specific hazards and controls. For example, your generic assessment might not cover the fact that this particular property has asbestos in the ceiling tiles, that access is via a narrow staircase, or that another trade is working directly overhead. The site-specific assessment captures these additional risks.
In practice, most trade businesses use a combination of both. You maintain a library of generic risk assessments for your standard work types and then carry out a brief site-specific assessment when you arrive at each job. For straightforward work in a modern property, the site-specific element might be a quick walk-around and a few notes on the generic assessment. For complex, unfamiliar, or high-risk work, a more detailed site-specific assessment is essential.
The HSE accepts this approach provided the generic assessments are genuinely relevant to the work being done, the site-specific elements are properly considered, and the combined assessment addresses all significant risks. This template is designed to work as either a standalone task-specific assessment or as a site-specific supplement to your generic assessments.
Method Statements and RAMS
Risk assessments and method statements are often requested together, particularly for commercial work and construction sites. Together they are known as RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement). Understanding the difference and how they work together helps you produce better documentation.
A risk assessment identifies what could go wrong and what you will do to prevent it. It focuses on hazards, risks, and control measures. It answers the question: what are the dangers and how will we manage them?
A method statement describes how the work will be carried out safely, step by step. It is a practical document that turns the control measures identified in the risk assessment into a sequence of operations. It answers the question: exactly how will we do this work safely? A method statement typically includes the scope of work, the sequence of operations, the tools and equipment required, the competency requirements for each task, the safety measures at each stage, and the quality checks to be carried out.
Many main contractors and facilities managers require RAMS to be submitted and approved before work can begin on site. Some will not allow you through the gate without approved RAMS. While this can feel like paperwork for paperwork's sake, well-prepared RAMS demonstrate your competence, help you plan the job thoroughly, and protect you if something goes wrong.
This risk assessment template can be used alongside your own method statement, or you can use a combined RAMS format. The key is that both documents are specific to the work being done, proportionate to the risk, and actually used on site — not just filed away in a drawer.
Who Needs a Risk Assessment?
The short answer is everyone carrying out trade work in the UK, whether you are a sole trader, a limited company, or an employer with a team.
Sole traders and self-employed tradespeople have a legal duty under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to conduct their work in a way that does not put themselves or others at risk. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require self-employed persons whose work can create a risk to others to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. Even though you are not required to keep a written assessment if you employ fewer than five people, a written record is strongly recommended — it demonstrates compliance, satisfies principal contractors and clients, and protects you in the event of an HSE investigation or insurance claim.
Employers with one or more employees must carry out risk assessments under the Management Regulations and communicate the findings to their employees. If you employ five or more people, the significant findings must be recorded in writing. In practice, every trade business should have written risk assessments regardless of team size.
Subcontractors working on construction sites must provide risk assessments to the principal contractor under CDM 2015. Your risk assessment will form part of the construction phase plan, and the principal contractor is responsible for coordinating all contractors' assessments so the risks from one trade's work do not affect another's safety.
Apprentices and trainees require additional consideration in your risk assessment. They are less experienced and may not recognise hazards an experienced tradesperson would spot immediately. Your assessment should identify the supervision arrangements, the tasks the trainee is permitted to carry out, and any restrictions on their activities.
Property managers and facilities managers who engage trade contractors should also ensure risk assessments are in place for all work carried out on their premises, as part of their own duty of care.
