Last Updated on July 18, 2023 by Ossian Muscad
As a business owner, it’s essential to ensure the safety of your employees and customers by conducting regular risk assessments. Risk assessment templates are an effective tool to help you identify potential risks in your workplace and develop strategies for preventing or mitigating them.
This article will provide an overview of the top 8 risk assessment templates available for businesses, so you can simplify your assessments and make informed decisions about how best to keep everyone safe.
What is a Risk Assessment Template?
A Risk Assessment Template is a tool used to identify and control risks in the workplace or any other relevant environment. It involves a systematic examination of a given area, its processes, and its environment to identify potential hazards. The template helps assess the severity and likelihood of each risk and assists in implementing control measures to reduce these risks.
The template usually includes sections detailing the nature of the risk, who might be harmed and how, current controls in place, and further actions needed to mitigate the risk. Templates can vary depending on the specific context they are used in, such as health, travel, work, events, IT, and more.
With continuous updates and maintenance, these templates serve as dynamic tools to identify new or emerging risks, while also adapting mitigation strategies as necessary.. They help summarize an organization’s risk profile, identify gaps and opportunities for improvement, and set the foundation for risk management plans.
The 8 Best Risk Assessment Templates for Your Business
There are various types of risk assessment templates that are used depending on the specific context and application. Choosing the right template for your business can help you create a thorough risk assessment and ensure the safety of everyone in your organization. Here are the eight best risk assessment templates for businesses:
Standard Risk Assessment Template
As the name implies, this generic template can be applied across various sectors and industries. It typically includes sections for identifying hazards, who might be harmed, existing control measures, risk rating, and any additional control measures required. Here are some sample elements that you can find in a standard risk assessment template:
- Hazard identification
- Who could be harmed
- Severity of harm
- Likelihood of occurrence
- Existing control measures
- Additional control measures
IT Risk Assessment Template
An IT risk assessment template focuses on the risks associated with information technology. It often includes sections for identifying potential threats (like data breaches or system failure), the impact of these threats, the likelihood of occurrence, existing security measures, and recommended actions to mitigate the risks. Here are some sample items that you can find in an IT risk assessment template:
- Threat identification (e.g., data breach, system failure)
- Impact of threat
- Likelihood of occurrence
- Current security measures
- Recommended actions to mitigate risks
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Template (HIRA)
This template is often used in workplaces to identify potential hazards and assess the associated risks. It includes sections that allow you to list and describe the hazard, identify who might be harmed, analyze how likely harm could occur, assess the severity of possible harm, and develop strategies for controlling or eliminating the risk. Here are some sample elements that you can find in a HIRA template:
- Hazard identification
- Severity of potential harm
- Likelihood of occurrence
- Existing control measures
- Further actions needed
Risk Assessment and Control Template
This template type identifies risks, assesses their potential impact, and establishes controls to manage them. It’s usually used for health and safety assessments, including sections for categorizing the risk (e.g., high, medium, low), identifying possible controls, and assigning responsibilities for those controls. Here are some sample elements that you can find in a Risk Assessment and Control Template:
- Risk description
- Risk category (e.g., operational, financial, strategic, etc.)
- Impact Level
- Likelihood of occurrence
- Current controls
- Proposed actions
Workplace Risk Assessment Template
This template design is for workplace environments and is relevant to various industries and sectors. If you want to assess the risks associated with your workplace, this template is for you. It includes sections for identifying potential hazards, assessing their severity and likelihood of occurrence, and developing strategies to prevent or mitigate them. Here are some sample elements that you can find in a Workplace Risk Assessment Template:
- Hazard identification
- Persons at risk
- Severity of potential harm
- Likelihood of occurrence
- Existing control measures
- Additional measures needed
Threat Assessment and Critical Control Point (TACCP) Risk Assessment Template
This template is used in the food industry to identify and control risks related to intentional contamination. This template will help you assess the potential threats to your food products and develop strategies to protect them. It typically includes sections for identifying points of vulnerability, evaluating the risk associated with each point, and establishing control measures for mitigating those risks. Here are some sample elements that you can find in a TACCP Risk Assessment Template:
- Hazard identification
- Persons at risk
- Severity of potential harm
- Likelihood of occurrence
- Existing control measures
- Additional measures needed
Construction Risk Assessment Form
This template is used in the construction industry to identify and control site-specific hazards. The construction industry is particularly vulnerable to health and safety risks due to the nature of its operations, so this template can help you assess the risks associated with each site. Here are some sample elements that you can find in a Construction Risk Assessment Form:
- Hazard identification
- Persons at risk
- Severity of potential harm
- Likelihood of occurrence
- Existing control measures
- Additional measures needed
Environmental Risk Assessment Template
This template identifies and evaluates potential environmental hazards associated with a project or business operation. Without a proper assessment, businesses can be liable for environmental degradation or non-compliance with relevant regulations. Here are some sample elements that you can find in an Environmental Risk Assessment Template:
- Environmental aspects (e.g., air emissions, waste management, water pollution)
- Impact on the Environment
- Severity and likelihood of impact
- Current control measures
- Additional mitigation strategies
Create Risk Assessment Templates Using a Low-code Platform
Now that you know the different risk assessment templates available, you can create your own using a low-code platform. Low-code platforms allow you to quickly and easily build template forms tailored to your needs in minutes. This way, you can streamline your risk assessment process and simplify decision-making.
DATAMYTE is a quality management platform with low-code capabilities. The DataMyte Digital Clipboard is a low-code workflow automation software with a built-in checklist and smart form builder. This feature, along with its drag-and-drop interface, allows you to create any checklist and form template you need—including risk assessment templates.
To create a checklist or form template using DATAMYTE, follow these steps:
- Log in to DATAMYTE and navigate to the ‘Checklist’ module.
- Click “Create Checklist” to create a new checklist or form template.
- Add a Title to the checklist or form template; select the category in which it belongs.
- Click “Add Item” to add items to the checklist or form template.
- Add appropriate descriptions to each item, the type of answer it requires, and other relevant specifications.
- Assign the personnel responsible for completing the checklist.
- Indicate any required approvals from other relevant personnel, such as supervisors or quality assurance managers.
- Save your checklist; it will now be available on any device. You can also print a physical copy of your checklist.
DATAMYTE also lets you conduct layered process audits, a systematic review of critical process steps. This auditing method focuses on the areas with the highest risk of failure or non-compliance. By conducting LPA using DATAMYTE, you can effectively identify and correct defects before they escalate.
With DATAMYTE, you have the perfect solution for creating and implementing risk assessment templates. Book a demo with us today to learn how DATAMYTE can help you manage and streamline your risk assessment process.
Conclusion
Businesses need to assess and identify potential risks to protect their operations. With the right risk assessment templates, you can ensure that your organization takes proper precautions against potential threats or hazards. Using a low-code platform such as DATAMYTE, you can quickly and easily create customized checklists and form templates tailored to your needs. Streamline your risk assessment process with DATAMYTE today!
