A Risk assessment is a careful examination of your work area and how it might cause harm to people. A Risk Assessment Form is laid out in such a way that it helps you to weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm.

The aim of Risk Assessment is to minimize in a realistic way the chances of people injuring themselves or falling ill. You need to decide if there is a hazard is present and if you have put in place satisfactory precautions to minimize the risk.

As part of managing the health and safety of your activities, you must control the risks associated with them. To do this you need to think about what might cause harm to people and decide whether you are taking reasonable steps to prevent that harm. This process is called “Risk Assessment” and it is a legal requirement.