Employers with five employees or more are required to write down and keep records of the significant findings of their health and safety risk assessment.

Risk assessments involve identifying hazards, establishing who might be harmed by them and determining the measures that should be taken to reduce the risk of harm. The aim is not to eliminate all risks, but to reduce them as far as is reasonably practicable. Failure to assess health and safety risks properly can have serious consequences for employers and may result in prosecution.

This factsheet outlines the legal responsibilities of employers regarding risk assessments. It explains how to carry out a workplace risk assessment, including how to identify hazards, evaluate risks and determine what measures to put in place. It also covers requirements for keeping records and reviewing risk assessments on a regular basis.

The factsheet is a starting point only and individual risk assessments will vary depending on the type and level of risk associated with the work that is carried out. Appropriate advice from a health and safety specialist should be taken where necessary.