The toolkit provides step-by-step guidance for planning, carrying out and implementing a risk assessment. It explains the key issues and provides links to useful information and templates. 

A risk assessment is a careful examination of what, at work, could cause harm to people. It weighs up whether reasonable precautions have been taken or whether more can be done to prevent harm, and if the resulting level of risk is acceptable.

There is a requirement placed on the employer, duty holder or responsible person in UK health and safety legislation, in particular Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks people are exposed to at work and to take “reasonably practicable” steps to control those risks. This extends from employees to the health and safety of visitors and members of the public who may be affected by the organisation’s work activities.