MadyHR.ai
Start free

Free Risk Assessment Template

Write down your workplace risk assessment in a clear, professional layout, following HSE’s steps. You enter the hazards, who might be harmed and what you’re doing about them. Download it as a PDF or Word draft to check and adopt.

  • Free, no sign-up needed
  • England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland
  • PDF & Word download

Runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is sent anywhere or stored. Rules last checked against the official sources on 21 October 2026.

The rule in short: every employer must assess the risks in their workplace. If you employ 5 or more people, you must record the significant findings and any groups of employees especially at risk. Sources: HSE, MHSWR 1999 reg. 3, HSENI

Your risk assessment

Fill in what you know. Anything left blank shows as [Add …] in the draft, so you can see what’s missing.

Step 1: Your business

Step 2: The assessment

The whole workplace, or one activity, e.g. “Daily shop opening and stock deliveries”.
HSE advises involving your employees. Source: HSE
For example young workers, new or expectant mothers, lone workers. With 5 or more employees you must record these (Great Britain: regulation 3(6); Northern Ireland: HSENI). Describe groups, not anyone’s health details. Write “None identified” if that applies.
Your choice. Review sooner after changes, accidents or near misses.

Step 3: Hazards and controls

Not sure where to start? What HSE says to think about
  • How people work, and how plant and equipment are used
  • What chemicals and substances are used
  • What safe or unsafe work practices exist
  • The general state of your premises
  • Your accident and ill-health records, for less obvious hazards
  • Non-routine work such as maintenance, cleaning or changes in production
  • Hazards to health such as manual handling, chemicals and causes of work-related stress
  • Workers with particular needs: young workers, new or expectant mothers, migrant workers and disabled workers

These are prompts, not your hazards. Only you can say what applies. Source: HSE. See also HSE’s example risk assessments.

Hazard 1
Something that could cause harm, in your own words.

Step 4: Create your draft

One handshake, two sides.

The M in our logo is two people shaking hands: an employer and the person they hire. We build software for both of them: MadyHR.ai for employers, MadyJobSearch.com for job seekers, and the useful parts are free.

MadyHR.ai

For employers

A risk assessment is one part of running your team.

MadyHR.ai helps UK employers manage HR processes, employee records, holidays, compliance and workforce administration in one place.

  • Free account, no card, no sales call. Set your company up in about a minute and look round the whole product.
  • £50 a year for unlimited employees, or £240 once for ten years at a price that cannot change.
Create free accountSee pricing

Free tools like this one stay free, with no email asked for.

MadyJobSearch.com

For job seekers and employers100% free

Looking for your next opportunity?

Find UK jobs and explore new opportunities on MadyJobSearch.com. Hiring? Post your vacancy and reach candidates looking for their next role. No guaranteed interviews, hires or sponsorship.

  • 100% free, for job seekers and for employers. No fees to search, apply or post, from the same company as MadyHR.ai.
  • AI-powered job search: roles matched to the person, not to a list of keywords.
Visit MadyJobSearch.com

Official sources

Every rule and figure this calculator uses comes from the legislation and official guidance below. All links were checked on 21 October 2026.

HSE and GOV.UK (Great Britain)

Law and Northern Ireland

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to write my risk assessment down?

In Great Britain, HSE says that if you employ 5 or more people you must record your significant findings. Northern Ireland has the same rule, and HSENI adds that with fewer than five employees you do not have to write anything down, though it is useful.

Sources: HSE, HSENI

What should the record include?

HSE lists the hazards, who might be harmed and how, and what you are doing to control the risks. With 5 or more employees, the law also requires any groups of employees identified as especially at risk (regulation 3(6)). This template also has space for further actions, owners and dates.

Sources: HSE, regulation 3(6)

How often should I review it?

HSE says you must review your controls to make sure they are working, and also when they may no longer be effective or something changes, such as staff, a process, substances or equipment. It also suggests a review after accidents or near misses. The review date on this form is your own choice.

Source: HSE

Do I need a health and safety policy too?

HSE says every business must have a policy for managing health and safety, and with five or more employees it must be written down and shared with staff.

Source: HSE

Does this tool do the risk assessment for me?

No. You identify the hazards, the people at risk and your controls. The tool only lays out what you type as a draft. You can do the assessment yourself or appoint a competent person to help.

Source: HSE

Is my information saved?

No. The tool runs in your browser and does not send or store what you type. If you close or refresh the page, your entries are gone, so download your draft first.

Important: please read

This is a template for general information only. It is not legal, health and safety or employment advice. It does not carry out your risk assessment, choose hazards or controls, rate risks, inspect your workplace or decide whether any work is safe or lawful. It only lays out what you type.

Your duties depend on your work, premises, staff and where you operate. Fire safety, COSHH (hazardous substances) and specialist work have their own rules and need their own assessments. Sources: GOV.UK fire safety, HSE COSHH

You remain responsible for your assessment. Check the draft against your real workplace, talk to your staff, put the controls into practice and get competent help where you need it. Please do not enter anyone’s health details.

MadyHR.ai is HR software, not a law firm, health and safety consultancy or regulator. MadyHR.ai is not responsible for how you use the draft or for decisions made using this template. Nothing on this page limits any legal rights you have. Always check the latest official guidance. This template is not affiliated with or endorsed by HM Government, GOV.UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).

More free tools

This template follows HSE’s steps for managing risk and applies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the Northern Ireland rules taken from HSENI. It is an independent MadyHR.ai tool based on official sources, not legal or health and safety advice. For anything unusual, check the sources above or get competent advice.

Cookies on this site

We always use a few necessary cookies to sign you in and keep that sign-in safe — those cannot be turned off. We would also like to set marketing cookies (the Meta Pixel and the Reddit Pixel) to measure our advertising. Those are entirely your choice, and everything on this site works exactly the same either way. What each category does.