What is a construction risk assessment?

A construction risk assessment assesses any hazards that could pose a risk to both employees and other visitors you may have to your construction site. During the assessment you should record hazards, the likelihood of them causing harm to someone, and the implementation of safety control measures.

Download our free construction project risk assessment template now and keep your employees safe at all times.

Is a risk assessment for building construction a legal requirement?

Yes, carrying out a risk assessment in construction is a legal requirement and as an employer, one must be conducted. Once completed, a copy of the assessment should be made available to your employees.

To help you complete you risk assessment for construction work, our experts have put together a construction site risk assessment example. It's useful to have this accessible when you're required to carry out a risk assessment, for example when you introduce a new process.

What regulations must a construction risk assessment template comply with?

When conducting a construction risk assessment, there are many regulations that you must comply with in order to keep your employees safe. You construction risk assessment template must comply with:

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2015: Under these regulations, the employer must carry out "suitable and sufficient" risk assessments to clearly identify hazards, evaluate risks, and implement control measures.

• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015: Under these regulations, the management of construction projects must prevent risks to both health and safety. Having a construction risk assessment template will help you to do so.

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Under this act, the employer has a duty of care for both health and safety - carrying a construction project risk assessment will ensure you're doing so.

Other regulations include:

• Work at Height Regulations 2005

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002

• Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2012

• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

• Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992

• Confined Spaces Regulations 1997

• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

• Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.

What are the risks on a construction site?

There are many risks on a construction site that means conducting a construction project risk assessment should be one of your main priorities. Such as:

• Working at height

• Moving objects

• Slips, trips, and falls

• Noise

• Hand arm vibration syndrome

• Manual handling

• Heavy machinery

• Fires

All the above risks are highly dangerous, and you must do everything you can to avoid your employees or any visitors you have to site coming to harm. So it's vital you carry out a building site risk assessment.

How often should a construction risk assessment be carried out?

You should also review your building site risk assessment as your project progresses. With the subject of the assessment being made aware of any changes that have been made.  

A risk assessment for construction work should be carried out at different points during the construction project. Such as:

• At the start of any construction project, no matter the size - even if it's a smaller project, a risk assessment must be carried out.

• When new tools or equipment are added to a construction site.

• The first point before the project begins or during the design.

• The second point being any time a new process or method is introduced.

• The third point being if a new hazard is identified that may have been missed in the initial assessment.

• Any high-risk activities such as working at height or working with hazardous substances.

How to perform a construction risk assessment

For your risk assessment in construction work to be effective and manage all risks, you should follow the below steps:

1. Identify hazards in your construction site via a site walkaround.

2. Assess who may be a risk from the hazards found.

3. Assess the risks that any hazards found present.

4. Identify appropriate control measures to reduce risk, such as PPE.

5. Confirm you have correctly addressed and controlled the hazards.

It's important you follow the above steps when carrying our a building site risk assessment, as this will mean anyone on site is being kept from harm.

How to write a risk assessment for construction work

There are 6 steps you should follow when creating your own risk assessment in construction. For example:

1. Provide required details, such as company name, the people involved, the location, as well as the date and time.

2. Identify all tasks that are being, or will be performed.

3. Perform a site walkaround to determine any hazards associated with the tasks being carried out by workers. Such as working at height, or lone working.

4. Give each hazard a risk rating - such as low, medium, or high.

5. Provide a description of each hazard.

6. Add any photos possible to make your risk assessment more comprehensive.

What risk scoring is used when carrying out a construction project risk assessment?

When carrying out a construction project risk assessment, there are two types of risk scoring that can be used - qualitative assessment, and semi-quantitative assessment.

A qualitative assessment is the most common method, which uses descriptive labels. Such as likelihood of a risk (very unlikely, to almost certain) and the impact of the risk (negligible, to catastrophic).

A semi-quantitative assessment is a method combined or judgment and numerical scoring. For example a numerical scoring scale of 1 to 5 for both likelihood and impact. The scores are then multiplied together to provide a score.

What are the benefits of having a sample construction risk assessment?

There are many benefits to having a sample construction risk assessment, such as improving safeguarding your employees. Others include:

• Ensuring employer Health & Safety obligations and duty of care to their employees.

• Streamlines the process of identifying hazards and analysing who is at risk.

• Boosting stakeholder confidence.

Download your free construction risk assessment template now

It's vital you maintain the Health & Safety of all your employees and any visitors to your site by performing a construction risk assessment. This involves risk analysis, assessing existing precautions and ultimately, controlling hazards. You can do this by carrying out a construction project risk assessment.

Failure to carry out a risk assessment could lead to serious or fatal accidents in your workplace. Consequently, this might lead to financial and reputational damages.

Peninsula offers expert advice on risk assessments in construction, as well as a free construction site risk assessment example for you to download. Our team of experts have also created a free RAMs template ready to use in your business.

Our teams provide 24/7 Health & Safety advice which is available 365 days a year. We take care of your business needs when you work with our Health & Safety experts. Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with a qualified Health & Safety consultant today.