The 5 steps to risk assessment form the backbone of workplace safety across the United Kingdom. Whether you’re managing a small business or overseeing health and safety in a large corporation, understanding and implementing these steps isn’t just good practice—it’s a legal requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
At AL23 Safety, we specialise in guiding businesses through effective risk assessment processes that protect both your employees and your business interests. This comprehensive guide breaks down the essential steps to ensure you’re fully compliant with current UK legislation while creating a genuinely safer workplace.
Why the 5 Steps to Risk Assessment Matter
Before diving into the steps themselves, it’s worth understanding why risk assessment is so crucial. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that workplace accidents and ill health cost British businesses over £15 billion annually. Beyond the financial impact, there’s the immeasurable cost of human suffering when preventable incidents occur.
The 5 steps to risk assessment provide a structured approach that helps you:
- Identify potential hazards before they cause harm
- Prioritise your safety resources effectively
- Demonstrate compliance with UK regulations
- Create documentation that protects your business legally
- Develop a proactive safety culture
The 5 Steps to Risk Assessment Explained
Step 1: Identify the Hazards
The first and most fundamental step in any risk assessment is hazard identification. A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm, including:
- Physical hazards (machinery, heights, electricity)
- Chemical hazards (cleaning products, fumes, dusts)
- Biological hazards (viruses, bacteria, bodily fluids)
- Ergonomic hazards (repetitive movements, poor workstation setup)
- Psychological hazards (stress, excessive workload, workplace bullying)
How AL23 Safety can help: Our consultants are trained to spot hazards that might be overlooked by those familiar with the environment. We conduct thorough workplace inspections using specialised techniques and equipment to identify all potential sources of harm.
Step 2: Determine Who Might Be Harmed and How
Once hazards have been identified, you need to understand who might be affected and in what way. This includes:
- Different groups of workers (including contractors and temporary staff)
- Visitors to your premises
- Members of the public
- Those with specific needs (pregnant workers, young people, those with disabilities)
For each hazard, consider how it might cause harm and the potential severity of that harm.
How AL23 Safety can help: We create detailed hazard impact assessments that map potential risks to specific worker groups, helping you understand your duty of care to all who interact with your business.
Step 3: Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Precautions
This step involves determining how likely it is that each hazard could cause harm and how severe that harm might be. Based on this evaluation, you can decide what measures are needed to control the risks.
The hierarchy of control should be applied when determining precautions:
- Elimination – Remove the hazard completely
- Substitution – Replace with something less hazardous
- Engineering controls – Isolate people from the hazard
- Administrative controls – Change the way people work
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) – Protect the worker with PPE
How AL23 Safety can help: Our risk evaluation process uses industry-standard matrices and expert judgment to quantify risks accurately. We then recommend practical, cost-effective control measures that comply with current UK regulations.
Step 4: Record Your Findings and Implement Them
If you employ five or more people, you’re legally required to document your risk assessment findings. But even for smaller businesses, good documentation is invaluable.
Your records should show:
- The hazards you’ve identified
- Who might be harmed and how
- The control measures you’ve put in place
- When the assessment was conducted and by whom
- When it needs to be reviewed
More importantly, the findings must be implemented through effective action plans.
How AL23 Safety can help: We provide comprehensive, legally compliant documentation templates and can manage the implementation process on your behalf, ensuring control measures are properly executed and monitored.
Step 5: Review Your Assessment and Update if Necessary
Risk assessment isn’t a one-time activity. You should review your assessment:
- When new equipment or substances are introduced
- When procedures change
- After significant incidents or near-misses
- At regular intervals (annually is common practice)
This ensures your risk controls remain effective as your business evolves.
How AL23 Safety can help: Our subscription services include scheduled review reminders and update assessments to ensure your risk management remains current and compliant with the latest legislation.
Beyond the 5 Steps to Risk Assessment: Building a Safety Culture
While the 5 steps to risk assessment provide an excellent framework, truly effective risk management goes beyond paperwork. It requires building a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility.
AL23 Safety helps organisations develop this culture through:
- Staff training and awareness programmes
- Leadership engagement strategies
- Safety committee establishment and support
- Incident reporting and investigation systems
- Continuous improvement practices
Why Choose AL23 Safety for Your Risk Assessment Needs
Our team of NEBOSH and IOSH qualified consultants brings decades of combined experience across diverse industries. We understand not just how to tick compliance boxes, but how to create meaningful safety improvements that protect your people and your business.
Our risk assessment services include:
- Initial compliance audits
- Comprehensive workplace risk assessments
- Specialist assessments (COSHH, manual handling, DSE, etc.)
- Training for in-house risk assessment teams
- Digital risk management solutions
Take the Next Step in Your Risk Assessment Journey
Understanding the 5 steps to risk assessment is just the beginning. Implementing them effectively requires expertise, resources, and commitment.
Whether you need a complete risk assessment package or support with specific elements of the process, AL23 Safety is here to help. Contact our team today for a no-obligation consultation and discover how we can make your workplace safer, more compliant, and more productive.
Remember: Effective risk assessment isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating a safer environment where your business and people can thrive.