A Risk Assessment is a legal requirement on almost every industrial project worldwide.
But most risk assessments are copy-pasted from old projects without thinking.
A poorly written risk assessment does not protect your workers. A well written one does.
Here is the correct professional format:
Step 1 — Activity Description State exactly what work will be done, where, and by whom. Example: “Installation of fire detection cable at height — 4 metres above finished floor level.”
Step 2 — Hazard Identification List every hazard associated with the activity. Example:
- Working at height — risk of falling
- Electrical isolation — risk of electrocution
- Manual handling — risk of back injury
- Confined space — risk of oxygen deficiency
Step 3 — Risk Rating Before Controls Rate each hazard using the risk matrix:
- Likelihood: 1 (Rare) to 5 (Almost Certain)
- Severity: 1 (Negligible) to 5 (Fatality)
- Risk Score = Likelihood × Severity
A score of 15 or above is HIGH RISK — work cannot proceed without additional controls.
Step 4 — Control Measures For each hazard state exactly what controls are in place:
- Eliminate the hazard completely
- Substitute with a safer method
- Engineering controls — barriers, guarding
- Administrative controls — PTW, TBT, supervision
- PPE — last line of defence
Step 5 — Risk Rating After Controls Re-rate each hazard after controls are applied. Target: reduce all risks to LOW or MEDIUM before work starts.
Step 6 — Responsible Person and Review Date Name the person responsible for implementing controls. Set a review date — especially for long duration activities.
Remember this rule:
PPE is always the LAST control measure — not the first.
Engineering and administrative controls must always come before PPE.
A hard hat does not prevent a fall. A properly installed barrier does.
Write your risk assessments properly. Your workers’ lives depend on it.
What is the biggest gap you see in risk assessments on industrial projects?