## Example Risk Assessment For An Office-Based Business

The company has 18 staff, with one being a wheelchair user. The offices contain a kitchen where staff can make drinks and heat food - there are toilet and washing facilities on each floor. The offices are cleaned every evening by contractors, who store the cleaning chemicals in a locked cupboard. The office block is locked from 9 pm to 6 am Monday to Friday and at the weekends. The building also has 24 hour/7 days a week security cover. 

## How Was The Risk Assessment Done?

The manager followed the advice at www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/. To identify the hazards, they: 

 
walked around the office, noting things that might pose a risk; 
 
checked the HSE advice on employees with disabilities: www.hse.gov.uk/disability/;  
 
talked to supervisors and staff, including the wheelchair user, to learn from their experience and listen to their concerns; 
 
talked to the office cleaning contractors, to make sure the cleaning activities did not pose a risk to office staff; 
 
looked at the accident book to see how previous accidents had occurred. 
They noted what was already being done to control the risks and recorded any further actions required. They pinned a copy of the findings on a noticeboard in the tearoom to encourage staff to help put the actions into practice. The manager will review the risk assessment whenever there are any significant changes such as new work equipment, work activities or workers. 

## Do Not Just Copy This Example And Put Your Company Name To It As That Would Not Satisfy The Law And Would Not Protect Your Employees. You Must Think About The Specific Hazards And Controls Your Business Needs. The Hse Site Has A Template And Other Examples To Help You Produce Your Own Assessment. Risk Assessment Company Name: Smith'S Consultants Assessment Carried Out By: J Smith (Manager)

  


Date assessment carried out: 12 September 2019 
 
What are the hazards? 
What are you already doing to control the risks? 
Who might be harmed and how? 
 General good housekeeping.  All areas well lit, including stairs.  No trailing leads or cables.  Staff keep work areas clear, eg no 
Slips and trips 
Staff and visitors may be injured if they trip over objects or slip on spillages. 
boxes left in walkways, deliveries 
stored immediately. 
 Offices cleaned every evening.  Trolley used to transport boxes of 
paper and other heavy items when collecting deliveries etc. 
Manual handling of paper, office equipment etc 
 High shelves for light objects only. 
Staff risk injuries or back pain from handling heavy/bulky objects, eg deliveries of paper. 
Done 
Who needs to carry out the action? 
What further action do you need to take to control the risks? 
When is the action needed by? 5/10/19 
Better housekeeping in staff kitchen needed, eg on spills. 
All staff, supervisors to monitor 7/10/19 
Manager 
7/10/19 
5/10/19 
Arrange for loose carpet 
tile on second floor to be repaired/replaced. 
Manager 
4/10/19 
4/10/19 
 
Remind staff that they should not try to lift objects that look or appear too heavy to handle. 
What are the hazards? 
What are you already doing to control the risks? 
Who might be harmed and 
how? 
 DSE training and assessments of 
Display screen equipment 
workstation carried out by all new 
starters. Actions carried out asap. 
 Reassessment to be carried out at 
any change to work feature, eg equipment, furniture or the work environment such as lighting. 
 Workstation and equipment set to 
ensure good posture and to avoid glare and reflections on the screen. 
 Shared workstations are assessed 
for all users. 
 Work planned to include regular 
breaks or change of activity. 
 Lighting and temperature suitably 
controlled. 
 Adjustable blinds at window to control 
Staff risk posture problems and 
pain, discomfort or injuries, eg to their hands/ arms, from overuse or improper use or from poorly designed workstations or work environments. Headaches or 
sore eyes can also occur, eg if the lighting is poor. 
natural light on screen 
 Noise levels controlled.  Eye tests provided when needed, 
dutyholder to pay for basic spectacles specific for regular users of visual displays.. 
 Laptop users trained to carry out own 
DSE assessment for use away from office. When used at office, laptop should be used with docking station, screen, keyboard and mouse. 
 Staff stand on chair to file on high 
shelves, put up decorations etc. 
 Internal windows cleaned by 
Falls from any height can cause bruising and 
fractures. 
contractor using a stepladder. 
Working at height 
Filing on top 
shelves, putting up decorations etc 
Done 
Who needs to carry out the action? 
What further action do you need to take 
to control the risks? 
When is the action 
needed by? 
Supervisors 
4/10/19 
4/10/19 
Supervisors to monitor to ensure staff continue 
to get breaks away from the computer. 
Manager 
21/10/19 
4/10/19 
Check that identified actions from selfassessments are followed up ASAP. 
All staff 
21/10/19 
21/10/19 
Tell staff that they are to inform their manager of any pain they have that may be linked to 
computer use. 
Company secretary 
4/10/19 
2/10/19 
Broken window blind near accounts section - letter to landlord. 
Manager 
4/10/19 
4/10/19 
Remind laptop users to carry out regular DSE assessment to avoid problems and identify any issues. 
Manager 
4/10/19 
3/10/19 
Chairs are too unstable. Buy appropriate stepladder and show 
staff how to use it safely. 
What are the hazards? 
What are you already doing to control the risks? 
Who might be harmed and 
how? 
 Staff understand what their duties 
and responsibilities are. 
 Staff can talk to supervisors or 
manager if they are feeling unwell or at ease about things at work. 
 'No bullying' policy. 
Stress 
All staff could be affected by 
factors such as lack of job control, bullying, not knowing their role etc. 
 Staff trained to spot and report (to 
office administrator) any defective plugs, discoloured sockets or damaged cable/equipment. 
 Defective equipment taken out of use 
safely and promptly replaced. 
 Staff told not to bring in their own 
appliances, toasters, fans etc. 
Electrical 
Staff could get electrical shocks or burns from using faulty electrical equipment. 
Electrical faults can also lead to fires. 
 Systems in place to inform 
contractors and others who might disturb the asbestos, where it is and to ensure safe working. 
 Partition walls in good condition and 
asbestos unlikely to be disturbed during normal activities. 
Asbestos 
Asbestoscontaining materials (ACMs) are present in some partition walls 
 'Danger, asbestos, do not disturb' 
signs posted at partition walls. 
Staff carrying out normal activities at very low risk. Asbestos only a risk if fibres are released into air and inhaled. Maintenance workers most at risk. 
 Staff told to report any accidental 
damage immediately. 
 Condition of partition walls checked 
periodically. 
Done 
Who needs to carry out the action? 
What further action do you need to take 
to control the risks? 
When is the action 
needed by? 
Manager 
4/10/19 
3/10/19 
Remind staff they can speak confidentially to 
their manager or supervisors if they are feeling unwell or or ill at ease because of work. 
Office administrator 
4/10/19 
4/10/19 
 Ask landlord when the 
next electrical installation safety check is due. 
 Confirm the system 
with landlord for 
making safe any damage to building installation electrics, eg broken light switches or sockets. 
Manager 
4/10/19 
4/10/19 
At next staff meeting, remind staff that the asbestos must not be disturbed and to report any accidental damage to the partition walls immediately. 
What are the hazards? 
What are you already doing to control the risks? 
Who might be harmed and 
how? 
Working with landlord, fire risk assessment done, see 
www.fire.gov.uk/workplace+safety/ and necessary action taken. 
Fire 
If trapped, staff could suffer fatal 
injuries from smoke inhalation/ burns. 
 Staff write visit details in office diary 
and give a contact number.  
 Staff not returning to the office after a 
visit call in to report this.  
 Security staff check all areas, 
including toilets, before locking up at night. 
Lone working 
Staff could suffer injury or ill health while out of toffice, eg visiting 
clients' offices, or 
while working alone in the office. 

 Published by the Health and Safety Executive 11/19 

| Done                      | Who needs to carry    |
|---------------------------|-----------------------|
| out the action?           |                       |
| What further action       |                       |
| do you need to take       |                       |
| to control the risks?     |                       |
| When is the               |                       |
| action                    |                       |
| needed by?                |                       |
| Manager                   | From now on           |
| identified as necessary   |                       |
| by the fire risk          |                       |
| assessment are done.      |                       |
| Office admin team         | From now on           |
| 'out of the office' to be |                       |
| monitored by office-      |                       |
| based staff.              |                       |