Services  /  Health & Safety Risk Assessment

Health & Safety Risk Assessment.
Workplace risk, sorted on paper.

A workplace health and safety risk assessment is a documented identification of hazards present in a workplace, the persons at risk from them, and the controls needed to manage that risk. It is a legal requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for every UK employer, and must be in writing for any business with five or more employees.

All UK employers must assess workplace risks under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Employers with five or more staff must record the assessment in writing. RiskSorted assessors are NEBOSH or IOSH qualified and produce reports suitable for HSE inspection, insurance and tender submissions.

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What does a health and safety risk assessment cover?

Identification of workplace hazards, persons at risk, evaluation of current controls, residual risk rating, additional control recommendations.

What do you receive after a health and safety risk assessment?

Full risk assessment report, hazard register, control recommendations with priorities and timescales, review date.

Service specification

Assessor qualificationNEBOSH General Certificate or IOSH Managing Safely (minimum)
Insurance requirementMinimum £2m Professional Indemnity
Method5 Steps to Risk Assessment (HSE) or equivalent recognised methodology
Average durationHalf day to two days depending on premises size and activity complexity
Risk ratingLikelihood × Severity matrix; residual rating after controls
Certificate formatBranded PDF assessment with full hazard register

What does the law say about workplace risk assessments?

Regulation: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974; Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Recommended frequency: Reviewed annually as a minimum; re-assessed whenever activities, equipment, premises or workforce composition change

Engineer qualification: NEBOSH General Certificate, IOSH Managing Safely, or higher

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Pricing from £400. Card at checkout. Engineer assigned by postcode.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a written health and safety risk assessment a legal requirement?
Any employer with five or more employees must record their risk assessment in writing under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Smaller employers are still required to carry out an assessment but do not need to document it. Most insurers and tender processes require written assessments regardless of size.
How much does a health and safety risk assessment cost?
A general workplace H&S risk assessment for a small business typically costs £400 to £700. Activity-specific or higher-risk assessments (construction, manufacturing, healthcare) are priced individually. RiskSorted's clear pricing is shown at checkout based on your premises and activities.
How often should a risk assessment be reviewed?
There is no statutory frequency, but most assessors and HSE guidance recommend annual review as a minimum. A new assessment is required whenever there is a material change — new equipment, new processes, new staff, premises changes, or following any incident or near-miss.
What's the difference between general and activity-specific risk assessments?
A general workplace risk assessment covers the everyday hazards present in your premises — slips and trips, manual handling, display screen equipment, fire, electrical safety. Activity-specific assessments cover defined high-risk activities such as working at height, COSHH (hazardous substances), confined spaces, or lone working.
Do I need a separate risk assessment for each location?
Generally yes — each premises has different hazards, layouts and controls. However, common processes (e.g. office work) can be assessed once and applied across multiple sites with site-specific addenda. RiskSorted assessors will recommend the right approach for your business.
Who can carry out a workplace risk assessment?
The Management Regulations require the assessor to be 'competent'. For a simple low-risk office, a manager with IOSH Working Safely training may suffice. For most commercial businesses, a NEBOSH General Certificate holder or IOSH Managing Safely qualified assessor is the recognised standard. RiskSorted verifies all assessor qualifications.

Reviewed by RiskSorted's compliance team. RiskSorted's in-house team holds collective qualifications across NEBOSH General Certificate, IOSH Managing Safely, Fire Risk Assessment (PAS 79-1), and electrical compliance. All service guides are reviewed against current UK regulations and the latest editions of the relevant British and ACoP standards.

This page provides general guidance on UK compliance services and is not a substitute for professional advice. Specific compliance requirements should be confirmed with a qualified professional based on the particulars of your premises, business activities and applicable regulations.

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