How to Create a Risk Assessment Template for Your Business: A Quick Guide

How to Create a Risk Assessment Template for Your Business A Quick Guide

Last Updated on August 29, 2022 by Ossian Muscad

Risk assessment is an essential part of managing any business. It helps you identify potential hazards and assess what controls are needed to reduce the risk of harm to employees, customers, or public members. Several different risk assessment templates are available, depending on the type of business and the work activities carried out. However, all risk assessments should follow the same basic process. Do you know how to create a risk assessment form or template for your business? If not, don’t worry! This article will provide a quick guide on how to get started. 

 

What is a Risk Assessment Template?

A risk assessment template is a tool that can be used to identify and assess the risks associated with a particular activity or workplace. It is important to remember that risk assessment is a dynamic process, and the risk assessment template should be reviewed and updated regularly.

 

The Purpose of a Risk Assessment Template

The purpose of a risk assessment template is to help businesses:

  • Identify potential hazards in the workplace
  • Determine the risk of harm associated with every hazard
  • Prioritize safety controls to reduce the risk of harm

 

5 Types of Risk Assessment Templates

Risk assessment serves a variety of purposes. Depending on the goals and scope of your assessment, you can choose from the following five types for the most suitable method:

 

Qualitative Risk Assessment Template

A qualitative risk assessment is the most common form of risk assessment. It’s often carried out by an experienced assessor, who uses their judgment or gets input from a team to identify and rate risks. Qualitative risk assessment is typically used when:

  • There is limited time or resources available
  • The risks are well understood
  • The goal is to identify the highest risk areas

 

Quantitative Risk Assessment Template

A quantitative risk assessment uses mathematical formulas to estimate the risk of a particular event occurring. Quantitative risk assessment is typically used when:

  • More accurate risk estimates are required
  • There is sufficient time and resources available
  • The risks are not well understood

 

Generic Risk Assessment Template

This type of risk assessment template covers all the common hazards in the workplace. It’s a flexible template that can be used for various workplaces and work activities. However, keep in mind that every workplace and activity will be different—it’s always best practice to review and update a generic risk assessment template accordingly to ensure that it’s always accurate and relevant.

 

Site-Specific Risk Assessment Template

A site-specific risk assessment template assesses the risks associated with a particular workplace or work activity. A site-specific risk assessment assesses a specific location. That means it can be qualitative, quantitative, or use generic risk assessment so long as it’s suitable and sufficient to mitigate or eliminate risks that can potentially harm people in that location. Site-specific risk assessment is typically used when:

  • A new work activity is being introduced
  • The workplace layout has changed
  • There have been changes to the way work is carried out

 

Dynamic Risk Assessment

A dynamic risk assessment template is carried out on the spot when an unknown or sudden risk arises that can potentially harm your workforce, the general public, or your business. Emergency response services or care workers commonly use this type of risk assessment to assess whether it’s safe to continue or determine the best course of action in dealing with the situation.

 

Importance of Conducting Risk Assessment

Hazard identification that utilizes risk assessment tools ensures a safe and healthy work environment. Conducting risk assessments will prevent and reduce workplace injuries or even the likelihood of death in severe cases. A risk assessment is a relevant process across the entire workplace. 

Unlike a job safety analysis, risk assessment can be conducted for all aspects of the workplace. A risk assessment template helps employers:

  • Prioritize risk control measures
  • Determine ifs the risk is acceptable
  • Review the risk control measures in place
  • Reassess the risks regularly

 

Conducting risk assessments help you manage risk in the workplace by:

  • Reviewing all potential hazards, not just safety hazards
  • Identifying who may be harmed and how
  • Evaluating the risks and deciding on precautions
  • Recording your findings and implementing them
  • Reviewing and updating the risk assessment when things change

 

How to Create a Risk Assessment Report

Creating a risk assessment report can be daunting, especially if you haven’t done it before. However, with this guide, you will know where to start to make the process easier and more effective.

Here are the steps you need to take to create a risk assessment report:

 

Step 1: Identify the Risk Assessment Scope

First, determine the scope. Identify what needs to be included in the risk assessment report. Ask the following questions:

  • What are the objectives of the risk assessment?
  • What is the timescale of the risk assessment?
  • What is the geographical area of the risk assessment?
  • What resources are required for the risk assessment?

 

Step 2: Identify the Hazards

The second step is to identify the hazards. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • What are the potential hazards in the area?
  • What are the consequences of these hazards?
  • Who is affected by these hazards?
  • How many people are likely to be harmed by these hazards?

 

Step 3: Evaluate the Risks

The third step is to evaluate the risks. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • What are the likelihood and severity of the risks?
  • What are the existing controls in place to mitigate these risks?
  • Are the existing controls effective?
  • What are the gaps in the existing controls?

 

Step 4: Identify and Implement Controls

The fourth step is to identify and implement controls. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • What controls are needed to mitigate the risks?
  • What are the costs of implementing these controls?
  • Are the benefits of implementing these controls greater than the costs?
  • Who will be responsible for implementing these controls?
  • When will these controls be implemented?

 

Step 5: Monitor and Review Controls

The fifth step is to monitor and review controls. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • How will the controls be monitored?
  • Who will be responsible for monitoring the controls?
  • When will the controls be reviewed?
  • What are the trigger points for review?

 

That’s it! You now know how to create a risk assessment report. Just make sure to follow the format below, and you’ll be good to go:

 

 Risk assessment report format:

  • Title page
  • Executive summary
  • Table of contents
  • Introduction
  • Risk identification
  • Hazards
  • Consequences
  • Likelihood and severity rating scale
  • People at risk
  • Risk evaluation
  • Existing controls
  • Control effectiveness
  • Gaps in existing controls
  • Risk treatment
  • Proposed controls
  • Implementation costs
  • Monitoring and review
  • Conclusion
  • Appendices

 

Create a Risk Assessment Template with DATAMYTE

If you’re looking to create a risk assessment template, the best way is the digital method using DATAMYTE and its Digital Clipboard. Our workflow automation software’s smart form builder will allow you to create whatever type of risk assessment template you need to fit your business. 

With the DataMyte Digital Clipboard, you can: 

  • Create risk assessment templates with smart forms
  • Automate risk assessments
  • Schedule risk assessments
  • Receive real-time risk assessment results 
  • Add, remove, replace, or change anything on your risk assessment form.
  • Share risk assessment templates with anyone
  • And more!

 

 Schedule a risk assessment template demo with us today to see how DATAMYTE can help your business manage risk assessments better!

 

Conclusion

Creating a risk assessment template is not as daunting as it may seem. By following the steps above, you will be well on creating an effective risk assessment template for your business. Risk assessments are important to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.

 

 

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