Construction Risk Assessment & Free Template | Health & Safety
A risk assessment is a process by which a person of responsibility identifies hazards in the workplace and implements control measures to mitigate or eliminate them entirely. It is essentially the foundation of any health and safety policy, especially in a high-risk industry like construction.
The construction industry is one of the highest contributors to fatal workplace injuries in the UK. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there were 51 fatal injuries to workers in 2023/24, with 78,000 workers suffering from new or long-standing work-related ill health. Effective risk assessments are an absolute necessity to reduce the number of accidents and protect lives, which is why every organisation within the construction industry must understand how to carry one out.
When Is a Risk Assessment Needed in Construction?
There are several constantly changing variables on construction sites, which is why assessing risk is so important. If a significant variable changes, a fresh risk assessment must be undertaken. Possible changes include:
- Change of process or technology. Has new equipment been introduced to complete a certain job?
- Changes to personnel or the circumstances of workers. Have new contractors been bought in to carry out any work?
- Changes to the workplace or operations. Have walkways been altered to allow access to new areas of the site?
To ensure best practices are followed, a risk assessment should also be conducted once any maintenance or cleaning has been carried out on a construction site. This is necessary, as they could likely disrupt previous workflows if the equipment has been moved or altered.
Near misses and any incidents should also be reported as they indicate that the current control measures are insufficient.
What Is Included in a Construction Risk Assessment?
There are several pieces of information that a construction risk assessment needs to cover. Any well-executed risk assessment should answer the following questions.
- Who might be harmed?
- How might they be harmed?
- What is already being done to control the risk?
- What further control measures are required?
- Who needs to action the recommended control measures?
- When is this action due to be completed?
A construction risk assessment table typically has the following structure to cover these areas.
Hazard | Who Might Be Harmed and How | Control Measures | Further Action Needed | Responsible Party | Action Deadline |
Who Might Be Harmed and How? In this field, assessors should identify all individuals who might be impacted by the hazard on the construction site and describe how e.g. musculoskeletal injuries. Hazards on any construction site can impact:
- Workers
- Subcontractors
- Visitors
- Members of the Public
These individuals could be severely affected by hazards. Hazards could range from falling debris and machinery to accidents and slips, trips and falls. Understanding who is at risk and how they could be harmed ensures that safety measures are tailored to the people involved, which allows for effective precautions.
For construction sites, you might determine that workers on scaffolding may face risks of falling from height or pedestrians walking along the street could be harmed by falling objects.
What You’re Already Doing to Control the Risks? In this field, assessors will identify the measures already in place to control the risk. Workers might already be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), ensuring machinery is regularly inspected and there may be clear signage. Identifying current controls showcases compliance, prevents duplication of existing efforts and helps assess whether measures are adequate.
If heavy machinery is being used on a construction site, an existing measure might be training operators or creating dedicated walkways for workers.
What Further Action You Need to Control the Risks This field is for identifying gaps in current safety measures and how they might be built upon e.g. introducing new equipment, procedures, commissioning training courses etc. Regularly updating controls is essential as site conditions and activities change, as a build progresses.
If dust from construction activities poses a respiratory hazard, additional actions might include installing dust suppression systems and providing workers with respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
Who Needs to Carry Out the Action? This field’s purpose is to assign responsibility for implementing further actions. Typically for construction, it involves roles like site managers, health and safety officers, contractors etc. This area’s importance is underpinned by its clarity on responsibilities which prevents delays and ensures accountability.
For construction, site managers might be allocated responsibility for ensuring scaffolding is properly inspected, while contractors are tasked with securing loose tools to prevent them from falling.
When Is the Action Needed? This field establishes firm deadlines for implementing new safety measures. Timely action is critical for minimising risks as quickly as possible. Setting clear deadlines ensures that risks are addressed promptly, avoiding prolonged exposure to hazards and potential accidents.
If a site’s walkways are cluttered, a deadline might be set for clearing and marking them within 48 hours to prevent trips and falls.
The 5 Steps to Risk Assessment
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has outlined the risk assessment process as being a five-step process to effectively control health and safety risks caused by hazards in the workplace. Health and safety professionals can complete this process by themselves or appoint a competent person to help them.
Step 1: Identify Hazards in the Workplace
The first step in risk assessment is identifying potential hazards that could harm individuals. Construction sites are rife with risks, including:
- Physical hazards such as moving vehicles, working at height, falling objects, and uneven surfaces.
- Biological hazards like exposure to harmful microorganisms in sewage or contaminated soil.
- Chemical hazards from substances such as asbestos, cement dust, or solvents.
- Psychosocial hazards, including stress or fatigue from long working hours.
While some hazards are immediately visible, like a poorly maintained scaffold, others may require deeper investigation. Reviewing accident reports, consulting product manuals for machinery and materials, and engaging with workers for their observations can uncover hidden dangers. For instance, a review of accident records might reveal recurring injuries from a specific activity or area, highlighting a need for targeted intervention.
Step 2: Decide Who Might Be Harmed and How
After identifying hazards, the next step is determining who might be at risk and the ways they could be harmed. On a construction site, this can include:
- Workers operating machinery or working in hazardous zones.
- Visitors, such as delivery personnel, who may not be familiar with the site’s safety protocols.
- The public, especially if the site is near pedestrian areas or roads.
Understanding how hazards might harm these groups is crucial. For instance, workers may risk musculoskeletal injuries from lifting heavy materials, while passers-by could be struck by debris if adequate barriers are not in place. A thorough understanding of risk exposure allows for tailored preventative measures.
Step 3: Evaluate the Risks and Take Action to Prevent Them
Once hazards and those at risk are identified, the next step is evaluating the likelihood and severity of each risk and deciding on appropriate control measures. Not all risks can be eliminated, but the goal is to reduce them to an acceptable level.
For example:
- High-risk scenarios, like working at height, may require safety harnesses, guardrails, and proper training.
- Moderate risks, such as handling chemicals, can be mitigated with proper storage, clear labelling, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Lower risks, like slips and trips, can be managed through good housekeeping practices.
The chosen actions should be proportionate to the risk level. A robust safety culture emphasises proactive measures like training workers, restricting access to hazardous zones, and ensuring all equipment is well-maintained.
Step 4: Record Your Findings
Documenting the risk assessment is not just a best practice; for employers with five or more staff, it’s a legal requirement under UK law. A written record should include:
- Identified hazards.
- Groups at risk and the nature of potential harm.
- Actions taken to mitigate risks.
For construction sites, this record serves multiple purposes. It provides proof of compliance with health and safety regulations, offers a reference for future assessments, and communicates critical safety information to workers and contractors. Clear, accessible records help everyone understand their role in maintaining safety on-site.
Step 5: Review the Risk Assessment
A risk assessment isn’t a one-time task—it must evolve with the workplace. Construction sites are dynamic environments where conditions can change rapidly, introducing new hazards. For example:
- A new piece of machinery might present unfamiliar risks.
- Weather changes could affect site safety, such as icy conditions increasing the risk of slips and falls.
- Modifications to site layout might alter traffic routes, increasing the potential for collisions.
Regularly reviewing and updating the risk assessment ensures it remains relevant and effective. Involve workers in this process; their first-hand experience can provide valuable insights into emerging risks.
Free Download (Risk Assessment Template)
Now that you know exactly how to complete a risk assessment for construction sites, you need a template that has all the necessary fields. We have a convenient free template available for you to download in a Word, PDF or Excel document.
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