Risk Assessment Examples: 5 Real-World Templates You Can Use
Risk Assessment Examples: 5 Real-World Templates You Can Use
Seeing real risk assessment examples helps you understand how to structure your own. Here are 5 practical examples across different industries.
Risk Assessment Structure
All risk assessments follow the same basic structure:
- Task/Activity - What is being assessed?
- Hazards - What could cause harm?
- Who is at risk - Who might be affected?
- Risk level - How likely and severe?
- Control measures - What precautions are in place?
- Residual risk - What risk remains?
- Action required - What else needs doing?
Example 1: Office Workstation Setup
Task
Setting up and using a computer workstation for daily office work.
Hazards Identified
| Hazard | Who at Risk | Initial Risk | |--------|-------------|--------------| | Poor posture from incorrect chair height | User | Medium | | Eye strain from screen glare | User | Low | | Trailing cables causing trip hazard | All staff | Medium | | Repetitive movements causing RSI | User | Medium |
Control Measures
- Chair height adjustable with back support provided
- Monitor positioned at arm's length, top at eye level
- Cable management system under desk
- Document holder to reduce neck twisting
- Wrist rest for keyboard and mouse
- Anti-glare screen filter fitted
- Regular breaks encouraged (5 mins per hour)
Residual Risk
Low - with all controls in place
Review Date
Annual or when workstation changes
Example 2: Manual Handling in a Warehouse
Task
Moving boxes of stock from delivery area to storage shelves.
Hazards Identified
| Hazard | Who at Risk | Initial Risk | |--------|-------------|--------------| | Back injury from lifting heavy boxes | Warehouse staff | High | | Boxes falling from height | Staff, visitors | Medium | | Slips from wet floors | All staff | Low | | Struck by forklift | Warehouse staff | High |
Control Measures
- Mechanical aids available (pallet truck, trolley)
- Maximum manual lift weight: 25kg for men, 16kg for women
- Team lifting for items over 25kg
- Boxes stored at waist height where possible
- High-level storage requires step stool or platform
- Forklift-only zones marked with barriers
- High-visibility vests worn in forklift areas
- Spill kit available, spills cleaned immediately
- Manual handling training provided to all staff
Residual Risk
Medium - some risk remains from occasional manual lifting
Action Required
- Install additional shelving at ground level
- Review delivery scheduling to reduce peak loads
Example 3: Construction Site Excavation
Task
Excavating trenches for foundation work on a construction site.
Hazards Identified
| Hazard | Who at Risk | Initial Risk | |--------|-------------|--------------| | Trench collapse | Workers in trench | High | | Falls into excavation | All site personnel | High | | Underground services strike | Excavator operator | High | | Asphyxiation from gases | Workers in trench | Medium | | Flooding | Workers in trench | Medium |
Control Measures
- Trench boxes or shoring installed for depths over 1.2m
- Daily inspection of excavations by competent person
- Barriers and signage around excavation perimeter
- CAT scan and service plans checked before digging
- Permit to dig system in place
- Gas monitoring equipment in trench
- Pump available for water removal
- Safe access/egress provided (ladder within 7m of workers)
- Emergency rescue plan in place
- All workers briefed on hazards
Residual Risk
Medium - excavation work inherently carries risk
Action Required
- Weekly inspections documented
- Weather monitoring for heavy rain
Example 4: Kitchen Work in a Café
Task
Food preparation and cooking in a commercial café kitchen.
Hazards Identified
| Hazard | Who at Risk | Initial Risk | |--------|-------------|--------------| | Burns from hot surfaces and liquids | Kitchen staff | High | | Cuts from knives | Kitchen staff | Medium | | Slips from wet/greasy floors | All staff | High | | Fire from cooking equipment | All staff | High | | Manual handling of stock deliveries | Kitchen staff | Medium |
Control Measures
- Oven gloves and cloths provided for handling hot items
- Hot pans clearly marked, never left unattended
- Knife training provided, sharp knives maintained
- Cut-resistant gloves available for prep work
- Non-slip flooring installed
- Floors cleaned regularly, grease removed
- Fire blankets and extinguishers at each cooking station
- Automatic fire suppression over deep fat fryers
- Extraction canopy cleaned quarterly
- Delivery items stored at appropriate height
- Trolley provided for heavy deliveries
Residual Risk
Low to Medium - kitchen work has inherent risks
Action Required
- Fire drill to be conducted monthly
- Review knife storage security
Example 5: Working at Height - Roof Repair
Task
Repairing damaged roof tiles on a two-storey building.
Hazards Identified
| Hazard | Who at Risk | Initial Risk | |--------|-------------|--------------| | Falls from roof edge | Roofers | High | | Falls through fragile surfaces | Roofers | High | | Falling materials hitting people below | Public, workers | High | | Slips on wet roof surface | Roofers | Medium | | Manual handling of materials | Roofers | Medium |
Control Measures
- Edge protection (guardrails) installed on all accessible edges
- Stagings and crawl boards for fragile roof areas
- Safety harnesses with anchor points for steep sections
- Exclusion zone below work area with barriers
- Warning signs posted at ground level
- Materials secured to prevent wind displacement
- Toe boards on scaffolding to prevent object falls
- Work stopped in high winds or rain
- Mechanical hoist for material transport to roof
- Rescue plan in place for suspended worker
Residual Risk
Medium - working at height always carries some risk
Action Required
- Daily inspection of edge protection
- Weather check before each work session
Key Learning Points
From these examples, notice:
- Specific hazards are identified, not vague ones
- Who is at risk is clearly stated
- Control measures are practical and proportionate
- Residual risk is acknowledged where it exists
- Actions are assigned where controls are insufficient
Risk Rating Matrix
Use this simple matrix to rate risks:
| | Minor Injury | 7-day Injury | Major Injury | Fatality | |---|-------------|--------------|--------------|----------| | Very Likely | Medium | High | High | High | | Likely | Low | Medium | High | High | | Unlikely | Low | Low | Medium | High | | Very Unlikely | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
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