General office risk assessment
An office risk assessment should reflect the actual layout, occupancy and work patterns, including hybrid staff and visitors. It needs to cover slips and trips, display screen work, fire arrangements, electrical equipment, manual handling, welfare, stress and emergency needs for disabled people. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require a suitable and sufficient assessment, while more specific rules apply to individual hazards. Walk the office at busy and quiet times rather than assessing from a plan alone. Check that routes remain clear when deliveries arrive, workstation issues are followed up, fire doors close properly and first-aid provision matches attendance. Record responsible people and review dates so actions do not become an unowned checklist.
- ✓Hazards and controls drawn from HSE guidance
- ✓Scored 5x5 risk matrix
- ✓Editable Word and PDF
In short
A risk assessment identifies what could cause harm in your work, who could be harmed and how, and what you do to control the risk. Every employer must make a suitable and sufficient assessment; with five or more employees the significant findings must be recorded.
What it must include
- ✓The hazards in the activity or workplace
- ✓Who might be harmed and how
- ✓Existing controls and further action needed
- ✓Risk rating (e.g. 5x5 likelihood x severity)
- ✓Who does what by when
- ✓Review date and when to review sooner
You stay the duty holder: review the document for your site before work starts. SitePaper is a drafting tool, not a consultancy.