When is a risk assessment required?

A risk assessment is required before starting any new task or activity that involves potential hazards, when there is a change to work processes or equipment, after an incident or near-miss, when new information about hazards becomes available, and at regular intervals as part of ongoing workplace safety management. Under Australian WHS regulations, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must manage risks by identifying hazards and implementing controls.

Who should complete a risk assessment?

Risk assessments should be completed by a competent person with knowledge of the task, the hazards involved and the relevant controls. In practice, this is often the supervisor or team leader responsible for the activity, with input from workers who perform the task. For high-risk activities, a safety professional or engineer may need to be involved. Australian WHS regulations require consultation with workers when identifying hazards and making decisions about risk controls.

Is the risk assessment template free to use without MapTrack?

Yes. Download and use the risk assessment template for free. Open the HTML file in any browser and use the browser Print function to save as PDF. No MapTrack account is required. If you want to manage risk assessments digitally, MapTrack lets you complete assessments on mobile devices with automatic risk matrix scoring, photo attachments, corrective action tracking and a searchable register of all completed assessments across your organisation.

What is the difference between a risk assessment and a JSA?

A risk assessment evaluates hazards and controls for a broad task or activity and produces a risk rating using a likelihood-by-consequence matrix. A job safety analysis (JSA) breaks a specific task into sequential steps and identifies hazards and controls for each step. Risk assessments are typically completed during planning and reviewed periodically, while JSAs are often completed closer to the point of work and may be reviewed daily. Both are required elements of a WHS management system and feed into each other: a risk assessment may identify the need for a more detailed JSA on a high-risk task.

Free risk assessment template

Q: What is a risk assessment?

A risk assessment is a systematic process for identifying hazards in a workplace activity, evaluating the likelihood and consequence of harm, and determining control measures to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. It is a core requirement under Australian WHS legislation and is used across industries including construction, mining, manufacturing, facilities management and transport.

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Free risk assessment template (PDF). Covers hazard identification, risk matrix, control measures and sign-off. Download and print to A4.

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 3 May 2026

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Updated 3 May 2026

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What is a risk assessment template?

A risk assessment is a structured process for identifying hazards associated with a workplace task or activity, evaluating the level of risk, and determining what control measures are needed to eliminate or minimise harm. Under Australian WHS legislation, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) have a duty to identify reasonably foreseeable hazards, assess risks, and implement controls using the hierarchy of controls. A documented risk assessment provides the evidence that this process has been followed and forms a key part of any safety management system.

This template uses a standard 5x5 likelihood-by-consequence risk matrix to produce a quantified risk rating for each hazard. The matrix approach provides an objective, repeatable scoring method that helps teams prioritise the most significant risks and allocate resources accordingly. The form includes space for both existing controls and additional controls, along with responsible persons and review dates, making it suitable for site-based teams, project managers and WHS officers across any industry.

Risk assessments are not a one-off exercise. Under WHS Regulations 2011, Part 3.1, Division 4, the PCBU must review and revise risk controls whenever they are found to be inadequate, when a new hazard or risk is identified, when the results of consultation indicate a review is needed, or when a health and safety representative requests a review. Failing to conduct or update risk assessments can expose a PCBU to enforcement action by the regulator, including improvement notices, prohibition notices and, in the most serious cases, prosecution under the WHS Act. Beyond compliance, a thorough risk assessment protects workers from foreseeable harm, reduces lost-time injuries and supports informed decision-making about resource allocation for safety controls.

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Benefits of using this risk assessment template

Legal compliance: documented risk assessments demonstrate compliance with WHS Act obligations and can be presented to regulators during audits or investigations.
Hazard identification: a structured process ensures hazards are systematically identified rather than overlooked or assumed.
Control effectiveness: assessing risk before and after controls are applied confirms that measures are actually reducing the level of risk.
Audit trail: completed risk assessments create a documented record of what was considered, who was involved and what decisions were made.
Team awareness: involving workers in the risk assessment process increases awareness of hazards and promotes a shared understanding of how work should be done safely.
Insurance and tender requirements: many insurers and principal contractors require documented risk assessments as a condition of cover or contract.

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Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
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What to include in a risk assessment template

This risk assessment template covers 8 key areas:

Task or activity: a clear description of the work being assessed, including location and department.
Hazards: each hazard or risk identified for the task, described in plain language.
Risk matrix: a likelihood (1-5) by consequence (1-5) scoring system to calculate a risk rating for each hazard.
Existing controls: the control measures already in place to manage each hazard.
Additional controls: any further actions needed to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.
Responsible person: who is accountable for implementing each additional control measure.
Review date: when the risk assessment will be reviewed or reassessed.
Sign-off: signatures from the assessor and reviewing manager to confirm the assessment is complete and approved.

How to use this risk assessment template

Identify the task or activity to be assessed: Record the task name, location, department and date. Describe the activity clearly so anyone reading the assessment understands what is being evaluated. Involve the workers who perform the task in this step, as consultation is required under Australian WHS regulations and workers often identify hazards that supervisors may overlook from a distance.
List all hazards associated with the task: For each step of the task, identify what could cause harm. Consider the work environment, equipment, materials, weather, traffic, other trades working nearby and the physical demands on workers. Write each hazard in plain language, for example "worker struck by reversing forklift in loading bay" rather than just "forklift". The clearer the hazard description, the more effective the subsequent risk rating and control selection will be.
Rate each hazard using the risk matrix: Assign a likelihood score (1 to 5, from rare to almost certain) and a consequence score (1 to 5, from insignificant to catastrophic) for each hazard. Multiply or cross-reference these scores on the risk matrix to produce a risk rating. Rate the inherent risk first (without considering controls) so you understand the full exposure, then re-rate the residual risk after existing and additional controls are factored in.
Document existing controls and determine additional controls: Record the controls already in place, such as guarding, procedures, training or PPE. Evaluate whether these controls adequately reduce the risk. If the residual risk is still medium, high or critical, define additional controls following the hierarchy: elimination first, then substitution, engineering, administrative and PPE last. Assign a responsible person and due date for each additional control measure.
Sign off and communicate the assessment: The assessor and reviewing manager both sign and date the form. Share the completed assessment with all workers involved in the task and ensure they understand the hazards and controls. Set a review date, typically every 6 to 12 months, or sooner if conditions change, an incident occurs or new information becomes available. File the assessment in your safety management records.

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How often should you complete this checklist?

Risk assessments should be completed before any new task, activity or project that involves potential hazards. For routine tasks, a comprehensive risk assessment is typically reviewed every 6 to 12 months to confirm that existing controls remain effective and that no new hazards have emerged. High-risk activities such as working at heights, confined space entry, hot work and excavation may require a task-specific assessment before each instance of the work.

Under WHS Regulations 2011, Part 3.1, Division 4, the PCBU must also review risk controls when they are found to be inadequate, when a new hazard or risk is identified, after any incident or near miss related to the task, when the results of consultation with workers indicate a review is needed, or when a health and safety representative requests one. Changes to equipment, processes, work environment, legislation or personnel are all triggers for reassessment. In practice, most organisations align risk assessment reviews with their scheduled workplace inspections or safety committee meetings to ensure they remain current.

Frequently asked questions

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) - Sections 17-19 (duty to manage risks)
WHS Regulations 2011 - Part 3.1 (managing risks to health and safety)
Safe Work Australia - Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 - Risk management: Guidelines

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