# Workplace safety & risk assessment Assess the actual work, record hazards and near misses, and give preventive actions an owner and a review. Source review: 2026-10-27 Operational starters in English. References identify their own jurisdiction. Select the rules that apply to your site, adapt the documents, and obtain competent approval before use. ## Assess the work people actually do Walk through routine work, cleaning, deliveries, maintenance and unusual tasks with the people involved. Include contractors and anyone else exposed. Look beyond visible trip hazards to manual handling, exposure, lone working and work-related stress where relevant. HSE warns that copying an example assessment without considering the actual workplace is insufficient. ## Keep national requirements distinct France uses the DUERP to document occupational risk assessment. Great Britain has its own risk-assessment framework. OSHA publishes recommended safety-program practices for US workplaces, alongside enforceable standards and state-plan requirements. These are different frameworks. The shared starter below records observations and actions; it is not a completed DUERP or an OSHA compliance program. ## Connect prevention to a decision and owner Describe who could be harmed, the existing controls and the additional measures proposed. Record the action owner and intended completion date. Ask whether the hazard can be removed or exposure reduced before relying on instructions alone. Use a qualified assessment for specialist hazards. A supervisor should be able to explain the control and how its effectiveness will be checked. ## Use incidents to improve the assessment Record observed facts before assigning causes. Separate witness accounts from later investigation conclusions. Escalate urgent conditions using the site procedure, and check separately whether an event needs statutory reporting in the applicable jurisdiction. Review the assessment after an incident, a material change or new risk information; do not substitute a routine checklist score for that review. ## Check local implementation and the responsible authority EU occupational safety directives operate through national implementing requirements. For UAE sites, identify the applicable employment regime and competent authorities before choosing the procedure. Australian model WHS laws require implementation in the relevant jurisdiction; Victoria uses a separate framework. Keep the country, local jurisdiction and assessment decision together in the obligations register. A template used across several sites should still be reviewed for each site’s activities and applicable rules. ## SOP starter: Hazard observation, assessment and corrective-action review Status: DRAFT — complete site-specific details and obtain approval before use. Site: __________ Owner: __________ Version: __________ Approved by / date: __________ Next review / trigger: __________ ### Preparation - Name the site, assessment lead, worker representatives and scope of work. - Identify applicable national and local requirements, specialist advice and emergency procedures. - Define the route for urgent escalation and the authority to restrict unsafe work. ### Procedure 1. Observe the task with workers and record hazards, exposed groups and existing controls. 2. For immediate danger, follow the site emergency or stop-work procedure and notify the responsible person. 3. Record further preventive measures, the accountable owner and target date. 4. Document incidents or near misses as factual observations and preserve relevant evidence. 5. Have the responsible assessor review the controls and any statutory reporting question. 6. Verify the action in the workplace, record the result and communicate changes to affected staff. ### Records - Site-specific risk assessment - Observation or near-miss report - Action owner, verification and assessment revision ### Review triggers - Incident or near miss - New equipment, task, substance or work organisation - New information or applicable review requirement ## Editable templates - [Workplace task risk assessment](https://kivloo.com/template-library/workplace-risk-assessment) - [Workplace safety inspection checklist](https://kivloo.com/template-library/workplace-safety-inspection) - [Near-miss observation and follow-up report](https://kivloo.com/template-library/near-miss-report) - [Corrective action register](https://kivloo.com/template-library/corrective-action-register) - [Site induction and practical follow-up record](https://kivloo.com/template-library/site-induction-record) ## Official references - [French Ministry of Labour: DUERP](https://travail-emploi.gouv.fr/le-document-unique-devaluation-des-risques-professionnels-duerp) — France; Official guidance - [EU-OSHA: occupational safety framework directive](https://osha.europa.eu/en/legislation/directives/the-osh-framework-directive/1) — European Union; national implementing laws apply; Official guidance - [HSE: risk assessment template and examples](https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/risk-assessment-template-and-examples.htm) — Great Britain; Official guidance - [OSHA: recommended safety and health practices](https://www.osha.gov/safety-management/) — US federal OSHA; check state-plan rules; Official guidance - [UAE Government: workplace health and safety](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/health-and-safety-at-workplace) — UAE; identify the applicable employment regime and competent authority; Official guidance - [Safe Work Australia: WHS laws by jurisdiction](https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/law-and-regulation/legislation) — Australia; check enacted state, territory or Commonwealth law; Official guidance Canonical: https://kivloo.com/template-library/packs/workplace-safety